Speakers scheduled for dialogues on racism

RON RAPOSA
Staff Writer

OCEANSIDE ---- Four additional speakers have been scheduled as part of the Dialogue: Racism series sponsored by Oceanside members of the Baha'i faith in an effort to promote greater unity in the city.

"The purpose of the dialogues is to assist the participants to become healers of racism in their communities," said organizer Patty Yant.

Upcoming speakers are:

Nov. 19 ---- Rob Howard, president of the North County chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Nov. 26 ---- Farhad Sorourifar, president of the Seminar TV cable network.

Dec. 3 ---- Margaret Crowdes, professor of sociology at Cal State San Marcos.

Dec. 10 ---- David Medrano, recently hired equal employment officer for the city of Oceanside.

All meetings will be from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Chavez Resource Center, 605 San Diego St., Oceanside. The meetings are free and open to the public.

Previous speakers included Oceanside City Councilwoman Carol McCauley and City Attorney Duane Bennett.

In addition, nine programs have been held with topics including Dividing Humanity, Perpetuating Oppression, Racial Prejudice Versus Racism, Cultural Racism and White Privilege, plus Stereotyping and Unconscious Racism. About 20 people have attended each session, Yant said.

Other City Council members will be invited to speak at future meetings, Yant said. A new series of programs and speakers will begin in January, she said. Further information is available by calling Yant at (760) 433-4447.

According to the mission statement for Dialogue: Racism, the series was developed to "provide a process that allows people to gain a new understanding of the history of racism, the effects of racism on all people and the beauty of our diversity."

Contact staff writer Ron Raposa at (760) 901-4067 or rraposa@nctimes.com.

11/13/01