A group of 50 embark on a process designed to heal the community.
LEWISTON – For Bates College junior Graham Veysey, Lewiston’s biggest problem is a communication gap.
Veysey sees the gap from his position as coach of youth basketball. Longtime Lewiston residents on his teams don’t always communicate with their Somali counterparts, he said. Getting around that barrier will go a long way toward uniting the community.
“That communication, that’s what forges all of our relationships,” he said.
Veysey will bring that perspective to a series of meetings over the next three weeks designed to find new ways to heal Lewiston and make everyone feel welcome.
Veysey is just one of the 50 who came to the Multi-Purpose Center Wednesday night with an eye toward uniting the community. Although prepared for up to 165 people, Lewiston Assistant City Administrator Phil Nadeau said he was pleased with Wednesday’s turnout and is sure more people will follow.
“I’ve already heard of a couple of dozen people that couldn’t be here tonight,” Nadeau said. “I’d be very surprised if we don’t get that many people just walking in. So, we just need to be flexible.”
Wednesday’s attendees broke up into five groups. Those groups will meet one day each week for the next three weeks. Each will suggest a way to make the city more friendly and open to everyone – including longtime residents and newcomers.
“Basically, Lewiston is going through some changes,” said Marty Walsh, regional director of community relations for the Justice Department. “We want to come together and explore ways to build better attitudes and relationships in the community.”
Walsh is helping to train meeting leaders and will monitor some of the discussions over the next three weeks. Suggestions will be presented at a public meeting June 4.
The effort began last fall, after Mayor Larry Raymond’s letter to Lewiston Somalis and the uproar that followed. Somalis complained the letter, which urged them to tell friends and family not to come to Lewiston, was bigoted and singled them out. The event drew national headlines until Raymond and Somali elders met.
Nadeau suggested people interested in attending one of the meetings call him at 784-2951.
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