Join the “Conversation on Current Topics” at the Hopedale Senior Center

“No topic is off-limits,” said Hopedale Council on Aging Director Carole Mullen about the ongoing “Conversation on Current Topics” group. This informal chat session currently meets twice a month at the Hopedale Senior Center.
The March meeting was no exception to that open conversation. The group talked about a myriad of topics, many gleaned from the latest headlines. On a recent Friday morning, the group discussed health issues and personal safety, but also tackled racial issues and the “Me, too” movement.
To attendee Arlene Williams, it’s the respectful nature of the discussion that makes her feel the group is a comfortable space. “We’re here for understanding,” Ms. Williams said, noting that since her retirement she can find conversation lacking in her life. “I’m grateful for the group,” she noted. “Since I retried, I’m alone quite a lot.” The group, she said, is a place to express and share but in a polite setting.
Pauline Wright, another attendee, agreed. A former dancer, Ms. Wright said she finds some of the toxic nature of online discourse unsettling. The Conversations on Current Topics group allows for face-to-face discussion on any topic, including Hopedale issues, without fear of rancor. “There will often be different political views,” she said, adding that even in the current political climate the group is respectful of each other’s views.
“It can sometimes get quite emotional, but is always very respectful,” Hopedale Community House Program Director Tara Chambers said. Carole Mullen called the meetings a place to talk about common events or even discuss ideological ideas. “It’s a smorgasbord of topics,” she said.
The next Conversation on Current Topics will be held on Friday, April 5 and again on Friday, April 19. Both meetings start at 10:15 a.m. at the Hopedale Senior Center, located inside the Hopedale Community House, 43 Hope Street. For more information, call the Hopedale Council on Aging at 508 634-2208.