Common Ground- Tuskegee/South Berwick Sister City

The goal of the sister city project is to promote exchanges between two enthusiastic, proud communities - one in the north, one in the south; one predominantly Caucasian and one predominantly African American. The two communities are similar in size and both family-oriented. They both have proud histories. South Berwick is one of the oldest communities in Maine with a history in education and manufacturing. Tuskegee is widely known as the seat of the Civil Rights Movement and is the home of Tuskegee University and of the Tuskegee Airmen.
The mission of the project is “to afford the opportunity for the citizens of two communities, one predominately black and the other predominately white, to talk with each other, listen to each other and share with each other with the goal of broadening understanding between people.”

A proclamation declaring local government support for these efforts was approved unanimously in early 2017 by both the Tuskegee City Council and the South Berwick Town Council.

Contact: David McDermott at dmcdermo@gmail.com 
                              
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Tuskegee Visit

​Saturday, July 16

​JOIN THE KAYAK FUN with our Tuskegee visitors - Several of our visitors from Tuskegee will be heading out for a kayak at 3 pm Saturday July 16, if all goes according to plan. Mike and Cindy Moloney have offered to give our visitors a quick lesson and to lead them into the waters starting across from the American Legion in Rollinsford.
If you have a kayak and want to join the fun, come on down. If you want to just help launch the group and welcome them back, you can hang on shore with Tuskegee’s visiting landlubber. Either way, you are welcome to join us.
Sunday, July 17

South Berwick's churches and friends invite you to a Community Picnic on Sunday, July 17; in the classroom tent behind Central School. The picnic will be an opportunity to meet and talk with Tuskegee's Sister City delegation as they visit South Berwick next weekend. A meet and greet time begins at 4:30 PM. A free supper of Hot Dogs, salads, and gelato will begin serving at 5:00 PM\, followed by remarks from South Berwick representatives as well as Tuskegee's Mayor, Tony Haygood. The evening will close with music by South Berwick's Rock My Soul music group. The meal is free!
Monday, July 17th
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The Common Ground Tuskegee/South Berwick Sister City group is inviting residents of both towns to ZOOM in to join a dialogue on race that will be held 7 pm Monday, July 18, in South Berwick. This involves a facilitated and focused discussion similar to discussions held during previous visits between the sister cities. This is the first time people not in the room will be invited to join in as observers. You will be able to participate through the chat.

The event is 7 pm Monday, July 18, at town hall and the zoom link is:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86848542988 

The chance for Black and white people to talk in a more intimate setting about race is a rare opportunity that helps those who participate engage more deeply in tough conversations that help our communities grow stronger. We plan to ask specific questions to prompt dialogue, but the conversation will be open-ended enough to allow people who participate to bring up issues they find important and relevant.
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One question will be: Given the movement we have seen for realizing inclusion, equity, and justice for all Americans and the momentum gained since the murder of George Floyd, do you feel changes have taken place for the better, making a difference for the better, in workplaces, schools, and communities.

Fundraiser for
​Common Ground Website

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Tuskegee, Alabama and South Berwick, Maine, became sister cities in 2017. Our two communities, one predominantly Black and one predominantly white, hoped to encourage conversation, explore our differences, and share what we have in common. People from Tuskegee and South Berwick formed friendships, and collaborations grew through what we named the Common Ground: Tuskegee South Berwick Sister City Project. 
 
We are raising money to create a website to share our experiences and lessons and inspire others to bring people together, promoting reconciliation and healing through personal relationships and conversation. We expect a website to extend our visibility in both cities and beyond, bring in more residents, and inspire others to form similar programs.
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www.gofundme.com/f/color-us-connected-needs-a-website?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer