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One Goffstown
The 2023 One Goffstown series covered topics such as bullying, implicit bias, hate crimes and hate speech, being an ally, having difficult conversations, and cyberbullying. These topics were chosen to provide the community with a well-rounded set of resources. Participants were able to engage with the presenters by asking questions and working through scenarios.
One Goffstown event recordings and slides:
In March 2023, Goffstown neighborhoods received neo-Nazi propaganda in their driveways. Because of that incident, we have developed “One Goffstown”, a series of discussions for teens and adults to encourage communication and become a more welcoming, accepting community for everyone.
Sessions will be held from June 2023 through September 2023, all on Thursday evenings, and open to the public.
Show your support, and your attitude of unity, when you share these events on social media, along with the hashtag #OneGoffstown
All sessions will be held on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. except for The Human Library.
One Goffstown Resources
From March to May 2023, the World Affairs Council of NH hosted a series on confronting Genocide and Anti-Semitism. This series looked at how we can identify, prevent, and recover from rising hate and what communities can do in the face of what seems to be a huge problem around the world. The event recordings are available to watch:
One Goffstown Schedule 2023
June 8 – What are Hate Crimes and Hate Speech?
Goffstown Police Chief Eric Sereno will discuss hate crimes that have occurred in Goffstown and update us about the neo-Nazi propaganda left in local driveways. Seth Aframe from the US Attorney’s Office and Sean Locke from the NH Attorney General’s Office will educate us about hate crimes and hate speech and will explain the different federal and state hate crime violations. Timothy DeMann will share how the FBI investigates hate crimes, including the receipt of information, and the coordination with other agencies.
- This event recording was available for a limited time on the library’s YouTube channel.
June 29 – What is Implicit Bias?
James McKim from Organizational Ignition and the Manchester Branch of the NAACP will help us understand implicit bias and how it affects our behavior and how we treat others.
July 13 – What is Bullying?
Dr. Kate Murphy, psychologist, and Plymouth State University professor will talk about bullying, including online bullying, the psychology behind this behavior, and what happens when we are bullied.
July 20 – How to be an Ally
James McKim from Organizational Ignition and the Manchester Branch of the NAACP returns to discuss how we can all be allies to those enduring bullying, abuse, and public humiliation.
- Allyship: Event slides (PDF)
- This event recording was available for a limited time on the library’s YouTube channel.
August 10 – How to Have Difficult Conversations
Dr. Kate Murphy, psychologist, and Plymouth State University professorwill join us to help us navigate difficult conversations with people in our community who have different beliefs, lifestyles, or political parties. We CAN speak civilly with each other, and Dr. Kate will teach us how.
Sunday, August 13, 2023 – The Human Library – 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Goffstown Public Library
This in-person, international event is the fifth Human Library we have hosted since 2014. At this event, neighbors from the Goffstown community will be open books, attendees will be “readers”, and open, civil discussions will occur to encourage acceptance and better understanding of difference.
“In the best sense of the word, The Human Library is a library of people and their experiences with prejudice. However, instead of paperback books, actual people are on loan for conversations. The concept is about acknowledging and challenging the prejudice that we all carry towards one another. For that reason, The Human Library creates a safe space for conversation where topics subject to taboo, marginalization, or stigmatization can be openly addressed without condemnation. The people acting as Books have directly or indirectly been exposed to prejudice, bias, or discrimination based on aspects of their person, heritage, or life experiences. At The Human Library, we invite in all questions and our Books engage in sharing their personal experiences with the Readers. We hope you will join us to learn about different perspectives and experiences!”
September 14 – Cyberbullying
Do you want to understand cyberbullying and the effects it has on our mental health? Dr. Kate Murphy, psychologist, and Plymouth State University professor, returns to help us understand cyberbullying with some suggestions about how to prevent it and the harmful effects it has on all of us. Watch the event recording on the library’s YouTube channel.
- Cyberbullying: Event slides (PDF), Event recording on YouTube