Besides trees and water, one thing Bainbridge Island has in plentiful supply is good ideas. VillageSpeak is a new Island good idea that seeks to spark community-building by fostering meaningful nonpartisan public discourse. Inspired by Seattle’s CityClub, VillageSpeak aims to connect community members through dialogue on a wide range of topics for the purpose of turning good ideas into collaborative action.
What is the face of family today? How do we resolve conflict? What does community service mean and why does it matter? These are some of the topics VillageSpeak will take on in its upcoming monthly panelist-led forums.
According to communication experts like Robert Putnam (Bowling Alone), Peter Block (Community: The Structure of Belonging), and our own William Cleveland (Art and Upheaval: Artists on the World’s Frontlines), villages thrive when inclusion, collaborative discussion, and civic participation are honored and encouraged. VillageSpeak is a forum for that kind of community idea sharing.
For its opening event, VillageSpeak has asked a panel of five community leaders to address a series of questions, including what role do we want art to play in our village of Bainbridge Island, and has the lack of arts funding in the last two years played a role in disrupting our community well-being?
The panel will address these issues, bringing a range of perspectives to the conversation. Panelists also will discuss how they believe their respective organizations contribute to village-making. Marcia Christen will introduce the evening by explaining the concepts of nonviolent communication as a way to facilitate community dialogue.
Here are the panelists:
- Dominique Cantwell, Executive Director of Bainbridge Performing Arts
- Marcia Christen, certified Nonviolent Communications parent educator and facilitator
- Susan Jackson, Executive Director of Bainbridge Arts and Crafts
- Debbi Lester, owner of ArtAccess magazine and Honorary Mayor of Bainbridge Island
- Greg Robinson, Executive Director the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art
The May 7 kickoff event will be held in the new Bainbridge Museum of Art auditorium. The panelist discussion will begin at 7 p.m., followed by further conversation and networking among those in attendance from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. over locally made pizza and beverages.
Admission is FREE. Reservations are required, however, and must be made by May 5, with a limit of 90 attendees on a first-come, first-served basis. Make your online reservations here: VillageSpeak.org.
Want Homework? Check out Suggested Readings for Each Meeting.
June 4 VillageSpeak Meeting: The Changing Face of Bainbridge Families and Community. Panel members will talk from social, psychological, statistical, and legal viewpoints. Held in the OfficeXpats Conference Center in the Bainbridge Pavilion, the panel discussion is from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., with extended conversation, networking, food, and drinks from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Image courtesy of VillageSpeak.