The High Point Public Library, which has been offering a lot of community programs and events lately, will host a community leader panel to discuss how they make their decisions on social issues – tying in with this year’s “Community Read” book, “Trust First” by Bruce Deel.
The panel discussion will be held on Saturday, Aug. 28, at 10 a.m. in the Ann and Jim Morgan Community Room on the first floor of the library. For those who’d rather watch in the comfort of their homes, the discussion will also be live-streamed on the library’s Facebook page.
Here’s the event organizers’ description of the book that will be a focal point of the discussion: ‘Trust First’ tells the story of the creation of the City of Refuge in Atlanta, a one-stop-shop for housing, medical and mental healthcare, educational training, vocational training, a safe house for victims of sex trafficking, an auto repair training center and a host of other services to the disenfranchised and homeless. Deel’s mission is to bring light, hope and transformation to Atlanta and other cities, believing the best way to improve outcomes for the marginalized and impoverished is to extend them trust – even if that trust is violated multiple times.”
One hope among High Point leaders is to make life better in that city by looking at ways that other communities are successfully addressing their challenges. Equity issues, minority concerns and concerns about marginalized members of the community have been key themes in High Point city government which has a lot more minority leadership now than it did just one year ago. Those newly elected to the High Point City Council have helped move those issues to the forefront.
The panel members are:
- High Point City Manager Tasha Logan Ford, the city’s first female manager and first African-American manager
- Dan Hodgson, an ex-police officer heading a ministry that serves the unsheltered homeless
- YWCA Latino Center Director Giselle Mansi
- Jakki Davis, the executive director of D-Up, a non-profit that provides health and fitness programming to area youth.
Livestream viewers will have the opportunity to post questions to the panel.
Carol Andrews Hughes, the station host at WXLV-TV, will moderate the talk, which is open to everyone – however, seating is limited to accommodate social distancing guidelines.
The event is part of the “Community Read” program, which is a partnership between the Hayden-Harman Foundation, Resilience High Point and the High Point Public Library.
The author will visit High Point on Tuesday, Sept. 14, and speak at the High Point Museum at 7 p.m.
There are limited copies of the book available for free from the High Point Public Library. Print copies, e-audiobooks and e-books are available to check out. For more information about Community Read, those interested can call the library at 336-883-3638.
“Deel’s mission is to bring light, hope and transformation to Atlanta and other cities, believing the best way to improve outcomes for the marginalized and impoverished is to EXTEND THEM TRUST – EVEN IF THAT TRUST IS VIOLATED MULTIPLE TIMES.”
This is usually called abuse when applied to situations where it involves women and children. The abused shouldn’t allow the abuse to continue. This concept is no different when applied to communities. The “abuser” needs counseling to learn rules, boundaries, limitations which is a part of discipline. The “abused” needs to learn confidence and mental strength in order to apply discipline consistently. Both must take responsibility for their own actions.
Our communities, our country, our families need to learn from the Dog Whisperer.
Politicians will solve social ills about the same time that we are invaded by flying pigs.