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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260901
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261104
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
X-MICROSOFT-CDO-ALLDAYEVENT:TRUE
SUMMARY:Community Conversations
DESCRIPTION:September marks the launch of an exciting local storytelling campaign. Community Conversations: Exploring What Matters to Our Neighbors is a grassroots\, community-led initiative designed to explore the values\, histories\, and everyday experiences that define the residents of the Grand Traverse Region. The project highlights personal stories to foster deeper neighborly connections and document common ground among diverse community members. The initiative a campaign of Leelanau Indivisible implemented by a group of citizens called the Persisters features an exhibit of photos and life stories of sixteen individuals of varied backgrounds and beliefs\, that will be displayed in three venues. All residents are invited to enjoy the exhibits in September and October\, and by perusing the Leelanau Indivisible website where they can read full transcripts\, hear audio recordings of the interviews\, or download a digital booklet. When Geradine Simkins conceived the project\, "Community Conversations\," she was interested in "exploring what matters to our neighbors." Like many folks in Northern Michigan\, Simkins\, a resident of Leelanau County for nearly 50 years\, has been deeply troubled by the growing polarization across education\, class\, religious and political lines that divides and isolates Americans from one another. "It feels kind of like a national divorce\," Simkins said. "Our diminishing trust and empathy toward one another make many of us feel like we can no longer coexist." Simkins grapples with how often we get so caught up in our daily routines that we forget to pause and ask our neighbors what really matters to them. "This project is about giving neighbors a platform to share their voices and build a shared vision for our community. In listening to the stories of our neighbors we learned that even though our life stories and some of our beliefs differ\, we have more in common than not. We worry about similar things. The values we hold dear for ourselves and our families are also values our neighbors cherish." Simkins added\, "They are not Republican or Democratic values\; they are American values. They are the foundation of this nation." Award-winning photographer\, Susan Tusa\, graphic designer\, Anna Taylor\, and the entire work team have donated their professional services to the project. Tusa stated\, "It's an important project that I believe in." The public is invited to visit exhibitions of Community Conversations: Exploring What Matters to Our Neighbors in September and October 2026\, where collected stories will be curated into a photo exhibition and a public digital archive. Please visit the Traverse Area District Library\, September 1-29\; the Glen Lake Community Library September 2 through November 3\; and a variety of pop-up exhibitions in the Grand Traverse Region throughout September and October. To view the entire exhibition and a full schedule of events go to: https://www.leelanauindivisible.com/conversations
X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:September marks the launch of an exciting local storytelling campaign. Community Conversations: Exploring What Matters to Our Neighbors is a grassroots\, community-led initiative designed to explore the values\, histories\, and everyday experiences that define the residents of the Grand Traverse Region. The project highlights personal stories to foster deeper neighborly connections and document common ground among diverse community members. The initiative&mdash\;a campaign of Leelanau Indivisible implemented by a group of citizens called the Persisters&mdash\;features an exhibit of photos and life stories of sixteen individuals of varied backgrounds and beliefs\, that will be displayed in three venues. All residents are invited to enjoy the exhibits in September and October\, and by perusing the Leelanau Indivisible website where they can read full transcripts\, hear audio recordings of the interviews\, or download a digital booklet. When Geradine Simkins conceived the project\, &ldquo\;Community Conversations\,&rdquo\; she was interested in &ldquo\;exploring what matters to our neighbors.&rdquo\; Like many folks in Northern Michigan\, Simkins\, a resident of Leelanau County for nearly 50 years\, has been deeply troubled by the growing polarization across education\, class\, religious and political lines that divides and isolates Americans from one another. &ldquo\;It feels kind of like a national divorce\,&rdquo\; Simkins said. &ldquo\;Our diminishing trust and empathy toward one another make many of us feel like we can no longer coexist.&rdquo\; Simkins grapples with how often we get so caught up in our daily routines that we forget to pause and ask our neighbors what really matters to them. &ldquo\;This project is about giving neighbors a platform to share their voices and build a shared vision for our community. In listening to the stories of our neighbors we learned that even though our life stories and some of our beliefs differ\, we have more in common than not. We worry about similar things. The values we hold dear&mdash\;for ourselves and our families&mdash\;are also values our neighbors cherish.&rdquo\; Simkins added\, &ldquo\;They are not Republican or Democratic values\; they are American values. They are the foundation of this nation.&rdquo\; Award-winning photographer\, Susan Tusa\, graphic designer\, Anna Taylor\, and the entire work team have donated their professional services to the project. Tusa stated\, &ldquo\;It&rsquo\;s an important project that I believe in.&rdquo\; The public is invited to visit exhibitions of Community Conversations: Exploring What Matters to Our Neighbors in September and October 2026\, where collected stories will be curated into a photo exhibition and a public digital archive. Please visit the Traverse Area District Library\, September 1-29\; the Glen Lake Community Library September 2 through November 3\; and a variety of pop-up exhibitions in the Grand Traverse Region throughout September and October. To view the entire exhibition and a full schedule of events go to: https://www.leelanauindivisible.com/conversations
LOCATION:See above
UID:e.1737.19012
SEQUENCE:3
DTSTAMP:20260813T180120Z
URL:https://business.benzie.org/events/details/community-conversations-19012
END:VEVENT

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