Forum seeks to mend postelection rifts

Posted: Friday, Nov. 07, 2008, The Charlotte Weekly

COLUMNIST: Jonathan Reed

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The waning weeks of the election season were rife with negative ads, scare tactics and rhetoric that suggested conservatives were the only “real Americans.”

In the wake of divisive and derisive campaigns comes a glimmer of calm here in Charlotte with “Can we talk after the elections?”  The third installment of the WITG Community Conversations Series sponsored by Mecklenburg Ministries, Community Relations Committee and the Community Building Initiative, is planned for Thursday, Nov. 20, from 7 – 8:30pm at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1000 E. Morehead St.

“We thought we ought to do something to bring the city together in unity, sit down and have civil conversation,” noted Maria Hanlin, Executive Director of Mecklenburg Ministries.  Hanlin said she’d heard of congregation members who couldn’t even discuss the election with family members.  From others, she’s listened to grim tidings should a person’s chosen candidate come up short at the polls.

“Can We Talk” will feature discussions about how to get civic leaders and the community working toward the same goals.  The forum will feature Charlotte City Council members Anthony Foxx and John Lassiter and Mecklenburg Board Of County Commissioners at-large representatives Jennifer Roberts and Dan Ramirez.  The Rev. Claude Alexander of the Park Ministries and Moira Quinn of Charlotte Center City Partners will moderate.