April 26th from 4.30 to 5:30 p.m.
Stratford Library
By Greg Reilly
GPReilly@optonline.net
Cover Photo: Ian Schneider
Saying he wants to bring community members together as a group to speak, listen and gain a better understanding of each other’s views about life in Stratford, resident Greg Reilly is launching a series of public meetings called Stratford Community Conversations.
The series will debut Wednesday, April 26th, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Stratford Library. Stratford residents, businesspeople, community leaders, government and school leaders, and staff are invited.
Topics for the conversations will be strictly local and generated by attendees, said Reilly, who was editor of the Stratford Star news outlet from 2013 to 2015. Over the course of the series topics may cover Arts, Business, Church, Communications and Media, Economy, Housing, Human Services, Leadership, Neighborhoods, Nonprofits, Parks, Public Safety, Recreation, Schools, Transportation, and more.
The series is scheduled to continue at three-week intervals. The second Stratford Community Conversations is set for Wednesday May 17th at 4:30 p.m. at Stratford United Methodist Church on Main Street, and the third is set for Wednesday June 7th at 4:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Peace Church in Lordship.
Reilly said this is not a commercial event; there is no charge to attend, thanks to support from the host venues. “The Community Conversations program is one way that I can continue to contribute to the well-being of the community after serving as grant writer for the town for two-and-a-half years,” he said. “This will be the third time I have organized and moderated a community discussion series. I enjoy bringing people together to talk about things that matter. The tone will be respectful. If there is an issue that could be improved, we will look for positive steps that might be taken. In this age of remote relationships, I believe it is better to be together in person than to communicate digitally.”
For more information email GPReilly@optonline.net.
I attended the first session of Stratford Community Discussion. and I found a mixed-age group of about 25. The conversation was interesting and respectful
Several members if our town government were present and were able to answer some questions generated by audience members. Congrats to Greg Reilly for initiating a valuable forum for community discussion.