Meeting the promise of Sandusky as a welcoming city

It was summer 2018 at an international pot luck hosted by the Center for Peace Through Understanding that the grassroots initiative for Sandusky becoming a welcoming city was born. The idea of making Sandusky a welcoming city for all resonated with CPTU members; the declaration would further the city's revitalization and profile and embody the CPTU's ideals of diversity, inclusion and understanding. A welcoming resolution would declare the city to be welcoming and safe, condemn discrimination, harassment or unjust treatment based on race, religion, or ethnic origin and celebrate and acknowledge the cultural, civic and economic contributions of its newest immigrant members. After the CPTU approached city officials in September 2018, city commissioners unanimously approved the resolution declaring Sandusky a welcoming city. Enthusiasm for the resolution resulted in creating the Welcoming City task force. The positive energy generated in the city's bicentennial year rolled into the next one with several events highlighting and celebrating Sandusky's diversity and welcoming nature: January 2019's Shine on the Shore at Shoreline Park and Sandusky Sunrise on the International Day of Peace in September. Residents of our city braved the cold weather with candlelight and poetry to ring in the new year with peace, inclusion and understanding. Later that year in September 2019, Sandusky Sunrise showcased our city's storied history as a stop on the Underground Railroad, featured cultural music and dances from our city's diverse immigrant communities. It marked the anniversary of the approval of the city's resolution by the reading of key passages of the resolution in both English and the different languages of origin of our residents. Just as momentum for these efforts was building, the COVID crisis hit and everything came to a standstill, along with major cutbacks in city personnel. The focus turned to survival with little opportunity to welcome people into the community, as people feared to even leave their own homes. Now, a year later, hope is in the air for all of us and our community. Sandusky again has an opportunity to put the words of the welcoming city resolution into action by helping to create a safe, connected community and realizing the contributions and benefits these migrants offer to our city. Corso's proposal to purchase the St. Paul Lutheran Church building and properties, including two homes, and turn these buildings into dormitory-style living for their seasonal migrant workers from Central America could have tremendous benefits for the city and represent the spirit of Sandusky as a welcoming city. While CPTU members are keen about this proposal, they, like other city residents, do have questions that require further clarification. Will Corso's be transparent with detailed renderings of the planned building renovations? Are there repurposing plans that assure us that migrants will be provided with adequate living space and conditions? Will the city set standards for the project? Before the CPTU can offer its full, unreserved support for this project, these questions need to be thoroughly answered. It is our hope that there will be full disclosure regarding these issues to city residents and these concerns will be addressed satisfactorily. At that time, the proposal can and should move forward. The CPTU was created in 2016 to be a non-religious, non-political organization with a mission to "serve as a community resource fostering peace within individuals, as well as in their relationships with one another, within the community both local and global, and with the rest of the natural world through education, action and interaction." They meet in-person at 6 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at First Congregational United Church of Christ, now located at 1158 Cleveland Road in the Sandusky Plaza. Masks are required and social distancing is practiced. All are welcome. For more information, call 419-625-8105.