From the Director’s Chair

A message from the Executive Director, Tammy Forrest

With spring in motion, I’m spending some time reflecting. Central hosted its first outdoor community dinner since 2023, and, while it was a lesson in flexibility, it was lovely. Many of you know that our community dinners are typically held outside at The Walter and Marion English Center for Art and Community. We have a tent set up to provide both shade and protection from the elements. The tent gives us the freedom to gather and sit down together for a meal each month and listen to good music thanks to DJ BHB and enjoy some creative expression with Master Artist, Richard Duarte.

Unfortunately, the weather was too much for the tent to withstand, hitting us with rain, wind, and maybe even a little bit of hail, depending on who you ask. This is the best part, though: the weather didn’t keep us down. Shout out to Mr. Adaptable, David Cooper, for maneuvering the process with ease. He quickly moved our operation indoors and we served food directly from the kitchen inside the English Center. We were able to reach around 50 neighbors during a spring storm… and that’s the point.

People came out, regardless of weather, to say hi and have a meal. It’s a privilege to be part of this community and see its heartbeat during events like this. I’m also very proud to be among those who dedicate their time to facilitating community, the essence of Central Community House.