Thursday, March 28, 2024

Stratford Community Conversations

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Stratford Community Conversations Program Continues May 17th and June 7th

By Greg Reilly

The new Stratford Community Conversations program, where local topics are raised by the attendees, continues with its second event Wednesday, May 17th, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Stratford United Methodist Church across from Town Hall.

Residents, businesspeople, Town officials and community organizers are invited to attend the open and free event.

The third Community Conversations will be Wednesday, June 7th, at Our Lady of Peace Church in Lordship from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Each event is supported by the host venue.

The purpose of Conversations is to foster a better understanding among members of the community – residents, businesspeople, and government leaders – and potentially lead to collaboration on positive steps on issues where there is room for improvement, according to organizer and moderator Greg Reilly. 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

A cross section of community members ranging in age from 20-something to 70-something gathered for the program launch on April 26th at Stratford Library. Among the attendees were four Stratford elected officials, top brass from Stratford Fire Department, a Stratford Police officer, two recent candidates for state office, and ordinary interested residents.

Distracted driving, traffic calming, block parties, food trucks, Shakespeare Park, bullying on social media, cell phones in schools, and local economic development were the main topics discussed.

Throughout the Conversations, which is set to continue indefinitely every three weeks, Reilly said he expects topics to touch on Business, Church, Communications and Media, Economy, Housing, Human Services, Leadership, Neighborhoods, Nonprofits, Parks, Public Safety, Recreation, Schools, Transportation, and more.

For more information: Email Greg Reilly at GPReilly@optonline.net

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. 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. 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.

3 COMMENTS

  1. This seems like an answer, somewhat anyway, to something I have asked for at Council forums, have written to the mayor about numerous times with absolutely no response. I have asked for a Q&A with reps of our government actually responding to questions. This sounds at least like a way to get some feedback from fellow citizens. I hope so. Thank you Greg Reilly.

    • Paula, I have invited leaders in the administration, all Town Council members, some department heads, etc. Greg

      • Very interesting. Based on my past experience, I would venture to guess that there will be little if any response. 😕

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