East Lyme resident to host community discussion on race on Friday
East Lyme — A town resident is inviting the community to a constructive conversation this Friday night, in light of "the constant barrage of polarizing news in the media."
A community discussion on race, hosted by Eva P. Menon, is scheduled for 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday at the East Lyme Senior Center, 37 Society Road.
Dr. Terrlyn L. Curry Avery, a licensed psychologist and the interim pastor at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Groton, will facilitate the discussion.
Father Anthony C. Dinoto, Rector of Saint John's Episcopal Church in Niantic, will participate in the discussion.
"News outlets would have us believe that we are divided along racial and cultural lines," the event notice states. "While we have seen many tragic events related to this in the recent news, we cannot allow ourselves to be divided by these tragedies. There is a way in which we talk about events and their underlying causes that helps us understand each other and perhaps work towards solutions."
"The objective of this meeting is to learn how to talk about some of these difficult issues and learn to understand each other, even if we may not agree," the notice continues. "Together, we can make sure that we all share and partner in the great things that East Lyme has to offer."
The idea for the event was sparked after Dr. Curry Avery posted on Facebook a letter to her congregation following recent shootings by police as well as shootings of police officers.
Menon reached out to Dr. Curry Avery, who has traveled across the United States to train school systems on issues of race, to ask her to facilitate an open conversation.
"I'm hoping that other people are interested and they will come with an open heart and an open mind," Menon said.
Father Dinoto said the event will be a good first step in opening the conversation about race.
Dr. Curry Avery said that if the community wants to have the conversation, she will take another step forward and offer training on racial reconciliation and consciousness-building.
"We all live in our own worlds," she said. "If we don't take a step outside of those worlds and look at what is happening to other people, we remain blinded and we're not conscious about what their issues are."
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