(Photo Credit: istockphoto)
From the summer protests in Ferguson and Staten Island to the social media coverage of #BlackLivesMatter and #WeCan’tBreathe, the issues revolving around race and equality have become a major part of public discourse over the past year.
The Aspen Institute will address the topics of race, equality, and justice on Tuesday, March 24th at a livestreamed event titled the “Community Dialogue on Healing the Racial Divide.” Held in St. Louis, Missouri, the series of panels will feature local officials and leaders from the media and federal government. Read below for an overview of the schedule of events you can watch online at aspeninstitute.org/live. Follow along with the discussion on Twitter with the hashtag #racialdivide.
Introduction: Walter Isaacson, Aspen Institute president and CEO, 9:10 am to 9:15 am CDT
Panel 1: Black Youth and the Police, 9:30 am to 10:30 am CDT
As in Ferguson, minority citizens across the nation fear being wrongfully targeted by police officers, while police officers fear the dangers and threats that come with protecting the community. How do we resolve these racial tensions and fears?
Panelists:
- Kevin Ahlbrand, Missouri Fraternal Order of Police
- Daniel Isom, former chief, Metropolitan Police Department of St. Louis
- Clifton Kinnie, student activist
- Michel Martin, host, NPR (moderator)
Panel 2: Media and Reporting of Ferguson, 10:45 am to 11:45 am CDT
Panelists will discuss how the modern media environment can positively and negatively affect the quality of information shared with the public during periods of racial conflict and unrest.
Panelists:
- Gilbert Bailon, editor, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
- DeRay Mckesson, founder and co-editor, Ferguson Protestor newsletter
- Don Marsh, host, St. Louis Public Radio
- Suzanne Malveaux, national correspondent, CNN (moderator)
Panel 3: Education, 11:45 am to 12:45 pm CDT
St. Louis Public Schools District boundaries divide students in racially separated schools, making it difficult for students of color to receive the first-class education of their white counterparts. What would it take to dismantle St. Louis’ racial education ghettos?
Panelists:
- Kelvin Adams, superintendent of schools, St. Louis Public School District
- Valerie Bell, chair, St. Louis Public Schools Foundation
- Walter Isaacson, president and CEO, the Aspen Institute and chair emeritus, Teach for America
- Tiffany Anderson, superintendent of schools, Jennings School District
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