Our Theme: Understand What You’re Voting For: Budget Impacts on Services We Count On

The Dialogue on Race 2023 Summer Summit was held on Saturday, August 26, 2023 at the Christiansburg Huckleberry Park, a new state of the art facility on Pepper’s Ferry Road designed for inclusive access for folks with disabilities. The beautiful hilltop pavilion hosted a good turnout and strong sense of community.

Program

Honoring the Police Chiefs

Dialogue on Race recognized and paid tribute to two law enforcement leaders, Chief Anthony Wilson and Chief Mark Sisson, for their constant encouragement and support for the Dialogue on Race. Steering Committee member, Wornie Reed, left in the photos below, explained the police chiefs’ significant and lasting contributions to combat racism in the Montgomery County community.

Panel of Local Leaders

Panel moderator, Beth Obenshain, opened the program by introducing the 2023 Dialogue on Race Panel (left to right, see photos below): Toby Akers, Communications Officer, New River Valley Emergency Communications Regional Authority; Jason Milburn, Executive Director, New River Valley Emergency Communications Regional Authority; Annie Whitaker, Deputy Superintendent Montgomery County Public Schools; Craig Meadows, Montgomery County Administrator; Randy Wingfield, Christiansburg Town Manager; Steve Ross, Blacksburg Deputy Town Manager.

Q & A

Following the presentations by the six town and county managers, the more than one hundred members of the audience organized in small conversation groups to develop questions shared with the panel during the Q & A period.

Photos from the 2023 Summer Summit

Wornie Reed, Chief Anthony Wilson and Chief Mark Sisson.
Beth Obenshain, panel moderator.
2023 Dialogue on Race Panel
Susan Anderson, Blacksburg Vice Mayor
Paula Markham asks the panel a question.
Diane Thompson asks the panel a question.
Jennifer Hubbard asks a question from her group.

Understand What You’re Voting For:
Budget Impacts on Services We Count On

In Person
Saturday, August 26, 2023, 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm
3:00 pm open for sign-in, program starts at 4:00 pm
Christiansburg Huckleberry Park (tentative)
300 Peppers Ferry Rd NW, Christiansburg, VA 24073

Registration is closed. This event has already been held.

Thank You

Thank you to the Town of Christiansburg for the support and hospitality! And thanks to Brad Epperley, Parks and Recreation Director, and Assistant Director, Erin Ruyle and project manager Kim for taking Dialogue on Race steering members on a guided tour of the nearly $18,000,000 facility. The new park is an amazing community asset.

L-R:  Brad Epperley, Director of Christiansburg Parks and Recreation;  Erin Ruyle, Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation; and Dialogue on Race Steering Committee members: Martha Ann Stallings, Debbie Sherman Lee, and Andy Morikawa

For questions about TCG or the Dialogue on Race, contact:

Andy Morikawa
Dialogue on Race
540-230-1492
andymorikawa@gmail.com