Community leaders, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, educators, businesses and residents are invited to gather Friday for an Emancipation Day commemoration and community action meeting focused on strengthening collaboration across the U.S. Virgin Islands, a press release announced.
The Emancipation Day Commemoration and “Rebuilding the Village” Community Action Meeting will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday at Emancipation Garden on St. Thomas. The planning meeting will begin at 3 p.m. Organizers are asking attendees to bring their own chairs, according to the press release.
The event will bring together community organizations and residents to begin developing a shared vision for improving communication, expanding access to programs and services, and building stronger partnerships across the territory, the press release stated.
A central topic will be the creation of a Community Engagement Calendar that would allow nonprofit organizations, government agencies, schools, businesses and civic groups to coordinate events throughout the year. Organizers said the effort is intended to reduce scheduling conflicts, increase public participation and strengthen community programming, the release stated.
Topics expected to be discussed include academic and tutorial programs, workforce development, library reopening efforts, youth activities, sports and recreation, health and wellness initiatives, food sovereignty, cultural events and emergency preparedness, the release stated.
According to the release, participants also will discuss cooperative work and responsibility, cooperative economics, self-determination, strategic planning and sustainable community engagement before scheduling future planning sessions to continue the initiative.
Organizers encouraged every organization to participate either in person or virtually through Zoom with a representative prepared to share upcoming events, discuss partnership opportunities and contribute to a unified community strategy.
For more information or to become a collaborating partner, contact Lindiwe Francis at 340-244-9660, Anna Francis at 340-514-0973 or Leba Ola’Niyi at 340-203-3885.
