Leaders in a Lexington initiative to elicit community conversation on issues like affordable housing and homelessness, gentrification, and LGBTQ+ inclusion brought their findings to government leaders Tuesday.
The briefing to Lexington’s council comes after multiple ‘courageous conversation’ community forums.
Since the beginning of this year nearly 450 people have participated in "Together Lexington’s" 12 community conversations. Lexington Herald-Leader Publisher Rufus Friday told council the springtime gatherings also included dialogue on drugs and heroin, police and community relations, and race relations.
“Lexington needs less conversation we learned, and more united action to improve our race relations in our community,” said Friday.
A total of 12 public and private organizations representing higher education and several local business are a part of "Together Lexington."
During Tuesday’s presentation, Together Lexington Project Director Carla Blanton touched on several other ‘courageous conversation’ topics including LGBTQ+ inclusion.
“There was a fear about health and safety, particularly for those that are transgender and whether the medical community was adequately aware of some of the needs and comfortable in treating transgender people,” noted Blanton.
Rufus Friday says over two years $200,000 will be invested in community projects. That includes spending $55,000 for interpretive signage to create a walking tour of local African American history.
