[Vision2020] PR - Human Rights Commission Forum

[Stephanie Kalasz]

Press Release - City of Moscow Human Rights Commission Presents Social
Justice Forum

To:      Interested Media

From:  Gary J. Riedner, City Supervisor

            206 E. 3rd St., Moscow, Idaho 83843

Telephone: (208) 883-7006; Fax: (208) 883-7018

E-mail: griedner at ci.moscow.id.us

c:         Mayor, City Council, All City Users

Re:      City of Moscow Press Release

Date:   February 11, 2009

 

For Immediate Release:

 

City of Moscow Human Rights Commission Presents Social Justice Forum

 

Moscow, Idaho, February 11, 2009 - City of Moscow Human Rights
Commission is presenting a Social Justice Forum on Tuesday, February
17th, at the 1912 Center, 412 Third Street, Moscow, Idaho at 7 p.m.
entitled "Us vs. Them:  A Conversation on Race and Culture on the
Palouse." 

 

Panel Members:  Dr. Ed Galindo, Richard Hill, Victor Mazo, Elizabeth
Siler

When: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 @ 7:00 pm 

Where: 1912 Center, 412 Third Street, Moscow, Idaho

 

The purpose of this forum is to raise awareness of racial and cultural
differences and common grounds among community members.  First, to be
aware of our differences; second, to celebrate our differences and see
them as pillars of strength; third, to learn from one another; fourth,
to be diligent in our recognition of racism before it manifests itself
through violence; and fifth, to create a more healthy community that
embraces all of humanity. We as a nation have made great strides in the
last 40 years. We as a world have a long way to go before all people are
treated with dignity and respect. Although, we on the Palouse enjoy a
relatively friendly and safe community, there have been members of our
community engaged in hateful acts and others who have been marginalized.
We must not tolerate hate and ignorance and must not remain silent when
they occur in our communities, be they local or global ones. Through
compassion and education we can promote a more healthy community. This
forum is free, fun and open to the public. Please join us in our efforts
to celebrate our community, to meet our neighbors, and to better
understand and build a more vibrant community we all share here on the
Palouse. This forum is co-sponsored by UNITY- The Umbrella Multicultural
Student Organization Group at the University of Idaho.

 

What does it mean to be human? Being human means forming alliances and
communities. Being human means experiencing common grounds and
differences. As individuals and groups we tend to form alliances with
those whom we perceive shared commonalities with; thus creating a
culture of "Us" and "Them". We are all "Us" and we are all "Them" in
various settings, at various times, and for various purposes. A healthy
community is one that is able to move fluidly between those boundaries
and afford a sense of inclusion and appreciation of the diversity and
dissimilarities within.

 

This social justice forum explores several questions: What does it mean
and how does it feel to be one of "Us" or one of "Them"?  How does our
sense of group membership affect our actions and interactions, our
empathies, and our dreams?  How does our inflexibility of affiliation
impact the well being of our community? 

 

The rich dialogue among and with the panelists will afford the community
a deep and engaging view into these and other questions about race and
culture on the Palouse.

 

The panelists: Dr. Ed Galindo is Director of National Resources Tribal
Cooperative and Associate Director of American Indian Education in
Science, Aquaculture Research Institute, University of Idaho. He is also
a NASA Fellow.

 

Richard Hill is a graduate student doing research in Neuroscience
(Computational) at the University of Idaho. He is past president of, and
current advisor for, the University of Idaho Chapter, National Society
of Black Engineers. He also had the great pleasure to serve as a
Democratic Delegate for the State of Idaho for President Barack Obama at
the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.

 

Victor Mazo is an undergraduate student at the University of Idaho. He
is a founding member of Lambda Theta Phi Latino Fraternity and serves as
Programming Chair for the Multicultural Greek Council. He also acts as
Co-Chair for UNITY and is a Social Action Intern at ASUI Center for
Volunteerism and Civic Engagement.  He is a member of OLEA and MECHA.

 

Elizabeth Siler is an ESL Specialist and a Clinical Professor in the
English Department at Washington State University.  She is an advocate
for international students concerns. 

 

The City of Moscow - Human Rights Commission cordially invites all to
attend this free, fun and informative social justice forum. 

 

###

 

 

Jen Pfiffner

City of Moscow

Assistant to the City Supervisor

206 E Third Street

Moscow, ID 83843

(208) 883-7123

 

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