Filmmaker and community activist Annabel Park will address Garrett County residents on Saturday, October 4, at 4:30 PM in room 111 of Garrett College’s Information and Enterprise Center on Mosser Road.
Park, who lives in Lost River, WV, will appear on the invitation of Garrett Forward, a group dedicated to building grassroots political engagement. The public is invited. The group will hold its monthly meeting following Parks’ remarks.
In 2010, Park founded the Coffee Party, a grassroots organization promoting civil dialogue and political reforms in response to the Tea Party. The group sponsored activities in 44 states. She also co-produced documentary projects exploring America’s divisions, including the critically acclaimed film 9500, exploring the culture war over immigration in Prince William County, Va.
“My passion is to promote participatory democracy and social change with innovation and community building,” says Park. “I was born in Seoul, South Korea, in 1968, and immigrated to Houston, TX, when I was nine years old with my family. I grew up working at a truck diner owned by my parents.”
“We are anxious to hear Annabel’s perspective and learn more about her neighbor-to-neighbor work in Hardy County, WV,” says Garrett Forward co-founder Michael Bello.
“When folks who share different opinions sit down and really talk to each other, we often find we are not as divided as we might have assumed. Annabel’s life’s work is dedicated to building understanding and cooperation,” he adds.
Garrett Forward is planning a public forum in early November on funding sources for local medical centers, non-profits, and nursing homes, and how they could be impacted by cuts to Medicaid and other programs. Local institutions will be represented.
Visit Garrett Forward at www.garrettforward.org.
