Oregon Civil Rights News

Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC) To Host Panel Focusing On The Next Steps In Bridging The Gap For Minorities Housing, Education

The conference, consisting of a panel discussion and plenary session, will focus on civil rights and action for 2004 and beyond, “Achieving the American Dream - The Next 40 Years: ’64 Civil Rights Act, ’68 Fair Housing Act, 2004 What Next?” The solutions-focused discussion will be lead by learned scholars George Lipsitz, Professor of American Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz, Vincene Verdun, Associate Law Professor, OSU Moritz College of Law, and Dr. Rodney Coates, Director of Black World Studies, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.

“This discussion is a follow up to many discussions had during the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration and Black History Month,” said Executive Director of OCRC, G. Michael Payton. “We know that minorities are lagging behind in housing, employment, and education, so now let’s get to the solutions and bring about some institutional changes.” The panel discussion will shift into a plenary session where audience participants will assist in creating a working plan to address some of the issues.

Dr. Randy Coates is the Director of Black World Studies and Associate Professor of Sociology and Gerontology. His teaching and research interests include Critical Race and Ethnic Relations, Theory and Practice, Social Justice and Democratic Movements. Professor George Lipsitz is a professor of American Studies. His areas of concentration reflect 20th Century African American History, Cultural

Theory and Ethnicity, and Race and Ethnicity in Mass Media. Areas of research include the racialization of opportunities and life chances in 20th century U. S. society, the racialization of space, urban culture, collective memory, and movements for social change. Professor Vincene Verdun is an Associate Professor. Her research has focused on critical race theory, including reparations to African Americans. Professor Verdun is the advisor to the Black Law Student Association and is a participant in the W. K. Kellogg Foundation initiative, Leadership for Institutional Change and is a member at large on the Ohio State University American Association of University Professors.

Co-sponsors of this event include the City of Dayton Human Relations Council, Cincinnati Human  Relations Commission, Columbus Community Relations Commission, City of Cleveland Community Relation Board, Columbus Community Relations Commission and the City of Hamilton Community Relations and the King Arts Complex. Participants include the Toledo Fair Housing Center, Community Research Partners and Donald, Eager & Associates.

This event is open to the general public, but a registration is required to ensure adequate space. Please contact The Ohio Civil Rights Commission, Office of Public Affairs at 1-888-278-7101 for further information and registration.

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