Please register at ColumbiaAssociation.org/columbiadialogues .
Meetings will be held at evening time.
|
Discussions on race, class and culture seek to help make Columbia a more inclusive community Columbia residents are being asked to take part in a series of facilitated small-group discussions on the intersections of race, class and culture — sessions that will help people find common ground and learn from fellow community members who are different from them. “Columbia was founded on the inclusion of all people. As we celebrate Columbia’s 50th year, it is vital that we provide a space for community members to intentionally engage with and listen to others different from ourselves,” said Jane Dembner, director of planning and community affairs for Columbia Association, which has helped organize the discussions as part of Columbia’s 50th Birthday celebration. “This exploration will help keep biases in check and also make us question assumptions we make about other community members.” The goal of ColumbiaDialogues is to create a personal and collective commitment among participants to help make the community more inclusive. “We want participants to nurture trust, explore our differences and recommit to inclusion as the way of life here in Columbia,” Dembner said. “This is important as Columbia is ever more diverse and needs now — more than ever — to work to make sure we remain an inclusive community.” ColumbiaDialogues is the result of a collaborative partnership of representatives of faith-based, educational and civic organizations as part of Columbia’s 50th Birthday celebration. The Howard County Public School System’s Office of Cultural Proficiency is providing the trained facilitators for these dialogues. Each small group will reflect the diversity of the Columbia community so that they can learn from each other. Sessions will begin this spring. Visit ColumbiaAssociation.org/columbiadialogues to learn how to participate. Space is limited. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, March 28. If interest exceeds capacity, CA may hold additional sessions in the future and/or encourage other organizations to sponsor similar sessions. For more information, please email Jane.Dembner@ColumbiaAssociation.org. About Columbia Association
Columbia Association (CA) is a nonprofit community services corporation that manages Columbia, Maryland, a planned community that is home to approximately 100,000 people and several thousand businesses. Additional information about CA is available at ColumbiaAssociation.org.
|
|
Only in Columbia! If only the outside world was as non-discriminatory and willing to seek fairness and justice as residents of Columbia en masse. Anyone who lived in Howard County before Columbia existed would have no trouble seeing how the emergence of that city has improved the social climate here. I am one who did live outside of Columbia in Howard County since the early 60s (in the bad old days when there really was pervasive discrimination here and everywhere) and until 2009. Unless there really is need for guilt feelings, I suggest there is no need for them. Good luck in finding bigots who are willing to join in the talks. I’d rather organize for action and resistance against the evil outside forces.