Letter to the Editor
In 2013, the Diversity Institute at the College of Southern Maryland became the lead sponsor of the annual Unity in Our Community forum that was launched in 2006 by the Charles County Commissioners to promote proactive conversation about the future of Charles County. As the county has continued to experience significant growth, we along with county officials recognize that the inevitable challenges that come with change also represent profound opportunities waiting to be discovered.
The forum has allowed Charles Countys residents from different communities and backgrounds to begin to delve into those opportunities by annually engaging in a daylong dialog about emerging issues while also beginning to develop a vision for our future. Annually, we reconvene the conversation with the hope of being intentional in efforts to build a sense of community among county residents.
This year, it is our hope to take the conversation to a higher level, with our theme of Shaping a Stronger Charles County Together. We invite you to join us on April 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for an opening panel discussion followed by breakout sessions from which we will begin crafting a community action plan that will be coordinated by the Diversity Institute at the College of Southern Maryland.
The meeting will be held in CSMs Center for Business and Industry on the La Plata Campus, 8730 Mitchell Road. Registration on the day begins at 8:30 a.m. with the program starting at 9 a.m. Refreshments will be provided and you will have the opportunity to share your ideas about how we can continue to take steps that will make Charles County a model community as we focus on public education, public safety, local business, government, nonprofit supporting agencies, and social/lifestyle concerns.
We remain committed to the notion that strong communities are built by the people who live in them. Your voice can help build this community, so we encourage you to register and commit to being a part of this special day. More information is available at http://www.csmd.edu/diversityinstitute/ or 301-539-4742.
Sincerely,
CSM President Dr. Brad Gottfried
CSM Associate Vice President for Institutional Equity and Diversity Makeba L. Clay
Co-chairs for the 2015 Unity in the Community
Calendar
Forum “Unity in Our Community, Shaping a Stronger Charles County.” 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., April 25. College of Southern Maryland, La Plata Campus, Center for Business and Industry (BI) Building, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata. Hosted by the Diversity Institute at the College of Southern Maryland, this community-based event will include panelists, guest speakers and breakout sessions focusing on the areas of criminal justice, local business, public education, local government, nonprofit/civic groups and social groups. Free. For information, contact Robbie Morganfield, 301-539-4742. To register, visit http://www.csmd.edu/DiversityInstitute/unitycommunity.html