The ad hoc Diversity & Inclusion Committee invites the public to its event, Woodbridge Like Me. The event, to be held on Sat. Oct. 2 from 11 am – 2 pm, is a sister event to the Woodbridge Town Library’s One Book, One Town choice, American Like Me: Reflections on Life Between Cultures, which is a selection of essays edited by the actress America Ferrera.
The event, which immediately follows the 39th annual Woodbridge Road Race, will be a celebration of all things Woodbridge and will highlight the organizations and cultural groups that make up Woodbridge civic life. There is no rain date.
At the Woodbridge Like Me event the ad hoc Diversity & Inclusion Committee will ask for resident feedback. “Our charge is to identify and assess issues related to diversity, equity and inclusion of concern to Town residents and employees,” said the committee’s Vice-Chair Robert Reed. “I hope residents take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about their town and their neighbors, and to share their ideas and concerns to make Woodbridge an even better and more welcoming place for all.”
The event kicks off with a book talk led by resident Rev. Antona Smith, at 11 am. The book, American Like Me: Reflections on Life Between Cultures, contains 31 stories about life between cultures, as told by actors, comedians, athletes, politicians, artists, and writers. These authors are also immigrants, children or grandchildren of immigrants, indigenous people, or people who otherwise grew up with deep and personal connections to more than one culture. Each of them struggled to establish a sense of self, find belonging, and feel seen. Ranging from the heartfelt to the hilarious, their stories shine a light on a quintessentially American experience and will appeal to anyone with a complicated relationship to family, culture, and growing up.
Copies of the book are now available at the Library reference desk.
Following the book discussion, new residents are invited to a 12 pm meet-up and tour organized by the Community Council. There will also be an Indian folkloric performance by Tinkle Toes Dance Academy, a demonstration by Aiping Tai Chi, a performance by the Butterfly Chinese Dance Troupe, demonstrations by World Champion Taekwondo and the Southern CT Chinese School.
First Church of Christ will sell pie and ice cream; Friends of the Library are hosting a book sale; The Garden Club of Woodbridge will host a plant sale and Walk Bike Woodbridge will conduct bike safety checks.
Other participating organizations include 10selden, Amity Black Student Union, Amity Community for Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Amity Diversity in Action, Amity Woodbridge Historical Society, Beecher Road School PTO, Boy Scout Troop 907, Democratic Town Committee, Inclusion at Amity, Republican Town Committee, Rotary Club of Woodbridge, Southern CT Chinese School, Woodbridge Arts Guild, Woodbridge Gardens for Wildlife and Woodbridge Together.