“It is more than just talk and conversation. It is putting action behind what we say,” Kelley said.
“The questions that will be asked are not targeting anyone in particular. It addresses real things that are going on in our world and allows us to hear from our leaders and share what efforts they are working on,” she added.
The town hall discussion will be held in the parking lot of the Hollenbeck Bayley Conference Center, 275 S. Limestone St., from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
However, the community is encouraged to start gathering an hour before as food trucks and music will be featured at the event. Social distancing and the wearing of face coverings will be required.
The main discussion of the evening will include a panel of local elected officials with the city and county governments, members of law enforcement, clergy and representatives of the Springfield unit of the NAACP.
Those participating will be asked a series of questions that have been submitted ahead of time. Those questions will include items of discussion such as what local law enforcement is doing to ensure that minorities feel protected and not targeted in the community.
Another will be related to newly established advisory teams that aim to bridge gaps between the public and the Springfield Police Division and the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
Kelley said she also wants to give the panel an opportunity to share what kinds of training can be done by both police officers and members of the community to increase positive interactions.
Other questions will focus on what is being done to ensure diversity and inclusion.
The questions are designed to spark a civil discussion with the goal of giving residents a chance to hear from both elected officials and local leaders.
It also gives the latter a chance to express their views on issues related to social justice and what can be done to address racism in the community, Kelley added.
She said that racism and bigotry can be subtle or appear in many different forms, noting issues that have historically and disproportionately affected black communities in the country. That includes barriers to education, health care and housing opportunities as well as wealth inequality.
In terms of holding a town hall meeting and forming an organization aimed at addressing those issues, she said the time felt right as the country reckons with racial injustices.
The death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man in Minneapolis Police custody, in May has lead to national outrage and a wave of protests that have brought these issues to the forefront.
“It is important to talk about these situations no matter how uncomfortable it may be. Though what happened to George Floyed did not happen in Springfield, those issues still effect people. It can happen anywhere,” Kelley said.
She added that when talking about these issues, the community needs to come together and tackle them together, noting that it is also important to be proactive and not just reactive.
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