Bedford TV Features ‘Faces of Bedford’ Series of Video Interviews

Town Archivist Ashley Large and Town Manager Matt Hanson (left) accept the compilation video from Brian Hebert, executive director of Bedford TV, and Marilou Barsam of Bedford Embraces Diversity. Courtesy photo

A series of 13 video interviews produced over the past year to reflect the town’s diverse population is now available on Bedford TV’s YouTube Channel.

The profiles, collectively called “Faces of Bedford,” was prepared by volunteers from Bedford Embraces Diversity with technical support from Bedford TV.

Subjects of the interviews, along with town officials and other invited guests, attended a premiere on Sunday afternoon in Old Town Hall featuring a 36-minute video compilation of excerpts, produced by Bedford TV.

“Our goal in producing ‘Faces of Bedford’ video interviews reflects our long-standing mission: to acknowledge, respect and celebrate the diversity of people who live in Bedford,” said Marilou Barsam, one of the founders of Bedford Embraces Diversity and a driver of the project, following the formal program.

Barsam and Bedford TV Executive Director Brian Hebert presented the compilation in the form of a flash drive to Town Manager Matt Hanson and Bedford Town Archivist Ashley Large, Superintendent of Schools Cliff Chuang, Select Board members Bopha Malone and Paul Mortenson, and Bedford Director of Health and Human Services Heidi Porter.

The series was modeled after a photographic exhibit unveiled in the spring of 2006, featuring 28 families representing a variety of races, generations, economic backgrounds, and belief systems. The project included photographs taken by volunteers Holly Bloomfield and Jan van Steenwijk.

Front, from left: Rav Sheth, Terrence Parker, Bobbie Ennis, Sarah McGinley, Brown and Lois Pulliam, Don Vinh, Nibha Jolly and Akshat and Ashish Bhatia, and Sarah Thompson; rear, from left: Brian Guay, Brian Hebert, executive director of Bedford TV, Tricia Anderson, president of Bedford Embraces Diversity, Yoko Chun, Dori Rhodes, Marilou Barsam, Ralph Hammond, and Mike Rosenberg. Courtesy photo

Sue Baldauf, Director of Youth and Family Services at the time, coordinated the effort as part of the No Place for Hate campaign. Baldauf, now retired, attended Sunday’s premiere and was recognized for the precedent.

Individuals profiled in “Faces of Bedford” are Gyasi Burks-Abbott, Yoko Chun, Brian Guay, Ralph Hammond, Terrence Parker, and Don Vinh. Featured in groups of two or more are Ashish Bhatia and Nibha Jolley and their son Akshat, Sarah Thompson and Barsam, Sarah and Michael McGinley, Lois and Brown Pulliam, the Sheth Family, Bobbie Ennis and Mike Rosenberg, and Leah Devereaux and her husband Rich Razumny, who passed away five months ago after battling ALS.

Volunteer interviewers from the Bedford Embraces Diversity Board were Jacinda Barbehenn, Dori Rhodes, Balsam, and Hammond.

Bedford Embraces Diversity, in its 11^th year, also considers its role “to address any problems or situations and make our town an even more inclusive place to live,” Barsam said in a conversation. “Our interviewees feel Bedford is doing a good job in welcoming folks from all backgrounds – and that when there were exceptions it seems someone was always there to step in and help.”

She added, “With the current temperature of the country being so hot and divisive over many issues related to diversity it is a comfort to know Bedford does not mirror this trend and strives to be better.”

To see what’s on Bedford TV, go to http://71.184.88.17/external_schedule/simple_day_schedule/1?responsive=true.