A Chautauqua County coalition, formed last year, is aiming to get feedback from specific members throughout the county regarding priorities and needs. The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility — I.D.E.A. — has a goal of making Chautauqua County a place where everyone belongs and has opportunities to thrive, especially those who have been historically marginalized.

The first meeting was held last week in Dunkirk. They continue at 6 p.m. Thursday with a Black/African American community meeting at Samuel G. Love Elementary School and 6 p.m. Thursday, March 2, at Love Elementary School with a Latino/Hispanic community meeting.

“We are pleased to host these initial opportunities to engage directly with members of Chautauqua County’s marginalized populations to understand the barriers that keep them from feeling fully part of our community,” said Bishop Leecroft Clarke, I.D.E.A. project director who also serves in the community as lead pastor of Healing Word Ministries Church of God. “We hope that this direct engagement is a signal to our neighbors that this I.D.E.A. Coalition is different from past efforts to address these populations’ concerns and needs. By hearing straight from our neighbors — in addition a variety of other sophisticated data- and fact-gathering efforts — the I.D.E.A. Coalition and its members will be better informed and ultimately positioned to deliver positive solutions to problems that have plagued our community for decades.”

The coalition has chosen to focus its attention initially on issues specific to the Black/African American and Latino/Hispanic communities. The initial four community meetings are intended to engage those communities in open conversation to hear from them directly regarding their concerns and needs. Refreshments will be provided.

Having a voice can help begin a dialogue. That is something all of this county, especially its numerous nonprofit agencies, need to support.