Participation down in 2nd Ward II talk

By Dave Thompson

Published: October 11, 2008

The second installment of “Ward Talk,” the first action idea to come out of Lynchburg’s Community Dialogue on Race and Racism, didn’t see the turnout organizers expected, but it still produced relevant discussion, though not specifically centered on race.

Shanda Rowe coordinates the group dedicated to digging more deeply into ward-specific issues.

“I’m disappointed that we did not have more people,” she said, “but I thought we had a wonderful

discussion.”

The discussion, which took place at the Jubilee Center on Florida Avenue, was the second discussion held related to Lynchburg’s Ward II, and Rowe said the group would focus next on Ward I, with Wards III and IV following.

“What we discovered,” she said in explaining the impetus for the second Ward II meeting, “is that wards are not this one entity.”

“This neighborhood is different from Daniel’s Hill, which is different than College Hill,” she said.

In all 20 people, including organizers, community residents and city leaders turned out for the discussion, that ranged in topic from education to an outsider mentality among newcomers to Lynchburg.

Ginger Bowman, a teacher at Sandusky Middle School, said she has always struggled to feel included since she moved to Lynchburg a few years ago.

“I kind of found out that if I haven’t lived here for six generations, I really don’t belong here,” Bowman said.

She said she didn’t initially feel qualified to speak up, just because she was a newcomer.

But, she said, “I’m here because I do care, and I would like to make a difference without trampling on people.”

Bowman’s advice for those trying to fit in? Some of it lays on the shoulders of the newcomer.

“Get out and try to find something that represents your interest,” she said. “I guess what you have to be able to do is get to understand how people are, wherever you go.”

Other conversation topics focused on violence and police presence in the community, specifically the idea that police take less time to get to know community members personally than they did in a bygone era.

Lynchburg Police Chief Parks Snead, also at the meeting, said he wanted to change that perception, and also encourage his officers to get involved personally with residents.

“At the point the police department gets too busy to stop for a minute and talk to your kids or to you,” he said, “I don’t know that we can ever be successful.”

Rowe said she was pleased with the discussion, and hoped to carry the success over into the upcoming Ward I meeting.

As of Saturday, no date was set for that meeting.