SWAN's Allan Dutton, left, and Sarah Ziegler, right, lead a performance of "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" at Together We Can: A Townhall on Targeting Hidden Injustice," at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology on Saturday, March 18, 2023. (Photo: Tim Stuhldreher)
Saturday's "Together We Can: A Townhall on Targeting Hidden Injustice" brought some 100 community members together for a conversation on advancing racial equity.
It featured presentations by local nonprofit leaders, a discussion breakout session and a performance by SWAN, a local music nonprofit for children affected by parental incarceration.
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John Maina welcomes participants to the town hall.
Emcee Sir Dominique Jordan
The Rev. Gerald Simmons, senior pastor of Faith Tabernacle Church and a Lancaster Justice Seekers Collective member, outlines the town hall's ground rules for inclusive and welcoming communication.
Blanding Watson, president, Lancaster branch of the NAACP, speaks on the organization's goals and strageties.
Alice Yoder, executive director of community health, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, speaks on "the power of collaboration."
Juvenile probation officer and Lancaster Justice Seekers Collective member Makeda Flowers speaks on "the power of inclusion."
Lancaster Justice Seekers Collective member Zeshan Ismat speaks to the audience.
Flanked by fellow members of the Lancaster Justice Seekers Collective, Emerson Sampaio speaks to the audience.
Sir Dominique Jordan looks on as Andrew Silvius works on a collaborative painting.
Andrew Silvius dries a collaborative painting as fellow artists Keisha Finnie and Terian Mack look on. The completed work was auctioned off at the end of the town hall.
Small-group discussion. (Photo: Tim Stuhldreher)
Small-group discussion.
Small-group discussion.
Posting the results of the small group discussion.
Town hall participants review the posters summarizing the small-group discussion.
Emcee Sir Dominique Jordan reviews the input gathered from the town hall's small-group discussions.
Speaking at the town hall: Alicia "Miss A." Alston. Alston cited the gap between Lancaster County's increasingly diverse student body and its largely White teachers and called for forming a coalition of teachers of color.
Speaking at the town hall: Avara Thompson
Speaking at the town hall: Towahna Rhim
Speaking at the town hall: Victoria Valentine. "Our country was built on hypocrisy," Valentine said, and the community must counter with education, unity and healing.
Speaking at the town hall: Keisha Finnie said artists like her deserve a living wage, but often struggle to secure one.
Speaking at the town hall: Jordan Wormley
Diana Vuolo, founder of SWAN
Music teacher Allan Dutton talks to the rowd as Diana Vuolo, founder of SWAN, adjusts the microphone for singers Emma, Tiaan and Karma.
Teacher Allan Dutton, right, and other members of SWAN teach the crowd sign language used in "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing."
(Photos: Tim Stuhldreher | One United Lancaster)
