More than 140 people, some ASU students, gathered at Paradise Valley Community College on Wednesday to discuss healing solutions to racism in a presentation called Race, Economics and the American Dream.
The presentation was co-hosted by Maricopa Community Colleges, PVCC and the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy and featured speakers who focused their presentations on identifying and finding ways to heal institutionalized racism.
Organizers also encouraged event attendees to openly discuss race-related issues.
“We take a look at and kind of have those critical conversations that we don’t have around race,” Co-partner Jacque Starks said. “Really, the end goal is … to provide knowledge that we share with one another so we care and (show) how to act to create change.“
Event organizers set up interactive activities for partakers such as creating micro-infrastructures of the upper, middle and lower class from colored beads and wax paper.
Presenters also played videos demonstrating race related topics such as white privilege and the wealth gap.
Senior program specialist for The Center for the Study of Race and Democracy, Sarah Herrera also spoke at the presentation.
“We can stand up there and talk to you but if you have a small group activity you can do that’s tangible it gives you a different perspective and is providing you with an experience,” she said.
CSRD is a Phoenix based organization that facilitates academic study and discussion of race relations and provides community service to organizations within the Phoenix Metropolitan area.
Herrera said this presentation is one of four that CSRD holds each year, and has been going on for ten years.
Many of the event attendees said they have been to multiple presentations by CRSD.
“These (presentations) are a great way to have the community discuss issues that are normally internalized,” ASU doctoral student Gilbert Jeu said. “I go to these events because when I go to these events the people may not be as informed as people in a doctorate level class but they are just as passionate.”
CORRECTION: Due to an editing error, a previous version of this article incorrectly stated the event's sponsorship and misspelled a presenter's name. This version has been updated with the correct information.
Reach the reporter at Garrison.Murphy@asu.edu or follow @Garrison_Murphy on Twitter.
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