Talbot Family Network’s Conversations on Race series continues on Monday, October 27, with an exploration of the Talbot Historical Society’sUnited States Colored Troops: With Valor and Honor exhibition, followed by discussion and a shared meal.
Participants in the free event will be invited to explore the exhibition between 5 and 6:00 p.m., with a museum docent available to answer any questions.
Guests will then gather at the Talbot County Free Library beginning at 6:00 p.m. for dialogue, a light meal, and refreshments.
The With Valor and Honor exhibition highlights the sacrifices and contributions of local men whose courage and perseverance helped reshape American history as part of the United States Colored Troops (USCT).
Developed in collaboration with descendants, local organizations, and historians, the exhibit tells the story of the United States Colored Troops from Talbot County who served in the Civil War after the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. This order allowed both free and enslaved Black men to join the Union Army and Navy.
Of the 180,000 Black men who served, 8,718 were from Maryland, and more than 600 were from Talbot County. Their enlistment was significantly influenced by Frederick Douglass, the Talbot County-born abolitionist and orator who strongly advocated for Black participation in the war.
At 6:00 p.m., participants will gather in the Easton Meeting Room of the Talbot County Free Library for a light meal and refreshments, followed by a facilitated conversation about the relevance of this historical exploration to our community and lives today.
Nancy Andrew, executive director of the Talbot Family Network, said the Conversations on Race program is designed to create meaningful community connections through shared learning.
This exhibition offers an opportunity not just to reflect on the contributions of these men, but to consider how their legacy continues to shape Talbot County today,” Andrew said. “By engaging in dialogue after the tour, we invite participants to connect history to present-day experiences and aspirations.
Peggy Morey, executive director of the Talbot Historical Society, hopes program participants will walk away with a more profound sense of appreciation for the stories told in With Valor and Honor.
These men showed extraordinary courage in answering the call to serve, often under impossible conditions,” Morey said. “Their contributions are too often overlooked, and we are proud to honor their memory here in their own community.
The free event has limited participation, and advanced registration is required at bit.ly/oct27convo.
The Conversations on Race Series is free and open to the public, taking place monthly from September through May, typically on the last Monday of each month. Other 2025-26 Conversations on Race partners include the Water’s Edge Museum, Shore Lit, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, and more.
The Talbot Family Network serves as Talbot County’s Local Management Board and was established by the state of Maryland to change the way services are provided to children and families. TFN identifies priorities and targets resources for the jurisdiction’s communities while coordinating child and family services and administering state resources. Local Management Boards improve coordination across state agencies and empower local stakeholders to help drive local priorities.
More than 50 community resource partners will be gathered for the October 18 Talbot County Resource Fair, taking place at Easton Elementary School. Hosted by the Neighborhood Service Center and its community partners, the free event will feature $50 gift card giveaways every half hour, a $100 gift card Golden Ticket, children’s activities, a bike rodeo, a provided meal, and more.
Talbot County residents are invited to the Community Resource Expo on Saturday, Oct. 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Easton Elementary School, where more than 50 resource partners will be on hand to connect community members with a wide range of services designed to help support families, individuals, and older adults.
Hosted by the Neighborhood Service Center and its community partners, the free event will feature $50 gift card giveaways every half hour, a $100 gift card Golden Ticket, children’s activities, a rolling bicycle rodeo, a provided meal, and more.
A free technology drawing takes place at noon, with an iPad and a laptop awarded to the lucky winners. The packages also come with complimentary setup support provided by the Apollo’s Dream Foundation.
Event attendees will have access to numerous resources for free dental and health screenings, as well as mental and behavioral health resources, including peer support; housing support; utility assistance; a legal aid clinic including expungement services; budgeting and money management; and other services for children and youth, seniors, and veterans.
Limited transportation is available and must be reserved by calling 410-763-6745 by Oct. 10.
“Events like the Community Resource Expo make a real difference for families who may not know where to turn,” said Andy Hollis, executive director of the Neighborhood Service Center. “Our partners will fill Easton Elementary’s gymnasium, media center, cafeteria, hallways, and more to ensure resources are accessible, coordinated, and responsive to the needs of our community.”
Hollis also emphasized the importance of collaboration in strengthening local support systems.
“The Expo brings together organizations that are dedicated to helping residents thrive,” Hollis said. “By working side by side, we can meet people where they are and connect them with the tools and services they need.”
The Neighborhood Service Center, Inc. is a nonprofit Community Action Agency that provides services and assistance to low-income families and advanced-aged residents in Talbot County. More is at www.nsctalbotmd.org.
EVENT PHOTOS
Talbot County residents are invited to the Community Resource Expo on Saturday, Oct. 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Easton Elementary School, where more than 50 resource partners will be on hand to connect community members with a wide range of services designed to help support families, individuals, and older adults.
Hosted by the Neighborhood Service Center and its community partners, the free event will feature $50 gift card giveaways every half hour, a $100 gift card Golden Ticket, children’s activities, a rolling bicycle rodeo, a provided meal, and more.
A free technology drawing takes place at noon, with an iPad and a laptop awarded to the lucky winners. The packages also come with complimentary setup support provided by the Apollo’s Dream Foundation.
Event attendees will have access to numerous resources for free dental and health screenings, as well as mental and behavioral health resources, including peer support; housing support; utility assistance; a legal aid clinic including expungement services; budgeting and money management; and other services for children and youth, seniors, and veterans.
Events like the Community Resource Expo make a real difference for families who may not know where to turn,” said Andy Hollis, executive director of the Neighborhood Service Center. “Our partners will fill Easton Elementary’s gymnasium, media center, cafeteria, hallways, and more to ensure resources are accessible, coordinated, and responsive to the needs of our community.
Hollis also emphasized the importance of collaboration in strengthening local support systems.
The Expo brings together organizations that are dedicated to helping residents thrive,” Hollis said. “By working side by side, we can meet people where they are and connect them with the tools and services they need.
The Neighborhood Service Center, Inc. is a nonprofit Community Action Agency that provides services and assistance to low-income families and advanced-aged residents in Talbot County. More is at www.nsctalbotmd.org.
“Big Tent Show,” by palette knife painter Dane Tilghman, is part of “Cryin’ Out Loud” at Spiralis Gallery and will be featured in the Conversations on Race series Monday, Sept. 29. The program begins at 5:30 p.m. at the gallery with an exhibition exploration, followed by a shared meal and discussion at the Talbot County Free Library. Hosted by Talbot Family Network, the event required advance registration.
Talbot Family Network’s Conversations on Race series will begin its 2025-26 season with an evening at Spiralis Gallery exploring the “Cryin’ Out Loud” exhibition, followed by a facilitated discussion and a shared meal at the Talbot County Free Library on Monday, Sept. 29, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
“Cryin’ Out Loud” celebrates the legacy, emotion, and cultural power of the Blues, and showcases the work of artists Dane Tilghman, Don O’Bannon, and Emery Franklin. A special feature of the exhibition will be “Blues Chapel” by Susan Lenz, an installation honoring female Blues legends. “Cryin’ Out Loud” opened on September 5 and continues through November 2.
Conversations on Race registered participants will gather at Spiralis Gallery, located at 35 W. Dover St. in Easton, at 5:30 p.m. to view the exhibit and hear a short gallery talk by owner Gail Patterson. Following the tour, the group will move to the library’s Easton meeting room for a light dinner, refreshments, and a facilitated dialogue.
The event is free, with limited participation and advanced registration currently closed.
“This partnership with Spiralis gives us the chance to enter this conversation through the richness of story-based art,” said Talbot Family Network Executive Director Nancy Andrew. “Hearing each other’s interpretations will make this a meaningful opportunity to make connections across the community.”
Spiralis Gallery focuses on emerging and mid-career artists to amplify the visual narratives of Afro-Caribbean artists while presenting bold pieces, vibrant fiber art, bricolage, and sculpture. More about the gallery and its artists is at www.spiralisgallery.com.
“Art is a necessary and vital part of our human experience; it can inform, challenge, inspire, and comfort us,” said Patterson. “The mission of Spiralis is to use art as a vehicle to spark human conversation, which can lead to deeper connections. I hope that art can be used in this case to lead us to more authentic conversations about race.”
The Spiralis Gallery program will conclude with a facilitated discussion at the library, where participants will reflect on the artwork and explore their personal narratives and mental models around race.
Upcoming Sessions
The fall schedule continues with a partnership with the Talbot County Historical Society around its “USCT Exhibit: With Valor and Honor.” Participants in the October 24 Conversation on Race will be invited to tour the exhibition before gathering at the Talbot County Free Library for dialogue.
The Conversations on Race Series is free and open to the public, taking place each month from September through May, generally on the last Monday of the month. Other 2025-26 Conversations on Race partners will include the Water’s Edge Museum, Shore Lit, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, and more.
About Talbot Family Network
The Talbot Family Network serves as Talbot County’s Local Management Board and was established by the state of Maryland to change the way services are provided to children and families. TFN identifies priorities and targets resources for the jurisdiction’s communities while coordinating child and family services and administering state resources. Local Management Boards improve coordination across state agencies and empower local stakeholders to help drive local priorities.
The mission of the Talbot Family Network is to identify and develop support systems for a healthy, safe, caring, and equitable community for all Talbot County children and families through collaboration with public and private entities. For more information, visit www.talbotfamilynetwork.org.
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