The Kent Cultural Alliance fully supports Minary’s Dream Alliance’s continued, uninterrupted use of the Frank M. Jarman American Legion building on American Legion Road in Chestertown. Minary’s Dream Alliance (MDA) has been renting the property to fulfill its mission of providing a safe place for mentorship programs and events for adolescent children and their families, a place for a widely popular and extraordinarily well run food program providing groceries to vulnerable seniors and families during the pandemic, an event space for summer learning programs co-sponsored by Washington College and the Kent Cultural Alliance, a place for our veterans to meet, and a place for the continuation of the American Legion blood bank which has been meeting at this property for years. The use of this building has not changed in 60 years, and it will still be the same: A place for people to meet and families to gather together.
Remarkably, it took MDA only three months to raise enough funds to purchase the building from The American Legion as its permanent home. We salute the leadership of MDA for this herculean task, and we are humbled by their deep impact on our community in only 14 months since its founding!
At the eleventh hour, a group of neighbors made a litigious effort to block an African American community center that is meant to help all of Kent County’s marginalized residents and youth. Part of the mission of the Kent Cultural Alliance is to connect communities through sharing conversations. Throughout our recent history in Chestertown, African American lives have been hindered by prioritizing the comfort and will of white residents, with little regard to what that may do to our black community. We believe blocking MDA will add to that unfortunate history. The message from these neighbors isn’t We have some concerns and we would like to work together as a community to address them. The message appears to be We don’t want you here. Historically this is not a new message, but we hope that Chestertown will continue its recent work in reconciling with the past and not repeating it, by not letting the preferences of a small few outweigh the future benefit of many.
The Kent Cultural Alliance is proud to partner with MDA as we have overlapping missions to provide programming to the greater Kent County community, and we look forward to co-hosting events at their new home on American Legion Road. The possibilities are endless when organizations and members of our community work together. It’s what neighbors do for one another. Please stand with our friends at Minary’s Dream Alliance and show your support at the planning and zoning appeals hearing on July 19th, 7pm, 400 High Street.
Jason Claire is the President of Kent Cultural Alliance Board and John Schratwieser is its Director
On behalf of the Board
Anna Hurd says
I’m all for ensuring MDA staying at the American Legion building- we need them!
Cheryl Hoopes says
“The possibilities are endless when organizations and members of our community work together. It’s what neighbors do for one another.” I love this! Yes, it most certainly is!
Thank you for using your voice to celebrate a wonderful organization, (MDA), that is working so hard to bring neighbors together to accomplish great things for so many! Bravo!
Richard Keaveney says
Bravo Jason and John and KCA. Minarys Dream Alliance is not a change of use but rather an enhancement in building community just as our revered vets have done. What an exceptional organization to advance our community for decades to come.
Deirdre LaMotte says
I agree totally. I cannot understand the opposition. When those that need the most help are given the chance, we all benefit. Please, let this vital addition to our community flourish.
Holly Geddes says
The proposed activities are great. However, it is against the zoning laws of our county. It is also a critical environmental location that does not warrant the commercial activity at that location. The environmental damage that may well occur is not in anyone’s best interest. It might also be better to locate the proposed activities in a more central location so that it is easier to attend.
Joan Berwick says
BRAVO
susan newton-rhodes says
i stand with Minary’s Dream Alliance and the Kent Cultural Alliance, as does my husband, Frank Rhodes and his business, Frank B. Rhodes Furniture Maker, which has been collecting food for the Food Program for the last year. We plan to attend the hearing on Monday, July 19th and would ask ALL community members to stand up in support of this very worthy program and the supporting our community members, all of them. we are saddened and also empowered by this action taken by local residents. this is not the first battle and unfortunately will most likely not be the last. but we are here with you, our neighbors.
jacqui caine says
C’mon, Chestertown. Don’t embarrass yourselves, it’s 2021!
Clarissa Johnson says
Most American’s are ignorant of the fact that The American Legion tried to hire General Smedly Butler to stage a military coupe against the FDR Admin with money from the Du Ponts and Morgans and other rich blue bloods . I know and that makes the property being used to elevate POC that much sweeter. So glad to see the property being used for good. Minary’s Dream is good by any metric. Instead of a place being used for white people to get drunk when the bars are closed in their thinly veiled attempt to appear righteous it will help people improve. If the entitled white people of American Legion Road can’t stand the sight of POC bettering themselves, maybe some white people that believe in equal justice should take a ride down American Legion Road from time to time between the hours of 12 and 5 AM and just lean on the horn for a while. This would help the ignorant and slow to recognize that skin pigmentation has nothing to do with bad, disrespectful behavior. Heck I bet some of the poor darlings don’t even know what inconvenience is.