On Sunday, September 23, 2001 a group of Tiverton residents came together at the Essex Library to discuss what a sense of community meant to them. From that discussion group, a common theme of the issues raised by the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center engendered further meetings to explore the possibility of bringing to Tiverton a variety of resources which would provide insight into Middle Eastern culture and the tenants of Islam.

To this end, the Tiverton Group decided to apply their Dialogue grant funds as follows:

Feb 18, 2002 7 PM Reading and Discussion of Islam: A History by Karen Anderson, Essex Library

Feb 24, 2002 2:30 PM Opening Reception, Talk and Exhibit*, Tiverton Town Hall
Mohammed Sharif will speak about Islam, and light refreshments will be served (provided by the original participants in the Dialogues).
(*exhibit will continue until March 7th)

March 11, 2002 7 PM Short Stories Discussion: Stories by Naguib Mahfouz and Alifa Rifaat Essex Library

March 17, 2002 2 PM Islamic Society at the Grass Roots: At the Core, Women and Family. Holy Trinity Church
Professor Carolyn Fleur-Lobban will speak on the subject of women in the Arab world. (The Friends of the Tiverton Libraries will provide light refreshments.)

April 8, 2002 7 PM Reading and Discussion of Jihad vs. Mc World by Samuel Barber. Essex Library

April 15, 2002 7 PM "The Nature and Ethics of War," Sakonnet Bay Manor. A talk by Porter Halyburton, Instructor, Naval War College and Retired Commander, US Navy
(The manor will provide light refreshments.)

To learn more about Rhode Island Dialogues, please contact the Dialogues coordinator at ourtowns@etal.uri.edu or call RICH at 273-2250.