Collaborative conversations touch divisive topics in Salisbury

SALISBURY, Conn. — This past Sunday, July 20, the Congregational Church of Salisbury hosted its second “Conversations of Consequence” talk, this time focused on the topic “who is my neighbor?”

These talks, facilitated by Pastor John Nelson, are structured around four invited speakers, who offer anecdotes from their own experiences and then ask prompts for the audience to discuss amongst themselves. These talks are hosted to share stores and create informed dialogue between both old friends and strangers.

Sunday’s session featured a mix of local leaders: Jill Drew from Vecinos Seguros 2, Peter Halle from the Salisbury Housing Committee, Ellie Youngbloud from Sky High Farm and Will Conklin from Greenagers.

Drew spoke on her motivations for founding Vecinos Seguros 2 after her retirement from journalism and the recent election, designed to help vulnerable communities who are at risk of being detained by immigration authorities.

She emphasized the need to work together as a community and the state of “interbeing,” or the idea that nobody is a lone individual but instead interconnected. She asked her audience to consider the question of how to accept people who you don’t agree with morally, admitting freely that it can be hard.

The Salisbury Housing Committee creates affordable housing units up for rent. Halle talked about the extensive interview process required to find a spot and the struggle to secure enough funding to build housing for a waitlist of a hundred families. He asked the audience to ponder whether it was more important to create housing for local households in need or for families from other areas.

Sky High Farm is located in Falls Village and donates its produce to local food access programs. Youngbloud explained that food banks are larger and store items, while food pantries serve local areas and must purchase items from food banks, which often run out of necessities like rice or beans. Partnerships like this both help food banks get what produce they need, and also guarantee a sale for the farmer.

During her talk, Youngbloud discouraged assumptions about food pantry customers, and spoke of the hardships that unseen members of the local communities might face. She wanted to break down the barrier between the “helper” and the “helped” and instead come together. She asked the audience to consider, “What are the community spaces that you are in, and who’s excluded from that community?”

Conklin’s work at Greenagers in South Egremont, Massachusetts, is mainly aimed at engaging young people in meaningful community growth and fostering connections.

He asked the audience to consider, “What are community spaces we have, what community spaces have we lost, and what spaces do we want to build?”

These talks are intended to start conversations and welcome anyone who is interested in participating. The third Conversations of Consequence will take place in the fall.

Latest News

County legislature candidates lay out their priorities

Contested seats in the Dutchess County Legislature are close to home this election season, with Districts 19 and 25 covering the rural towns across the northern and eastern corners of the county. Though the candidates bring distinct experiences and perspectives, they share common ground on some of the biggest challenges facing local communities, including emergency medical services and affordable housing.

Here’s a look at the candidates.

Keep ReadingShow less
Classifieds - October 23, 2025

Help Wanted

Weatogue Stables has an opening: for a full time team member. Experienced and reliable please! Must be available weekends. Housing a possibility for the right candidate. Contact Bobbi at 860-307-8531.

Services Offered

Hector Pacay Service: House Remodeling, Landscaping, Lawn mowing, Garden mulch, Painting, Gutters, Pruning, Stump Grinding, Chipping, Tree work, Brush removal, Fence, Patio, Carpenter/decks, Masonry. Spring and Fall Cleanup. Commercial & Residential. Fully insured. 845-636-3212.

Keep ReadingShow less
An interview with Bestor Cram: filmmaker discusses ‘Tiananmen Tonight’ and the power of the press
Filmmaker Bestor Cram
Provided

On Thursday, Oct. 30, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., the Norfolk Library will host a free public screening of “Tiananmen Tonight,” a film by Bestor Cram and Michael Streissguth about the 1989 student uprising in China and the daring coverage by Dan Rather and CBS. Director Cram will introduce the film.

A documentary filmmaker whose life was forged in the fire of Vietnam, where he served as a Marine, Cram earned the Navy Commendation Medal. He returned home to become a conscientious objector and leader of Vietnam Veterans Against the War. After working in the MIT Film Studies Program, he founded Northern Light Productions in Boston, producing media for museums, and has made more than 30 feature documentary films.

Keep ReadingShow less
Vincent Inconiglios brings ‘Face Time’ to Hunt Library
Artist Vincent Inconiglio’s show “Face Time” opens Oct. 25 at the Hunt Library.
L. Tomaino

Abstract artist Vincent Inconiglios' love and enthusiasm for color and form are evident all around him at his Falls Village studio, where he has worked for 25 years. He is surrounded by paintings large and small, woodcuts, photographs, collages and arrays of found objects.

The objects Inconiglios has found while out walking — in Falls Village, near his studio on Gansevoort Street in New York City, and in other places throughout the world — hold special importance to him. Appreciation of them, he says, comes from “seeing while exploring. I am always finding things.” His particular delight is finding objects that look like faces, many of which will be featured in the ArtWall show at the Hunt Library.

Keep ReadingShow less