Middletown Community Coversations, Compiling the Results

A group of organizers for the Middletown Community Conversations which took place on Inauguration day in locations around town, met Saturday to begin compiling results of the conversations.

Judged a success because of the enthusiastic community response, which engaged hudreds of residents, the conversations collected hundreds of comments and suggestions about progress that could be made in Middletown.

A good portion of the conversation Tuesday, appeared to center around governance, particularly as it applies to the budget process. Residents are hoping for more transparency in government, better communications, more engagement by municipal leaders, and a process which allows public input.

Other topics of interest included education, transportation, town/gown relationships, crime and safety, development, regionalization, senior issues and accountability.

The committee hopes to have the results compiled and available for distribution to city, state and federal leaders in a matter of weeks.

In addition, the group is already planning the next of what it hopes will be an ongoing set of conversations which bring residents together to talk about topics of interest.

Other conversations

Eyes were glued to TV screens all across town (and across the country), as Barack Obama took the oath of office and delivered his inaugural speech.










I found myself with a group of neighbors from the Village District, at Planning and Zoning Commissioner, Catherine Johnson's house, where she labored over a delicious lunch as we cheered the new president on. Strangely, we gathered at a house where the TV signal was pure analog, and the reception was not always perfect.

I also stopped at the Russell library
where a large group gathered to hear the speech, and where Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz, a Middletown resident, conducted the community conversation.








A vocal group was also found at the Firehouse Grill, but I stopped at the Green Street Arts Center and found that no one had shown up for discussion.

As noted in an earlier post, discussions occured in a number of locations around town.


Other conversations will take place this evening (see schedule), as well as an inaugural jazz celebration at Public restaurant on Main.

Inaugural Conversations All Over Town

Just a reminder, on this historic day, that Middletown is one of only a few communities in Connecticut where planned Community Coversations will be held around a viewing of the inaugural address by Barack Obama. In fact, Middletown has more of these conversations planned than any other town in Connecticut. Be a part of a town wide conversation.

These events will take place at around noon, and 6 p.m. (each site lists a precise time). Here's where you can meet your neighbors to talk. At each of these conversations, a host/facilitator will keep the conversation moving, and be sure to record the thought of those gathered to talk.

For more information visit the Middletown Community Conversations site.

American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
St. Pius Church,
310 Westfield Street
1:30 pm
Members welcome

American Association of University Women
Wesleyan Wasch Center,
51 Lawn Avenue
7:00 pm
Members and students

Dunkin Donuts @ South Main
South Main Street
7 pm
The public

Eddy Shelter
The Connection Offices
955 South Main St.
11:30
Staff and clients

First Church & Jonah Center
190 Church Street
6 pm
Open to the public

Green Street
51 Green Street
noon
The public

Healing Racism Coalition
Firehouse Steakhouse
412 Main St.
11:30am
The public

Heritage Commons
38 Boston Rd
noon & 8pm
HC residents, their families and interested seniors

Middlesex Community College
Chapman Hall,
100 Training Hill Rd
noon & 6pm
The public

Middlesex County Community Foundation
Wadsworth Mansion
5pm speaker &
discussion
(this is a fund raiser - admission is $20)

Middletown City Hall
Dekoven Dr.
Council Chamber
noon & 6pm
The public

Middletown Public Schools
various
Students and staff

Parents Seeking Educational Excellence
Woodrow Wilson Middle School
370 Hunting Hill Avenue
7-8:30

PLTI and PTA
parents and friends.
All are welcome!
RSVP 638-1462

Public Restaurant
337 Main Street
7 – 10 pm
Jazz & discussions.
Donations to benefit the food pantry.

Russell Library
Hubbard Room
123 Broad Street
Noon & 6pm
Open to the public

Senior Affairs Senior Center,
150 Williams St.
Noon
Seniors

Village at South Farms
645 Saybrook Rd
Residents

Wesleyan
Usdan Center
Wyllys Avenue
10 am
The public

Middletown Community Conversations Locations

(Photo: Arthur Meyers)

On January 20, 2009, neighbors, community organizations and residents will join in conversation about the possibility of significant changes in our community, and in our country. Middletown Community Conversations invites you to join your neighbors at one of the following conversation locations so that residents can speak and listen to each other as we ask questions and find answers.

American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
St. Pius Church,
310 Westfield Street
1:30 pm
Members welcome

American Association of University Women
Wesleyan Wasch Center,
51 Lawn Avenue
7:00 pm
Members and students

Dunkin Donuts @ South Main
South Main Street
7 pm
The public

Eddy Shelter
The Connection Offices
955 South Main St.
11:30
Staff and clients

First Church & Jonah Center
190 Church Street
6 pm
Open to the public

Green Street
51 Green Street
noon
The public

Healing Racism Coalition
Firehouse Steakhouse
412 Main St.
11:30am
The public

Heritage Commons
38 Boston Rd
noon & 8pm
HC residents, their families and interested seniors

Middlesex Community College
Chapman Hall,
100 Training Hill Rd
noon & 6pm
The public

Middlesex County Community Foundation
Wadsworth Mansion
5pm speaker &
discussion
(this is a fund raiser - admission is $20)

Middletown City Hall
Dekoven Dr.
Council Chamber
noon & 6pm
The public

Middletown Public Schools
various
Students and staff

Parents Seeking Educational Excellence
Woodrow Wilson Middle School
370 Hunting Hill Avenue
7-8:30

PLTI and PTA
parents and friends.
All are welcome!
RSVP 638-1462

Public Restaurant
337 Main Street
7 – 10 pm
Jazz & discussions.
Donations to benefit the food pantry.

Russell Library
Hubbard Room
123 Broad Street
Noon & 6pm
Open to the public

Senior Affairs Senior Center,
150 Williams St.
Noon
Seniors

Village at South Farms
645 Saybrook Rd
Residents

Wesleyan
Usdan Center
Wyllys Avenue
10 am
The public













 The following groups were involved in planning Middletown Community Conversations, and while they will not conduct separate conversations, they encourage their members to be involved in conversations at other locations.

Altrusa

American
 Legion

Arts
 Community
 Groups

Aware

Boy
 Scouts 
of
 America

Buddhist
 Community

Chamber
 of
 Commerce

Coalition
 for
 Affordable
 Housing

CT
 Coalition to
 End
 Homelessness

CT
 Housing 
Coalition

CT
 Partnership
 for
 Strong 
Communities

Cross 
Street
 A.M.E. 
Zion
 Church

Girl 
Scouts
 of
 America

Hindu
 Community

Latino
 Policy
 Institute

League
 of
 Women
 Voters

Lions
 Club

Mercy
 Housing

Middlesex
 Coalition
 for 
Children

Middlesex
 County 
Branch
‐
NAACP

Middlesex
 County
 Ten 
Year
 Plan
 to
 End 
Homelessness

Middletown 
Clergy 
Association

Middletown
 Ministerial
 Alliance

Middletown
 Public
 Housing

Multicultural
 Committee

Nehemiah
 Housing


Parent
 Leader
 Training
 Institute

Partnership
 for 
Strong 
Communities

People
 with
 Disabilities

Rotary

St.
 Luke’s


St.
 Vincent
 DePaul

Village District
Westfield
 Residents
 Association