AUBURN - A group of local stakeholders are opening up the lines of dialogue to help move the community past racism.
The Auburn Enlarged City School District, Auburn/Cayuga NAACP, Cayuga Community College, Change International and the New York Institute of Dance and Education are collaborating to host “Moving Past Racism,” a community-wide dialogue on racism and its entrenchment in local spheres on Monday evening.
The forum, held at the Auburn Holiday Inn, is free and open to the public.
“We want to create an honest dialogue that lets all the parents and students of this city, as well as community members, know we hear them,” NYIDE president and forum moderator Sean McLeod said. “When it comes to race, we look to create a real bridge between African Americans and our global brothers, who sometimes fail to understand one another.”
But the path to real understanding and creating lasting solutions is not going to happen with just one dialogue.
While McLeod is seeking tangible solutions, he realizes nothing is going to change with one forum.
“But I also want everyone to know,” he said, “that there is no magic pill; we are going to have to work on it, and we are going to have to work on it together.”
The event is a follow-up from the Auburn school district's diversity task force, assembled in 2005 and comprised of administrators, advocates, community members and board members to assist in initiatives toward racial cultural understanding.
According to Superintendent J.D. Pabis, after several community forums and task force meetings, “it was made quite clear that in the eyes of some of the community members and some of the members on the diversity task force that this is a black/white issue,” he said.
“Our mission is to have students be successful in life, and if the perceptions of individuals are that racism is holding them back, then we would like to get away from that perception and embrace color - which is part of diversity - embrace diversity so that all children can be successful in life,” he later added. “Being successful in school is only the pathway for being a successful member of society.”
The forum will be divided into two parts: the first, a facilitated discussion of race in the city, school district and county; and the second, a panel discussion with people who lead the city's cultural education.
McLeod will utilize his six-step communications approach in this forum: Example the behaviors that we'd like to see in our lives and community; do not complain; identify issues; cultivate solutions; move to action; and be inclusive.
Auburn NAACP President Eli Hernandez said the forum is about building relationships.
“The biggest thing we are trying to do is have everyone, no matter what color you are, saying, 'Let's begin to work together. Let's take our town and take our city and make it the best it can be.”
“I think this is the beginning of a real change in Auburn,” he later added. “I truly believe this is true change that is taking place.”
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net
If you go:
What: “Moving Past Racism”
Who: Sponsored by the Auburn Enlarged City School District, Auburn/Cayuga NAACAP, Cayuga Community College, Change International and New York Institute of Dance and Education
Where: Auburn Holiday Inn, North Street, Auburn
When: 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22
The forum, held at the Auburn Holiday Inn, is free and open to the public.
“We want to create an honest dialogue that lets all the parents and students of this city, as well as community members, know we hear them,” NYIDE president and forum moderator Sean McLeod said. “When it comes to race, we look to create a real bridge between African Americans and our global brothers, who sometimes fail to understand one another.”
But the path to real understanding and creating lasting solutions is not going to happen with just one dialogue.
While McLeod is seeking tangible solutions, he realizes nothing is going to change with one forum.
“But I also want everyone to know,” he said, “that there is no magic pill; we are going to have to work on it, and we are going to have to work on it together.”
The event is a follow-up from the Auburn school district's diversity task force, assembled in 2005 and comprised of administrators, advocates, community members and board members to assist in initiatives toward racial cultural understanding.
According to Superintendent J.D. Pabis, after several community forums and task force meetings, “it was made quite clear that in the eyes of some of the community members and some of the members on the diversity task force that this is a black/white issue,” he said.
“Our mission is to have students be successful in life, and if the perceptions of individuals are that racism is holding them back, then we would like to get away from that perception and embrace color - which is part of diversity - embrace diversity so that all children can be successful in life,” he later added. “Being successful in school is only the pathway for being a successful member of society.”
The forum will be divided into two parts: the first, a facilitated discussion of race in the city, school district and county; and the second, a panel discussion with people who lead the city's cultural education.
McLeod will utilize his six-step communications approach in this forum: Example the behaviors that we'd like to see in our lives and community; do not complain; identify issues; cultivate solutions; move to action; and be inclusive.
Auburn NAACP President Eli Hernandez said the forum is about building relationships.
“The biggest thing we are trying to do is have everyone, no matter what color you are, saying, 'Let's begin to work together. Let's take our town and take our city and make it the best it can be.”
“I think this is the beginning of a real change in Auburn,” he later added. “I truly believe this is true change that is taking place.”
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net
If you go:
What: “Moving Past Racism”
Who: Sponsored by the Auburn Enlarged City School District, Auburn/Cayuga NAACAP, Cayuga Community College, Change International and New York Institute of Dance and Education
Where: Auburn Holiday Inn, North Street, Auburn
When: 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22
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