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Better Together Auburn To Emphasize Inclusion In "First Fridays" Events

Better Together Auburn Facebook

Auburn’s “First Fridays” will resume this evening with a series of sessions organized by the group Better Together Auburn.

“First Friday'' events happen every month from 5-8 pm, featuring open houses at museums, galleries, restaurants and shops in downtown Auburn. This month’s theme is “Taking Care of Our Community.”

Organizers encourage following CDC guidelines and practicing social distancing for visitors of tonight’s event.

Better Together Auburn is a non-partisan, "year-long commitment to activities that help us all learn more about other people and be better about inclusion.” There will be an art display called “Lens of Youth” created by students in Dekalb, as well as a youth forum discussing inclusion in the community.

Jama Smith is on the steering committee that helped organize some of tonight’s events. She’s hopeful these events will have a lasting impact on attendees, and gets them to ask questions.

“I think when we start to broach the subject of racism, or honestly any -ism, we’re very careful to, in our beautiful towns up here say, ‘We don’t have a problem with that here.’ And I think we say that so quickly because we’re nervous to explore this a little further. It’s more… inviting you to join with me, and let’s learn more and be better.”

Several churches will host a candlelight celebration to close out the evening at sunset.

Additionally, “First Fridays” will feature wagon rides on Jackson Street, performances by the Main Street Porch Band and a demo by Soarin’ Hawk raptor rescue at 6:30.

Zach joined 89.1 WBOI as a reporter and local host for All Things Considered, and hosted Morning Edition for the past few years. In 2022, he was promoted to Content Director.