Upcoming Events

Upcoming Programs:

Demystifying Disability : The committee is exploring a program for May 2010 that includes a documentary film, Shooting Beauty, along with a photography exhibit of a group of people with Cerebral Palsy. A date for the film has not been established and the committee is working to find an appropriate place for the exhibit. We are planning on co-sponsoring this event with the York Art Association.

Ongoing Programs:

Interfaith Study Circle: A group of members of the YDF have been meeting in a study circle to explore beliefs of various religions with the goal of reducing interfaith conflict. Anyone who wants to join this group is welcome. You can phone Susan Glick at 361-1366.

Middle East Study Session: A group of members of the YDF are

meeting in a study circle to explore the history of the middle east from 1900 to the present. If people are interested in joining please contact Milt Davis at miltonsdavis@gmail.

com.

Seasonal Workers Program: The Seasonal Workers Committee is ongoing. If you are interested in participating as a Seasonal Worker Friend and taking part in our program to welcome the Seasonal Workers send an email to Carol Davis at YorkDiversityForum@gmail.com. A five hundred dollar grant was received from CIEE for the Seasonal Worker Program. These funds will be used to upgrade the bicycles and defray some of the costs for social events for the workers. An ice cream social for the seasonal workers will be held on August 5th at 5:00 pm at the York Beach Fire Station. A successful series of dinners sponsored by local churches was enjoyed by all the workers, the church members, and the YDF members. The program chair and vice chair have decided to step down and a new chair or co-chair is being sought. Anyone interested in one of these positions is asked to contact the chair of the York Diversity Forum, Carol Davis.

Martin Luther King Day

On January 22, 2009 there was an initial meeting to plan the Martin Luther King Day of Service for January, 2010. Many volunteer programs are involved in planning a day of service in the York Community.

India/Pakistan Cultural Program: In conjunction with a York School program, the York Diversity Forum is planning to meet to discuss what kind of program we want to do. A lecture has been suggested, a film series has been suggested, but no final program has yet been planned.

The next meeting of the planning group will be held on November 18th at 8:30 am at Roast n' Crumb on Route 1 in York. All members who are interested are invited to join the group.

Past Programs in 2009:

GLBT Elders: The YDF held a workshop on January 16th, 2009 at the York Public Library entitled Becoming Visible, a program to help service providers in York ensure that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender elders are treated with caring and respect. A social worker from the Com

munity Counseling Cente

r led a ninety minute workshop that features a DVD with LGBT elders talking about their lives, a question and answer period and a power point

presentation. The program was very successful in providing training in working with GLBT seniors.

Black History Month:

Celebrating Black History Month

Saturday, February 7 , 2009 at 2:00 pm at the York Art Association, 394 York St., Yor

k Harbor

An African experience with Oscar Mokeme from Nigeria, Curator of the Museum of African Culture.

This was a wonderful program with interactive dialogue and dy

namic demonstration of masks, artifacts, and a Spirit Mask perform

ance. It was an educational and spiritual experience. Sponsored by the York

Art Association and the York Diversity Forum.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at 5:00 pm at the York Public Library, 15 Long Sands Road in York.

The reception and discu

ssion with artist Richard Hay

nes, whose art work is on exhibit at the library during Fe

bruary and March, 2009, was very well attended. Artist

Haynes gave a demonstration of how he works with caran d'ache. An example of his work, "Together as One," is shown to the left.

The reception was

sponsored by the York Public Library and the York Diversity Forum.

Saturday, February 21, 2009 at 2:00 pm at the York Public Library. The film, "Amazing Grace" was shown and a Discussion by Kevin Belmonte followed. A historical drama of British abolitionist, Wm. Wilberforce and

his effort to end the slave trade in Britain. Sponsored b

y the Museum of Old York, York Public Library and the York Diversity Forum.

Saturday, February 28, 2009 at 7:00 pm at the York Public Library

"A Journey Through Time," an evening of music featured Barbara Sanford-Epps of Soulful Circle and the Funky Divas of Gospel,

and accompanist Dave Brown celebrating the history of African-American music. It was a great show.

Saturday, March 14, 2009 at 2:00 pm at the Remick Barn, in the Village of York. Film "Anchor of the Soul" which is a documentary film on black history in Maine and a discussion with Gerald Talbot, the first black legislator in Maine and others who are portrayed in the film. S

ponsored by the Museum of Old York and the York Diversity Forum.

In Commemoration of Holocaust Remembrance Day, the York Diversity Forum presented a Film and Discussion Program, "Life After the Holocaust"

Film: Autumn Hearts: A New Beginning, is a powerful drama about a group of survivors who reunite 35 years after their release from a Nazi camp. It explores the impact that holocaust survivors have on relationships with those around them.

Discussant: Norm Abelson, author. Mr Abelson married into a family of Holocaust survivors more than a half century ago. His latest book, in progress, is titled, "Marrying into Memory: An American Jew Writes about the Holocaust."

Saturday Evening, April

25th, 2009 at 7:00 pm at the York Public Library, 15 Long Sands Road, York

Gay-Lesbian Program:

"Art of the W0rd"

Award winning author and poet Leslea Newman gave a public reading from her new novel, The Reluctant Daughter and read some of her poetry. Newman is the poet Laureate of Northampton, Massachusetts and the author of more than 50 books including, "Heather Has Two Mommies," " A letter to Harvey Milk," and "Out of the Closet and Nothing

to Wear."

Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 7:00 pm at the York Art Association, 394 York Street.

This program was cosponsored by the York Diversity Forum and the York Art Association

A Middle Eastern Film Series was presented by the York Diversity Forum and the York Public Library in 2009. Each film was well attended and enjoyed by many.

Field trip to Portland: On May 28,

members of YDF explored Portland’s African-American heritage in a guided tour of the Freedom Trail (with Wells Staley-Mays), lunch at Ezo African restaurant, and a visit to the Museum of African Culture (guided by Oscar Mokeme).

The first Seasonal Worker Party for the incoming workers was held held on Monday, June 22 from 5:00 pm until 7:00 at the Inn on the Blues. The get together was a huge success. The food was great, and the raffle was great fun. Every one of the seasonal workers went home with a prize, and a wonderful feeling about the people in York.

On July 21, 2009,

at the OMAA in Ogunquit, The York Diversity Forum in coopera-

tion with the Ogunquit Museum of American Art presented a Native American program, The Spider, The Whale and the Polar Bear: Native American Stories and Songs, with David Sanipass from the Mic Mac Tribe, and Ed Bullock from the Wampanaog Tribe. A web of unity was spun through all those attending the event.