As Montezuma County welcomes a variety of community members with different backgrounds, a group of individuals have come together to promote solidarity in the face of polarity.
The Cortez Cultural Center will host Unity of Community’s kickoff event on Oct. 18 to promote solidarity in the face of opposition.
The group hopes to help inspire bridges for people with differing thoughts or ideas, while building on a foundation of service, empathy, courage, honesty and friendship in the community.
Kay Bayburt, a Montezuma County resident who is a member of the group, said many people brought up how important it is to feel safe. She said Cortez schools, the Cortez Police Department and Mayor Rachel Medina are involved with the effort.
Each month, the group will focus on a human trait. They have asked teachers to bring up each month’s trait in classrooms while Unity of Community supplies a 31-day challenge that revolves around the trait. For November, the trait is kindness.
Unity of Community also plans to promote the monthly challenges to adults.
“We have no idea where it’s going, but we want to get a conversation started,” Bayburt said. “We want to focus on the traits deeper than just being civil.”
As mentioned in their Facebook page, Cortez Unity of Community, Medina will share her thoughts as the featured speaker about the significance of civility and open dialogue in society.
Unity of Community encourages everybody to attend and unearth what the group is about, while welcoming new members and enjoying refreshments together.
At the kickoff they will ask for suggestions from the public about monthly speakers and topics.
“We’re trying to keep the idea of unity, being nice and to remember who we are as human beings,” Bayburt said.
The event will be Oct. 18 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Cortez Cultural Center, 25 N. Market St., Cortez
