More than twenty people gathered at the Bethel AME Church on a very cold Monday evening this week to discuss the difficult but very real issue of race in Chestertown. The members of the Intercultural Diversity Committee, formed as part of Chestertown’s World Cafe recommendations earlier in the year, shared perspectives on life in Chestertown, the lingering elements of racism in the community, and the road ahead for a town eager to move forward. Spy videographer Kurt Kolaja skillfully captured some meaningful highlights.
Jenn Hicks says
This group meets once a month at Bethel AME church and several of its members are focusing on some exciting initiatives to address the racial and cultural divisions found in the Chestertown community. Please contact me if you would like more information: [email protected]
Jenn Hicks says
Also – to find out more about the Chestertown World Cafe visit http://www.sustainabledelmarva.net and click on “Current Projects”
Anne says
Go Chestertown! It’s truly rewarding to live in a town where the residents are taking such positive steps toward a collective vision of what it means to live in harmony.
Hope Clark says
Thanks Chestertown Spy! In those small groups we also shared a little bit about our families, how we grew up, and how that has shaped our beliefs.
Joyell Johnson says
Thank you Chestertown Spy, this is an awesome group and I am honored to be apart of it. I expect great things to be brought to fruition for the Chestertown community.
Mary Wood says
Congratulations to the Spy – I wish the video had been longer. Don’t go out much at night,but I remember the Freedom Riders coming to Centreville,and have a letter my husband wrote about his impressions. I also served on the MD. Advisory Comm. to the Md. commission on Civil Rights for a few years, appointed by William Adkins Sr.. On of my jobs was writing a report on the living conditions in the shanties at Kent Narrows. Now a trendy vacation spot.
Armond Fletcher says
Lord Jesus, let your light shine continuously through us to help us see clearly and to make the change that we can- in our community and-to keep standing for right.
kate says
While I’m mighty glad that these meetings are being held, looking at the video I’d say the videographer needs lessons in editing: showing a woman of a certain age struggling to iterate a college experience while never really making her point was followed by the moderator reaching into her shirt and scratching her upper arm was rather tasteless. Come on! Focus and edit to give your audience a better sense of the significance of the occasion. It would be better to run the text than show what appears in this video.
Steve Payne says
I understood what she said. I think she was somewhat uncomfortable which is part of this racial discussion story.
Hope Clark says
Hi Kate, respectfully, I couldn’t agree with you less.
A choice to show that a participant is addressing their experience with multicultural workshops and open dialogue experiences lets us ponder that some in our community may not have had any. Showing the natural way that some of us listen also seems important and vital to me. So I applaud Kurt Kolaja’s ability to capture two of what I think are the most important aspects to these meetings: Getting experience with intercultural dialogue, and learning how to listen. Kurt’s work is not only a gift to our community, its crucial to the documentation of important community events. Peace.