Leonardtown, Maryland – The lighthouses at Penny Point and St. Clement Island shine above the storied waters, which were navigated for thousands of years before the towers were built. The old prison in Leonardtown raises questions about the justice and injustices imposed over the centuries. The schoolhouse in Dryden is a reminder of a painful division that remained unchallenged, until just a few decades ago.
Questions inspired today by the historic sites preserved and maintained by the St. Mary's County Museum Division can provide guidance toward the continued importance of these landmarks, and how the programs offered at the four sites can continue to serve as a model for understanding St. Mary's past. the present and the future.
The St. Mary's County Community Mediation Center, in partnership with local organizations, has planned Community Conversations, a series of dialogues where people from across the county, and from all walks of life, can discuss topics of interest and interest in a safe, encouraging and conducive space. The next talk, from 2 to 5 p.m., Saturday, February 10, will be hosted by the county Department of Museums and will be held at the U.S. Colored Troops (USCT) Interpretive Center in Lexington Manor Passive Park.
The discussions, which began last summer at a meeting with the St. Mary's Chapter of the NAACP, reinforce the mediation center's responsibility to create a space for systemic change, according to Mia Powers, the center's executive director, consistent with the community's hallmark. mediation. The Center's outreach efforts have formed partnerships with a wide range of agencies, including many that worry that the message of what they have to offer is not being heard.
“There's a huge disconnect,” Powers said. But in addition to sharing their information, agencies also want to hear from the people they hope to serve. “They can learn from the community,” she said. “You have to learn from them, and they in turn learn from you.”
Powers said the conversations are geared toward creating new and lasting connections through the open and honest exchange of information. There is no charge for admission to the discussions, and light refreshments will be provided.
For more information about the Community Conversation Series and the Mediation Center, including its many conflict resolution services, call 301-475-9118, or go online to CommunityMediationSMC.org.
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