advertisement

Black Lives Matter series explores why talking about racism can be so uncomfortable

On Thursday, Nov. 5, Elgin Community College's Multicultural and Global Initiatives Committee (MAGIC) presents part five of the series "Black Lives Matter" at 2 p.m.

The discussion will take place via Zoom, and all are invited to attend. The link to join is bit.ly/ECCmagic. The session will be livestreamed on ECC's Facebook page.

"MAGIC invites the community to join the conversation as we explore reasons why talking about racism can be so uncomfortable and gain insights into why people are reluctant to speak up when they hear racist comments," said Susan Timm, Ed.D., ECC professor of business and MAGIC co-chair.

Panelists include ECC Professor of Communications Eric Long; community leader Junaid Afeef, JD; Certified Listening Professional Marva Shand-McIntosh of the International Listening Association; ECC Wellness Professional Coresair Mack; and Naja May-Pearson, president of ECC's Black Student Achievers. Local librarians also will be on hand to provide information and resources.

Out of respect for the voices of those who will be sharing, MAGIC is asking participants to simply listen. Throughout the event, comments and questions can be made in the virtual chat room.

At the end of the program, some of the questions from the chat will be answered. After that point, there will opportunities for those who would like to share their own experiences as well.

To bring you this series, MAGIC is partnering with ECC Black Student Achievers, ECC Student Life, ECC Police Department, and the ECC Renner Academic Library, along with the Elgin Police Department and Gail Borden Public Library.

The event is limited to 300 participants, however, the session will be recorded and made available to the public afterward.

ECC's Multicultural and Global Initiatives Committee aims to prepare individuals to succeed in a diverse society by providing and supporting multicultural learning experiences at Elgin Community College and within District 509, with the ultimate goal of creating an inclusive environment at the college.

For more information, contact Dr. Susan Timm at (847) 214-7916 or stimm@elgin.edu, or Clark Hallpike, ECC professor of business and MAGIC co-chair, at (847) 214-7542 or challpike@elgin.edu.

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.