Residents urge more support for Cranberry diversity
CRANBERRY TWP — Several Cranberry Area Diversity Network volunteers pleaded with township officials Thursday for more support.
Eight volunteers with the diversity network — or CADN — spoke to the supervisors to seek better communication with township officials and more support to help the network achieve its goals.
CADN, which is a program within the township’s Parks and Recreation Department, is down to one coordinator, after previously having three, the speakers said. And the one coordinator will be leaving the network soon.
Several of the speakers said this attrition within the coordinator role is the direct result of Cranberry’s lack of communication with CADN.
“So you might ask me, ‘What do you want from me?’” said CADN volunteer Kiran Cherlakola. “I want a dialogue with the board of supervisors and the township manager, and the parks and recreation director. I want to ask all of you to spare time to sit and actually, actively listen to us, with the intent of actually listening and not with the intent of responding to us.”
Other volunteers echoed Cherlakola’s remarks.
“My concern is that the current structure is not working, because we are down from three coordinators to one,” said CADN volunteer Colleen Tanner. “The last one is Sonia (Jaiswal). ... It is my understanding that Sonia is stepping down because there is no sustainable plan for CADN. I’m fearful the progress that has been made will be lost if we don’t come to some sort of understanding.”
Diana Hoffmaster, a former CADN coordinator, said it’s clear much of Cranberry likes the network’s current programming and would like to see more of it.
“The community wants more than just learning how to cook Spanish food, how to listen to Korean music, how to learn what Indian holidays are,” Hoffmaster said. “They want action items revolving around LGBTQ+, interfaith — actual diversity, equity and inclusion issues.”
But without the continued support of the township, Hoffmaster said, such programming cannot have as much of an impact.
“I think that you need to invest. Invest in Cranberry Township’s diversity, invest in inclusion, invest in programs that center around DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion),” Hoffmaster said. “I think that you will benefit so much more as a community.”
Many speakers who urged the township to further support CADN shared their stories about finding the network, how the network has helped them feel included in the community and how it’s helped them work to include others in Cranberry.
They also volunteered stories demonstrating the progress yet to be made in making Cranberry a welcoming community.
Tanner brought up a frequent vendor at township-sponsored events who “on social media posts vitriol in regards to Muslim people" and how her young child has been called a racial slur. Hoffmaster — who was born in Ecuador — shared how visiting friends and family have been told ”in the store to speak English.“
Ava Katzenell, a senior at Seneca Valley Senior High School, said “there’s little to no representation” of people of color and LGBTQ individuals in the schools, leading to a lack of discussion.
“With discussions about these topics being avoided, minority students are ostracized and often bullied,” Katzenell added.
Mike Manipole, supervisors vice-chairman, said he felt “really deflated” by what the CADN volunteers said and pledged to sit down with the group. Supervisor Bruce Hezlep was more critical of the township’s actions.
“I hear you. We missed the mark. We need to re-address what we’re doing with you, and we need to figure out and move forward,” Hezlep said. “So, for that, I will apologize, for missing the mark and not listening to you. Now, that’s an empty word right now to you, I understand that. You know, actions speak louder than words, but ... I am a man of action, and I don’t have a lot of patience for these issues that I’m hearing, that you’re not welcome in this community.”
