OLD LYME — On Saturday, March 19, Public Art for Racial Justice Education (PARJE) hosts a free Community Mapping workshop in three sessions, which will look at opportunities and resources in Old Lyme and New London with an emphasis on equity.
Community engagement specialist Brianna Harlan will lead three sessions to discuss in-depth how the town of Old Lyme (a homogeneous, primarily white community) contrasts with New London (its neighboring, culturally-diverse city).
The first session is from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and is for New London residents.
The first session is from 12 to 1 p.m. and for Old Lyme residents. Register for this free, virtual session here. In this event, participating residents will identify assets and opportunities in their neighborhoods, create “maps” of their community, and discuss hyper-local examples of racial inequity. This event is specifically for Old Lyme community mapping.
Th final session is from 1 to 2 p.m. and will bring all the participants together in a virtual environment.
These sessions will foster a deep understanding of where attendees live in relation to their neighbors. Local residents will gain a sense of responsibility for their resources and become informed advocates for equitable communities.
Harlan is an artist and activist best known for her work Black Love Blooms, which she performed at last year’s New London Dream Market. She is also a trained community leader, working with AmeriCorps, NeighborWorks America, Creative Capital, and Adobe.
Harlan currently works as a creative, community organizer and strategist for several community initiatives around the country including City University of New York’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Incubator.
For more information, visit www.racialjusticeart.org/map