NH Blue and You: Communities Invited to Start Conversations About Police

DURHAM, NH — NH Listens, a civic engagement initiative of the Carsey School of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire, is launching “NH Blue and You: Strengthening Community Through Connection,” in partnership with the Seacoast and Manchester NAACP and the NH Association of Chiefs of Police in cities and towns across the state starting in November, according to a press statement. The first event will take place in Dover on Nov. 15, 2016, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Flight Coffee Company, with others following in Manchester and across the state.

“Communities that establish and maintain good community and law enforcement relationships experience ideal living environments,” said Purnell "Fred" Ross Jr., president of the Seacoast NAACP.
“It’s clear that more must be done to improve the relationship between police departments and their communities. While the reasons may be varied, there is an opportunity we think many Granite State residents are looking for—to connect with their neighbors and the police departments to take a proactive look at how to move forward together,” said Michele Holt-Shannon, co-director of NH Listens.

The series includes a variety of toolkits to host local conversations with professional facilitation support from NH Listens, from 90-minute meet-and-greets, small group living room conversations, to three-hour community dialogues and four-part study circles for stakeholders who want to dive deeper into creating strategies that will strengthen their communities. A key aspect of these events will be fostering working relationships between local community partners and police departments.

“As the nation has seen a dramatic increase in confrontations and violence between police officers and the communities they protect, it is important that spaces are created for residents and police departments to come together and work towards common goals,” said Manchester NAACP Legal Redress Committee Chair Rev. Eric Jackson.

“We look forward to building on our longstanding partnerships with the Seacoast and Manchester NAACPs as well as the on-the-ground support NH Listens brings,” said president of the NH Association of Chiefs of Police Glen Drolet. “It is crucial to continue to develop our focus on community involvement.”

“The Dover Police Department is excited to be the first to participate in this important initiative,” said Dover Police Chief Anthony Colarusso. “Building trust through communication is extremely critical and it is my hope that many citizens from all walks of life come to attend NH Blue and You.”

To learn more or to register for a local conversation, visit carsey.unh.edu/nhlistens/projects/blue-and-you

Submitted by Amy Sterndale.

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