The Mayor’s Office of Neighborhoods & Community Engagement will hold its second ‘REAL (Race, Equity And Leadership) Talk’ forum Saturday, September 10.
The first of the dialogues was a closed-door session with a diverse group of community leaders that was hosted on July 23, at Pearl Cohn. The second forum will be open to the public.
Mayor Megan Barry, in partnership with Lipscomb University’s College of Leadership & Public Service, Metro Human Relations Commission and Nashville Unites, is hosting the dialogue with the community to discuss issues of criminal justice in the African American community, as well as broader topics surrounding race and social justice.
“The goal is to bring the community together to talk about how issues effect us, to think of unique solutions, to understand how we are the same, how we are different, and how we can celebrate and embrace those differences in a way that promotes tolerance and understanding,” said a release about the event. “Nashville has the opportunity to set an example for the rest of America.”
“These meetings will not be a starting line or a finish line in our goal of racial and social justice in our city and in our society. This is, unfortunately, a long race for our country to run, and frankly, it’s hard to see the finish line,” said Mayor Barry. “But we can’t stop running this race. We can always be moving ahead, one yard, one foot, one inch at a time, as we seek the goal of a more just and equitable society for all.”
“The heart wrenching tragedies in Dallas, Baton Rouge, and Falcon Heights were painful to experience as a mayor, as a mother, and as an American,” said Barry. “But they have served to sharpen our focus and bring sometimes uncomfortable issues to the forefront of our national conversation.”
The second forum will focus on the key areas identified in the July 23 meeting, and be held in Exhibit Hall A of the Music City Center, at 201 5th Avenue South.
Employees from all Metro departments will be involved in this discussion, including members of the Police Department.
There will be free parking in the Music City Center garage and MTA service for this event.
Attendees can register for the event at <www.eventbrite.com/e/real-talk-a-forum-about-race-equity-and-leadership-tickets-26591289262>.
