From sushi to trucks, new Chatom events guru works to bring people together

This story is part of a partnership between the Montgomery Advertiser and the Living Democracy program at Auburn University. Now in its 13th year, the program disperses students across rural Alabama to spend 10 weeks learning more about the inner workings of the community and writing about what they observe.

CHATOM ? From “Touch a Truck” to sushi-making, new Chatom event coordinator Crimson Tarver is the driving force for new events popping up all over town.

Tarver, who previously taught fifth- and sixth-grade English at Washington County High School, officially took on the role in March. Since then, she has hosted monthly events designed to offer new experiences to various age groups in town. “I think events keep people active and give people a reason to drop into town and visit,” Tarver said.

For June, an Instagram video inspired her to bring something new to Chatom, a sushi-making class. Tarver, who loves sushi, said a social media post on sushi-making looked like fun so she created this event for young adults in the community.

For help, she reached out to chef Brooke Middleton Crosier to teach the class. Crosier, a native of Chatom, now lives in Robertsdale. She said she has not lived in the community for 17 years and looked forward to offering this experience in her hometown.

The class, with a limit of 25 participants, filled up within 24 hours. With others signing up on a waitlist, Tarver said she hopes to offer another sushi-making class in the future.

More: In Alabama, 'third spaces' bring small towns together through forging relationships

Tarver’s first event in the spring was a “Touch a Truck” celebration that brought a random assortment of vehicles to town. After 500 showed up, she is planning a similar event for next spring.

Children had the opportunity to experience being in the driver’s seats of these big rigs ranging from 18-wheelers to farming and construction equipment. Tarver said youngsters enjoyed the experience of “climbing on them, pretending to drive them and blowing their horns.”

Local businesses including Dewey and Co., River Landing, The Brown Farm and The Lil Ice House supported the event with refreshments and family-friendly entertainment.

Her next big spring event was a community yard sale held on a Saturday morning. Booths were set up around the Courthouse Square in Chatom. More than 30 people and vendors participated.

“The community yard sale was such a wonderful idea,” vendor Shannon McIlwain said. “Three of us got spots near each other and set up in front of the courthouse. It was well organized, and foot traffic was good. At some point, I was able to go and shop. I found a few treasures for myself.”

Tarver is currently organizing her next projects. Some of these events include fun runs, sports clinics and art contests.

Tarver said the art contest will be themed “A Stroll Through Town." Students at Chatom Elementary School and Washington County High School will be assigned to contribute art for each month on the calendar. Grades will be judged, and the winners’ art will appear on a calendar that will be sold to raise funds for future events.

More: New 'Sip, Shop and Stroll' event boosts business in Camden

Tarver said hosting local events can provide an outlet for fellowship for locals and help keep the town thriving.

“Crimson is a wonderful addition to the town staff," Chatom Mayor Harold Crouch said. "She has young and refreshing ideas. Every time that you have an event, you can bring the community together in a positive way that can only increase comradery between the people.”

Hayley Platt, a Living Democracy student at Auburn University, is living and learning this summer in her hometown of Chatom, Alabama, as a Jean O'Connor Snyder Intern with the David Mathews Center for Civic Life. The nonprofit program, coordinated by the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts and Humanities in the College of Liberal Arts, prepares undergraduate college students for civic life through living-learning experiences in the summer.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: From sushi to trucks, new Chatom events guru brings people together