Conference To Promote Positive Race Relations

UNPUBLISHED CORRECTION: Wrong name: John Goldman is the Spokane County Sheriff.

Last September, the Spokane Task Force on Race Relations issued a call to action.

This loose coalition of elected officials, community activists, educators and other professionals spent three months crafting a statement that outlines the region’s official response to racism:

“We challenge all who live in our community and region to act in ways that reflect a commitment to, and accountability for, racial and social justice - equality in our personal lives, families, neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, clubs, associations, institutions and places of worship.”

Gonzaga University and Spokane Mayor Jack Geraghty led the effort to distribute 23,000 copies of the statement, called Spokane’s Commitment to Action for Racial Equity, throughout the Inland Northwest.

On Tuesday, the Spokane Task Force on Race Relations will provide an opportunity for people to learn how to promote and celebrate positive race relations.

“Dreams Into Reality” is the area’s first Community Congress on Race Relations. The daylong program begins at 9 a.m. at the Spokane Convention Center.

Businesses and civic groups will share their plans for adjusting to an increasingly diverse population. Many will artistically display those plans on a “Wall of Commitment.”

Some businesses will also take advantage of the event to advertise employment opportunities.

Entertainment at “Dreams Into Reality” will include cultural music and theatrical performances by the Celtic Nots, Bethel AME’s Angels with Attitude, the Grant School Drummers, Native American flute player Charlie Rising Sun, and the Polynesian dance troupe Hui Hui Manglona. KTSL-FM disc jockey Mike Barrow will host the day’s entertainment.

More than 60 classes and lectures will be offered at “Dreams Into Reality.”

Bill Wassmuth, executive director of the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment, will discuss “Extremism as a Movement.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Pamela J. DeRusha will discuss “Federal Civil Rights Protection Against Racism,” and Jim Rundle from Hewlett-Packard will talk about “What’s In It for Business.”

Spokane Police Chief Terry Mangan and Spokane County Sheriff Ronald Goldman will join a panel of law enforcement officials for an open dialogue with community members.

Most of the presenters at “Dream Into Reality” live and work in the Inland Northwest. But some speakers, including the president of the National Black Police Association, will travel to Spokane from as far as Washington, D.C.

Children and young adults are encouraged to participate in three hours of special programming at the “Dreams Into Reality” Youth Congress.

Although the event will go into the evening, some businesses are allowing employees to leave work early or take long lunches in order to more fully participate in the Community Congress.

The entire program is free and open to the public. Participants can attend as much or as little of it as they choose.

“The catalyst for our (work) was the hate crimes against African-American students at Gonzaga University,” says Geraghty. “But all of us acknowledged our responsibility to address the broader problem of racism in our institutions, community groups and families.”

For more information about the Spokane Task Force on Race Relations, call 625-6266.

, DataTimesILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: See related story under the headline: ‘Dreams Into Reality’ schedule