Stories of racism and intolerance may be difficult to share, but a Prince George institution is encouraging the public to listen and speak out.
The College of New Caledonia (CNC) is set to host an online discussion this weekend as its own diverse community plans on sharing personal experiences in hopes of opening a dialogue with its students and local residents.
It’s scheduled for Sunday (March 21), which is also the annual International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, recognized and affirmed by the United Nations (UN).
The topic is also timely as acts of racism, statistically speaking, have risen in many parts of the world resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and other circumstances.
“The experiences of many members of the CNC community offer us diverse perspectives to foster greater discussion,” said Dr. Tamara Chambers-Richards, Dean of Health Sciences and leader of an on-going decolonizing education CNC discussion group.
“Sharing these experiences and engaging in dialogue can give us a shared path forward to better understand and build more inclusive communities.”
The two-hour agenda for CNC’s webinar is two-fold.
In the opening 60 minutes, members of the Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) community will share their own experiences with racism or anti-racism, including recommendations on actions to take.
In the final hour, a panel is set to discuss theories and suggestions of how to confront and combat systemic racism.
“At CNC, it’s critical for us to build an educational community that’s welcoming and inclusive,” said CNC President and CEO Dr. Dennis Johnson.
“I am grateful to all the individuals who have volunteered to share their experiences so we can learn how we can collectively end racial discrimination.”
CNC’s free event is taking place from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday via the post-secondary school’s website.
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