RTD 50th Public Square on Wednesday to discuss five topics

A day of talking baseball, food, same-sex marriage, mental health, and future discussion topics.

February 3, 2014; 11:29 AM • by Richard Hayes

The Richmond-Times Dispatch’s Public Square began the Public Square program in 2005 to bring Richmonders together to discuss both regional and wide ranging topics. This Wednesday will mark its 50^th conversation. To celebrate the milestone they will host a day-long, five-topic line-up on Wednesday, Feb. 5., in the first-floor auditorium of the paper’s downtown Richmond headquarters.

A ballpark in Shockoe Bottom – Starts at 10 am
Why RVA has become a great place to eat and drink – Starts at 11:30 am (estimated)
Reconsidering Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage – Starts at 1:30 pm
Improving mental health care treatment and safety – Starts at 3:00 pm
Topic suggestions for the next 50 Public Squares – Starts at 4:30 pm

The public is invited to attend one or all of the 50^th Public Square discussions. More information on the topics can be found on RTD.

“Taken together, the five discussions reflect our coverage that each day informs you about the nation, state and Richmond region,” said Tom Silvestri, president and publisher of The Times-Dispatch, who has moderated every Public Square since the first, held in September 2005. “The Public Squares demonstrate that in Richmond, we can hold discussions on issues of importance to our community with civility, where respect can rub shoulders with disagreement, where debate means trying to understand, not drown out the other side.”