Talbot Thrive’s 2025 Easton Candidate Questionnaire reveals a strong consensus among Town Council candidates in favor of safer and more inclusive streets for walking and biking. Nearly every respondent expressed support for key mobility improvements such as adding pedestrian push-button signals at intersections, making sidewalks ADA-compliant, and seeking outside funding to support these upgrades. This aligns with Talbot Thrive’s mission to expand equitable access to transportation and public spaces across Talbot County.

Several candidates highlighted personal or community experiences that shape their priorities—whether it was caring for family members with disabilities, living near busy intersections, or recognizing the need to better connect neighborhoods through infrastructure. Most were open to collaborating on a Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan for Easton, working in parallel with the county’s new Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission. Notably, support was also expressed for reducing vehicle speeds and improving traffic enforcement, particularly where residents and children are most vulnerable.

While a few responses were conditional—especially regarding replacing signalized intersections with 4-way stops or adding shared lane markings—there was general enthusiasm for projects that enhance public safety without compromising Easton’s historic character. Several candidates also showed interest in event-based economic opportunities, voicing support for temporary road closures to host biking and running events modeled on successful regional examples like the Eagleman Triathlon.

Six out of the seven candidates responded to the questionnaire. Talbot Thrive is grateful to Lynn Keefe, Moonyene Jackson-Amis, Rev. Elmer Neal Davis, Frank Gunsallus, Don Abbatiello, and Robert Ranking for sharing their perspectives. Cameron Keefe, running for Town Council Ward IV, did not respond. We thank all participants for engaging with these important issues and look forward to continued collaboration in building a healthier, more connected Easton.

View the full responses to the questions at: https://talbotthrive.org/2025-town-of-easton-candidate-survey/

About Talbot Thrive

Talbot Thrive, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was founded in response to growing concerns raised by local residents during a series of community meetings in 2021. Walkers, runners, people on bikes, and others who rely on active transportation shared their frustration over the lack of safe, accessible infrastructure in Talbot County. In answer to those concerns, Talbot Thrive was created to champion safer, more inclusive options for everyone who walks, runs, rides, or rolls—advocating for a healthier, more connected Talbot County.

Natalie Gillard, creator of Factuality: The Board Game, will be at the Talbot County Free Library’s Easton branch to facilitate the interactive game experience and lead discussions on Monday, April 28, beginning at 5:30 p.m. as part of the Talbot Family Network’s Conversations on Race series. Space is limited for this free family-friendly event, with more information and pre-registration required at bit.ly/april28convo.

The Talbot Family Network, in partnership with the Talbot County Free Library’s Easton branch, will present Factuality: The Board Game on Monday, April 28, at 5:30 p.m. as part of its Conversations on Race series.

Factuality is an interactive board game that immerses players in real-life experiences of structural inequality, fostering conversations about privilege, discrimination, and social justice in an engaging and educational format.

Game creator Natalie Gillard will be onsite to facilitate the experience and lead discussions. A light dinner and refreshments will be provided at this free event, with space limited and pre-registration required at bit.ly/april28convo.

“This experience can be especially rewarding for small groups,” said Nancy Andrew, executive director of the Talbot Family Network. “While all our programs are open to families, Factuality lends itself to generating meaningful, and often eye-opening intergenerational dialogue about unconscious inequities in our own lives.”

About Natalie Gillard and Factuality
For nearly a decade, Natalie Gillard has led conversations that challenge perspectives and inspire change. As the creator of Factuality, an interactive experience designed to simulate the impact of systemic inequities, she has facilitated discussions with more than 64,000 participants worldwide.

Factuality blends fact-based realities with interactive dialogue, offering an accessible approach to exploring social inequalities. The program has been integrated into professional development initiatives at multinational corporations, universities, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.

Companies such as Google, Nike, and American Express, along with institutions including Harvard, Princeton, and Yale, have engaged with the experience. Even correctional facilities such as Rikers Island and organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters and the American Heart Association have incorporated Factuality into their training programs.

Gillard created Factuality to address what she saw as a critical gap in traditional diversity and inclusion training.

“I set out to create Factuality nearly a decade ago to offer an accessible way to raise awareness about the impact of policies and practices,” Gillard said. “Frustrated with the limitations of conventional training methods, I wanted to develop an experience that would meet participants wherever they were on their social awareness journey—even if Factuality was their very first stop.”

She describes the experience as a way to navigate the complexities of lived experiences, bridging the gap between differing opinions and factual realities.

“Factuality is the best thing to have ever happened to me,” she said. “And according to thousands of participants, it’s the best thing to have happened to them too.”

With its growing impact, Factuality continues to foster meaningful conversations that challenge perspectives and create space for greater understanding.

Additional Conversation on Race
 On Monday, May 19, the Talbot Family Network will partner with Building African American Minds (BAAM) for a screening of the short documentary film Get on the Bus. Details and pre-registration are available at bit.ly/may19convo.

About the Talbot Family Network
 The Talbot Family Network serves as Talbot County’s Local Management Board, established by the state of Maryland to improve the way services are provided to children and families. TFN identifies priorities, targets resources, coordinates child and family services, and administers state resources to improve local communities.

The mission of the Talbot Family Network is to identify and develop support systems for a healthy, safe, caring, and equitable community for all Talbot County children and families through collaboration with public and private entities.

For more information, visit www.talbotfamilynetwork.org.