The Peacham Library will host the second workshop on “Strengthening 21st Century Democracy in Peacham”, led by award-winning author, educator, and facilitator Susan Clark. These sessions explore the democratic engagement and processes in Peacham, specifically with a focus on town meeting.

The second session will take place on Tuesday, May 2 from 6:30pm – 8:30pm at the Peacham Elementary School and is free of charge.

The session in April included a presentation of data and trends on democratic engagement at the state and local level, followed by a facilitated “polarities navigation”, which led to a set of shared community values.

In May, the results of the the Assessment Survey will be revealed and participants will work towards identifying and prioritizing action steps based on values identified at the April session.

ALL residents of Peacham are welcomed to participate, even if they did not attend the April session or do not regularly participate at town meeting. Refreshments will be provided.

Susan Clark is the author of “Slow Democracy: Rediscovering Community, Bringing Decision Making Back Home”, and coauthor of “All Those in Favor: Rediscovering the Secrets of Town Meeting and Community”. She consults with communities across the northeast about how to build inclusive, deliberative, and empowered community engagement.

Her democratic activism has earned her the 2010 Vermont Secretary of State’s Enduring Democracy Award. She also serves as Town Moderator of Middlesex, Vermont. Clark is currently piloting community engagement sessions like the one to take place in Peacham in collaboration with the UVM Center for Research on Vermont.