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

The sessions will take place on Tuesday, April 11 and Tuesday, May 2 from 6:30pm – 8:30pm in the Peacham Library Community Room and are free of charge.

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

In May, participants will work towards identifying and prioritizing action steps based on values identified at the April session.

Participation at both sessions is encouraged, and ALL residents of Peacham are specifically invited to attend, whether they regularly participate at town meeting or not. Refreshments will be provided.

During the past few years of the pandemic, the town mailed ballots to all registered voters and saw a big jump in participation, as has been reported in neighboring communities as well. This brought forward questions about how best to engage and empower a wider group of community members than perhaps can traditionally attend the town’s in- person town meetings each year. A group of community members have been meeting with Susan Clark over the past few months to examine opportunities to identify shared community values to improve democratic engagement in Peacham.

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.

Jay Craven’s new independent narrative feature film, “Jack London’s Martin Eden,” will play two
special screenings, 7pm, Sunday and Monday, August 22 nd and 23 rd at The Peacham Library. The
film received its world premiere at the Nantucket Film Festival in June and is slated for upcoming
screenings at the Boston Film Festival and others.

“Jack London’s Martin Eden” is based on the celebrated writer’s autobiographical novel. Set in 1909, it tells the story of a poor and unschooled sailor who unexpectedly meets Ruth Morse, a magnetic young woman of means and education. Their nconventional attraction upends both lives and propels timely themes of impossible love, dogged individualism in pursuit of the
American Dream, and the quest for a comfortable place in an inconstant world.

**In consideration of the fluctuating status of the COVID virus Delta variant and in deference to the film’s host venue, local town and other audience members, film attendees are expected to be vaccinated against COVID and the KCP productions will be asking attendees to show proof of vaccination, either as vaccination card, xerox of the card or cell phone photograph of the card. Masks are required. Anyone with questions can contact Jay Craven at jcraven1590@gmail.com**

Read more about the film here.

Tickets ($12) for the August 22-23 screenings will be available at the door or, in advance, online at
802-748-2600 or http://www.catamountarts.org/film/