Diversity issue focus of Ward Talk forum

By Dave Thompson

Published: November 21, 2008

A different kind of discussion characterized the Ward Talk forum on Thursday night.

The forum, an outgrowth of Lynchburg’s Community Dialogue on Race and Racism, focused on Ward I, which, according to participants at the meeting, is stereotyped as the city’s least diverse ward.

City Councilman Mike Gillette, who represents Ward I, attended the meeting and tried to combat that stereotype.

“I don’t think the conversation is nearly as much about what makes us different in Ward I,” Gillette said, “as it is about what makes Ward I an integral part of the city and what brings us all together.”

About a dozen Ward I residents joined forum organizers and city leaders at First Presbyterian Church, on VES Road for the meeting.

Discussion began slowly, with few residents voicing concerns, and some confusion as to the purpose of the meeting.

As the night progressed, the conversation picked up speed, particularly centering on the public perception of Ward I, both by residents of that ward and of other wards.

Carla Heath, 73, spoke up early in the meeting, questioning the purpose of the gathering, and afterward said she wasn’t sure the meeting covered much dealing with race.

“I don’t know that we really addressed the issue that they asked us to address,” she said, but added that she had her own concerns about her ward, including that of over-representation.

In addition to Gillette, three other members of City Council reside in Ward I, and Heath said that could contribute to the idea that Ward I is favored.

“It’s pretty clear there’s over-representation,” she said, adding “There’s a lot of resentment (toward Ward I) that you hear coming from other places.”

Bob MacCallum, who moderated the discussion, said the purpose was not to bring about concrete ideas for action, as the first forum, in Ward II did, but simply to foster discussion about issues specific to the residents.

“People had some things to say, and I think we’re all very pleased at the way it turned out,” MacCallum said.

“Just having that kind of dialogue,” he said, “can be extremely productive for the community.”

Several attendees speculated that the church may not have been the best place to hold the forum, and that another location could have encouraged better turnout.“I think if there had been a better representation (of residents) it might have been better,” Heath said.

MacCallum said another Ward I forum hasn’t been formally planned, but that another is likely, even given the relatively low turnout of Thursday’s meeting.

“In terms of specific issues, nothing happened,” he said.

“In terms of people relating to each other, creating … a potential for great cooperation, I think it was very productive.”