Cultural tolerance goal of forum
Just because people aren't fighting doesn't mean they're living together harmoniously. That's the belief of those dedicated to improving human relations in the Northwest suburbs.
"Human relations often seem to be based on conflict," said the Rev. Clyde Brooks, president of the Illinois Commission on Diversity and Human Relations in Arlington Heights. "As long as there's no conflict, people seem to be getting along."
Conflict avoidance isn't enough, say organizers of a human relations conference slated for next week.
Instead, suburban leaders will be working toward true cross-cultural understanding at "Building Relationships for Today and Tomorrow" to be held at the Woodfield Hyatt in Schaumburg on Sept. 20.
Sponsors of the event include Brooks' commission along with Sisters of the Living Word in Arlington Heights, the city of Elgin, the village of Streamwood and the Evanston-based Clark Consulting Group.
Members of the public are welcome to attend, though several churches as well as the human relations committees and police departments of many suburban communities are being specifically invited.
The conference will start with a keynote address by Carol Adams, secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services. Attendees then will be divided into discussion workshops to later share their conclusions with the larger group.
Topics will include institutional racism, immigration and the under-representation of minorities in civic activities.
All the sponsor organizations are dedicated to these areas, Brooks said. Elgin's Human Relations Commission and Streamwood's Public Relations Commission are particularly active in their own communities, he added.
Sisters of the Living Word has taken on a mission of fighting racism, said Sister Georgene Schumacher, its coordinator of ministry. Clark Consulting Group is an adult education firm that seeks to build relationships and break down barriers, according to President Marilyn Clark.
"I see a sharing of best practices coming out of this conference," Clark said.
"One of the things I'd like to see is a better gauge of needs," said W.ŒE. Scott, chairman of the Elgin Human Relations Commission.
Brooks said one of his own goals is to replace the fear that many feel for their local institutions with trust and productive interaction.
"This is a day of dialogue," Brooks said of the conference. "We don't think we're going to turn the world around."
He added that what Martin Luther King Jr. recognized as his biggest challenge is still with society today. It isn't the existence of racist organizations, it's the fact that good people choose to stay silent out of fear, he said.
The conference is generally targeting the area defined by Elgin to the west, Skokie to the east, Elk Grove Village to the south and Lake County to the north.
"Building Relationships for Today and Tomorrow" will run from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Woodfield Hyatt Hotel, 1800 E. Golf Road in Schaumburg. The registration fee is $30, which includes lunch. The registration deadline is Saturday. To register or for more information, call (847) 253-7538, (847) 931-5618 or (630) 736-3817.