Next “Cultivating Community Connection” event dedicated to the LGBT community – Salisbury Post

SALISBURY – Tonight, the Salisbury Police Department will continue its series of one-on-one conversations with the Salisbury community in partnership with Salisbury Pride and will focus on engaging members of the LGTBQ community.

The next event in the Cultivating Community Conversations series will take place on Tuesday at 5:30 pm in City Park with the 316 Lake Dr. Dinner”.

“Building relationships through open dialogue has been one of our key priorities,” said Salisbury Police Chief Patrick Smith. “By partnering with Salisbury Pride, we are creating an opportunity to better understand the unique challenges facing the LGBT community. It is critical that we have these discussions so that we can listen, learn and continue to build trust with all of our residents.”

The program began in June 2022 under the leadership of former Police Chief Jerry Stokes and is funded by ongoing grants from the Duke Energy Foundation. The $25,000 annual grant aims to “ensure diversity and inclusion in law enforcement and the community to enhance cultural responsiveness.” Local police take the opportunity to meet with residents throughout the area to discuss relevant topics in an informal setting so officers can share information and people can get to know officers throughout the department.

Michael Brooks, Salisbury Pride board president, emphasized the value of this collaboration. “Collaborating with the Salisbury Police Department on this conversation is a step forward in ensuring our community feels seen and heard,” Brooks said. “This is an important opportunity to address LGBTQ issues and work to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment in Salisbury.”

The Salisbury Police Department is one of 40 organizations across the state to receive a grant from the Duke Energy Foundation this year.

Additional conversations with other community groups are planned for the remainder of 2024.