Community Conversations Group Publishes Report

It was a year in the making, but the Community Conversations group, which conducted conversations throughout Middletown on inauguration day last year, released a report which compiles and analyzes those conversations.

The group met at Russell Library, which has copies of the report available for purchase.Final Report of the Middletown Community Conversations Released
On Wednesday, January 20, 2010, Middletown residents received the Final Report of the extraordinary, non-partisan Middletown Community Conversations held one year ago on Inauguration Day in 2009. 

The report is now available for borrowing at Russell Library.  Copies have also been placed in Middlesex Community College and Wesleyan University libraries.  The 76-page report may be downloaded from the Russell Library website at http://www.russelllibrary.org/

   It is for sale for $20.00, payable to Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown CT 06457.   In addition, a cablecast discussion of the conversations last March may be checked out from the Library.

A diverse group of 17 organizations hosted 21 conversations throughout the city on Inauguration Day.  Two general community-wide viewings and discussions took place at noon and 6:00 pm at Russell Library and in City Council Chambers at City Hall.  Among the other locations where conversations were held include Heritage Commons, an adult residential community, the Eddy Shelter, congregations, restaurants, and several school and senior sites.

Depending on the location, the conversations took place after a live viewing of President Obama’s Inaugural Address at noon, as well as in the evening through recorded viewings of the address but with on-site discussion afterwards.  Another three dozen organizations encouraged their members to participate in the conversations at the various venues where they were held.

The Middletown Community Conversations were not a political event, but rather a grassroots initiative to identify the needs of the community at this critical time in our country.  In order to ensure the widest possible dissemination of the report, copies are being sent to the U.S. Senators and Representatives and the President.  With the publication of the report, the planners and facilitators are now turning to the question of “What’s Next?” 

The unedited comments of the public – residents speaking from diverse backgrounds and interests – and lessons learned and other outcomes are included in the report.  The report concludes with all of the ideas and planning materials that shaped the forum for the free unfettered expression of community opinion.