Talking Across the Aisle Part 1

Joining the co-hosts for the sixth episode of THE Conversation are guest panelists
Ewell Hopkins, Troy Clarkson, and Dr. Donna Jackson. Ethan Peal, Paul Rifkin,
Ken Armstead, and Gina Brown also appear on the program. The discussion in this edition
of THE Conversation primarily focuses on two questions: “Why do we find it necessary to see and treat those different from us as less than how we see ourselves?” and “How do we overcome our deep divisions in our country?”

Along with his professional career focused on strategic technology sales and business development in multiple industries, Ewell Hopkins is a member of the Oak Bluffs Planning Board in Martha’s Vineyard. He is also involved in various community organizations, including Habitat for Humanity and the Democratic Council of Martha’s Vineyard. In 2016, he was
a candidate for State Representative for the Barnstable, Dukes & Nantucket District.

Troy Clarkson is the Chief Financial Officer for the City of Brockton and the Principal of Clarkson Consulting, specializing in government relations, strategic planning, and more.
A former member of the Town of Falmouth Select Board, a contributor to the Falmouth Enterprise newspaper through his weekly column, “Troy’s Take,” Mr. Clarkson is also the author of two books, Succanessett Snapshot and Out of the Woods: 365 Ways to not be a Dung Beetle.

Donna Jackson, Psy.D is a doctoral-level clinical psychologist for Conch Shell Counseling in Falmouth, a private practice focusing on families affected by Alzheimer's and Dementia.
In 2015, Dr. Jackson, a support group facilitator for Alzheimer’s Family Support Services of Cape Cod, initiated the monthly Falmouth Together Memory Cafe at Falmouth Museums on the Green to provide a welcoming space for people living with memory changes.