Lakewood — Dr. John Scott told the Lakewood City Council on May 19 that a series of workshops and a keynote event exploring the notion of ‘‘Beloved Community’’ drew volunteers, teens and adults and produced requests for ongoing city support and space.

Scott, who described his background in community leadership and education, said the events used theater, creative writing, movement and dialogue to help participants reflect on identity, healing and cross‑generational connection. He asked the city to consider backing more multi‑generational, interactive workshops and spaces where the practices could continue.

"We wanted to invite people to really think about their own relationship to beloved community and share some stories about that as well," Dr. Scott said. "A lot of the feedback that we got after the sessions was that folks wanted more of this, more practice, more conversations, and more engagement."

A senior at Gig Harbor High School, Leila Genevieve, spoke about the teen workshop and told the council the program used movement and theater rather than a traditional classroom format.

"It wasn't your typical classroom setting. I wasn't sitting at a desk listening to someone speak. I was up, moving, laughing, and learning alongside other students my age," Leila said. "Programs like these build understanding, connection, and hope. And right now, students need that more than ever."

Scott said the workshops included an intergenerational exercise in which teenagers requested opportunities to meet and talk with older residents to exchange life experience. He suggested the city could help by designating public spaces and providing logistical support so the workshops could continue beyond a single event.

Actions and next steps

No formal council action was taken. Organizers left the council with a request for city concurrence and ongoing support for creating multicultural, multigenerational engagement spaces and recurring workshop programming. Staff and council members asked clarifying questions about metrics and evaluation; Scott said organizers plan both qualitative and quantitative evaluation tools and will provide results to the city.

Discussion vs. decision

Discussion: overview of workshops, participation levels, and requests for sustained programming. Direction: organizers asked the city to consider ongoing support; staff will be the point of contact for any follow up. Decision: none this evening.

Why this matters

Organizers framed the work as civic capacity‑building: the workshops are meant to strengthen community connection, provide safe spaces for youth and adults, and improve cross‑generational understanding. The presentation asked the city to consider long‑term support to sustain the program’s benefits.