Cambridge's History of Diversity Detailed Tonight

CAMBRIDGE, MA - Cambridge's long history of diversity will be detailed tonight as part of a presentation by the citizens' committee.

The Citizens’ Committee on Civic Unity and the City of Cambridge present the event Cambridge: Who We Are and How We Got Here tonight, May 26, 6:30 to 9 p.m., at Cambridge College, Room 152, 1000 Massachusetts Avenue. This event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. Families are welcome. The presentation is by Charles Sullivan, executive director of Cambridge Historical Commission and Clifford Cook, Planning Information Manager for the City of Cambridge, on the dynamic demographics of Cambridge and how the diverse community came to be.

The presentation will examine the diversity of the city, including when and how different groups of residents came to Cambridge, how the city’s demographics have evolved over time, and some of the conditions that have fostered changes in the community. The presentation will be followed by facilitated group discussions and an opportunity to share your thoughts and questions.

This community event, which helps connect the city’s past with the present, is intended to lay the foundation to better understand the context of the current demographics in Cambridge, as well as to help identify and explore new opportunities to build community connections and conversations, according to a release.

The present day Citizens’ Committee on Civic Unity began meeting in early 2015 and builds on the history and work of Cambridge’s prior Civic Unity Committee, which existed until 1992 and was formed to address racial discrimination faced by returning World War II veterans, according to a release.

Visit www.cambridgema.gov/civicunity for additional information and to RSVP for this event.