Program on Domestic Abuse

“Domestic Abuse in our Neighborhood,” a program presented by  the York Diversity Forum, will be held on Saturday, October 20, from 9:30 to 11:30am, at the York Public Library. Coffee will be served at 9 a.m.

Using film, speakers, role play and discussion, Clare Fortune-Agan, Community Educator from Caring Unlimited, will facilitate  awareness of the many aspects of this often hidden problem. A survivor of domestic abuse will share her story, bringing additional light to the subject, and Sergeant  Tom Baran, of the York Police Department, will discuss the role law enforcement plays in responding to individuals and families.  All are welcome!  Please join us.

Love Free or Die

On September 19, the Diversity Forum partnered with St. George's Episcopal Church to host a screening of the award-winning film "Love Free or Die".  The film tells the personal story of New Hampshire's Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson, the first openly gay person to become a bishop in a major Christian church.  Following the film, the Rev. Timothy Boggs, rector of St. Alban's Church in Cape Elizabeth, ME, facilitated a discussion.  Seventy people attended and learned about this significant chapter in the struggle for LGBT rights.

Seasonal workers are here!

We welcome seasonal workers from all over the world - Ukraine, Jordan, Taiwan, Lithuania, Jamaica, Moldova, China, Russia, Dominican Republic, Serbia, and more!  They are hired by motels, restaurants, and tourist venues and provide an important workforce for our local businesses.  Many work two - and even three - jobs.

For the past several years the Diversity Forum has welcomed them and provided loaner bicycles so that they can get back and forth to work and to shopping.  We've also had social events for them so that they can get to know each other and to sample some American food.  The following photos are form our welcome party in June.  They had a great time!

Bikes, Bikes, Bikes!!!

The Bike Crew          

We've been getting ready for the Seasonal Workers to arrive for the summer.  On May 12th, a group inventoried all the bikes and determined which ones were in the best working condition.  Each bike got a wash and tires pumped; when necessary, our 'bike pros' did a tuning and repair.  Front and rea lights were also checked for safety.  There are now over 50 bikes ready to go.

After the inventory there were over 30 bikes that didn't meet our standard as being road-worthy.  These were given to Bikes Not Bombs, a non-profit organization in Jamaica Plains, MA, that reclaims thousands of bikes each year.  It is possible that the bikes we couldn't use will be sent to Uganda where they will be turned into bicycle ambulances or to Guatamala where they will go to Maya Pedal to be turned into machines. 

Thanks to Ron and Nat McAllister, Guilermo Larrea, Ted Little, and everyone who showed up that morning to get the job done quickly!  Plus, it was fun!!!

Maine Women Writers Collection

 What happens to a writer’s drafts and manuscripts? Where do researchers get background information on authors? Who are Maine’s interesting writers? Answers to these questions and more will come to light when Cally Gurley, Director of Special Collections at the University of New England, speaks on UNE’s Maine Women Writers Collection. The talk, sponsored by the York Diversity Forum, will take place at 2:00pm on Tuesday May 15th, in the Meeting Room the York Public Library.

Gurley’s talk is presented by the York Diversity Forum as part of this year’s York Reads program.  The 2012 theme for York Reads is the work of May Sarton, who lived and wrote in York during the last two decades of her life.  There is no charge for the program, and all are welcome.  For more information on the talk, call 361-1210 or email yorkdiversityforum@gmail.com.

The Maine Women Writers Collection (MWWC) was founded in 1959 by Grace Dow and Dorothy Healy to honor, preserve, and make available the writings of Maine women who have achieved literary recognition. The Collection now has over 8,000 volumes on more than 500 Maine women and maintains an active acquisitions program in contemporary and historic manuscript material as well as in rare books.

Holdings are especially strong in nineteenth and twentieth-century resources. Published material ranges from rare books, pamphlets, and broadsides to newspapers and literary and popular journals. Among the Collection's unpublished materials are travel journals, diaries, correspondence, photographs, manuscripts, artwork, material culture, memorabilia, artists' books, and children's literature.

MWWC also holds records of women's organizations such as Maine Media Women, the National League of Pen Women (Augusta Branch), and the Massachusetts branch of the National Women's Party (a suffrage organization). The Collection's prominent subject areas include women's literary and social history, the suffrage and women's movements, women's health and medicine, women's sexuality, family culture, nature and the environment, spiritualism, New England studies, and Maine history.

A Theatrical Journey through Maine's Lesbian History

On Friday, April 27th, noted Portland playwright Carolyn Gage will present “A Theatrical Journey through Maine’s Lesbian History”. Her engaging talk and discussion will take place at 7:00 at the York Public Library.

Using poems, love letters, and diary entries, Gage will present a dramatic lecture on Maine authors with histories of lesbian relationships – Sarah Orne Jewett, Edna St. Vincent Millay, May Sarton, and Rachel Carson. Focusing on aspects of their lives that have been traditionally downplayed, distorted, or closeted, her lecture opens dialogue about issues that contemporary lesbians continue to confront today.

Carolyn Gage is a lesbian feminist playwright, performer, director, and activist, who has toured nationally and internationally. In 2009, she was named one of the "Ten Most Intriguing People in Maine" by Portland Magazine, and in 2010 was named one of the "Most Influential People in Portland" by the Portland Phoenix.

Gage is the author of sixty-five plays, musicals, and one-woman shows and nine books on lesbian theater. She specializes in non-traditional roles for women, reclaiming famous lesbians whose stories have been distorted or erased from history. Through the years she has been recognized for her work by many awards and prizes. In 2011, her play Stigmata won the Maine Literary Award in Drama from the Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance. Also in 2011, her play The Ladies' Room was named national finalist for the prestigious Heideman Award from the Actors' Theatre of Louisville. More information on Gage is available at http://www.carolyngage.weebly.com/.

Gage’s appearance is presented by the York Diversity Forum as part of this year’s York Reads! Program. The 2012 theme for York Reads! Is the work of May Sarton, who lived and wrote in York during the last two decades of her life. There is no charge for the program, and all are welcome! For more information on Gage’s lecture, call 361-1210 or email yorkdiversityforum@gmail.com.

"Defining Marriage"

The campaign for marriage equality in Maine recently submitted a petition to the Secretary of State to place a same-sex marriage initiative on the ballot for a referendum vote in November, 2012. Given the complexity of the arguments for and against it -- and the heated nature of the debate surrounding it, the York Readers Theater has developed a short theater piece intended to present the arguments pro and con same-sex marriage in as objective and unprejudiced a way as possible. The play is called "Defining Marriage" and is composed entirely of testimony from the 2010, 'Proposition 8' trial in California.

"Defining Marriage" will have its premiere on April 20-21 (Friday and Saturday) at 7:30 at at the York Public Library. Donations will be gratefully accepted at the door. All are welcome

Although the purpose of this project is to inform voters on the constitutional issues involved and why marriage matters for same-gender couples in Maine, it is not lacking in passion or theatricality. It lasts only one hour, includes videos of the campaign advertisements for and against Prop 8, lively debate between celebrated attorneys, as well as some 'expert witness' testimony from volunteers in the audience who will rehearse their set-speeches with the director prior to performance. There will be discussion following both performances.

The performance at the York Public Library is the debut for this important theatrical piece. The York Diversity Forum and Maine Initiatives have generously funded a tour of "Defining Marriage" so that it may be performed in town halls, libraries, churches and local meeting places around the state beginning in May, 2012.

As always, reservations can be made for this York Readers Theater performance by calling David Newman at (207) 361-1462.

Autism

In recognition of April as Autism Month, The York Diversity Forum will show the film, “Loving Lampposts”, which explores the often confusing and multifaceted aspects of autism. Following the showing, two local residents, Mady Buckless, mother of a college student on the Autism spectrum and Megan Miller, a young artist, also with Asperger’s, will speak about their personal experiences with this disorder. Megan’s art work will also be on display in the Kennebunk Room at the York Public Library from March 31 through April 7.

The program is being held on April 7 at the York Public Library, 15 Long Sands Road, from 10:30 to 12:30, with refreshments beginning at 10 a.m. All are invited and welcome.

International Potluck

We had a wonderful potluck in early January - with delicious food from around the world. Countries represented included Colombia, Brazil, Korea, Mexico, and Bulgaria. Thanks to everyone for bringing the fantastic food and to Amanda Cutrer from the York ESL program.