Small Town News

Peace Studies Conference focuses on race and racism

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The 22nd annual Peace Studies Conference is from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, in the Quadrangle Building, Saint John's University.

The theme of the conference is, "Have We Overcome? Race and Racism in the Age of Obama." The conference is free and open to the public.

The conference features three main speakers:

The keynote address is by Jeb Middlebrook at 7 p.m. in Quad 264. Middlebrook, one of the most sought after anti-racist speakers and organizers today, is the director of the Solidarity Institute - a national nonprofit that uses research, events and projects to connect diverse communities in a collective vision for social justice. Middlebrook holds a bachelor's in edinic studies from the University of Minnesota and a master's in American studies & ethnicity from the University of Southern California, where he is earning his doctorate.

Drawing from historical and contemporary examples, his talks demonstrate the power of campus and community organizing in building a world free of racism. Middlebrook has spoken to thousands of people in more than 10 states and more than 25 high schools and college campuses including Yale, California Berkeley and the Universities of Colorado, St. Louis and Kansas, and has been a regular speaker at the annual White Privilege Conference.

The film "Trouble the Water" will be shown from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in Quad 264. This powerful documentary takes you inside Hurricane Katrina in a way never seen on screen. Incorporating remarkable home footage shot by Kimberly Rivers Roberts - an aspiring rap artist trapped with her husband in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans - directors/producers Tia Lessin and Carl Deal weave this insider's view of Katrina with a devastating portrait of the hurricane's aftermath. "Trouble the Water" takes audiences on a journey that is by turns heart-stopping, infuriating, inspiring and empowering. It's not only about the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, but about the underlying issues that remained when the flood waters receded - failing public schools, record high levels of incarceration, poverty, structural racism and lack of government accountability.

The 1 p.m., opening talk in

Quad 264 will be given by Bill Green, superintendent of Minneapolis Public Schools. Green is an associate professor of history at Augsburg College. He also serves as an adjunct professor at CSB and SJU. Green served on the Minneapolis Board of Education from 1993-2001 and was board chair from 1996-98. He holds a bachelor's degree in history from Gustavus Adolphus College, a master's degree in educational psychology, a doctorate in education, and a juris doctorate from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. A native of New Orleans, Green has contributed more 30 articles to scholarly and popular press publications.

In addition, a series of breakout workshops is planned from 2:40 to 3:50 p.m. in rooms adjacent to Quad 264. The breakout workshop topics include:

Hedy Tripp, Create Comm-UNITY, St. Cloud;

Johnny Zokovitch, Crossing the Peace Movement's Color Line: The Anti-Racism Organizing of the U.S. Catholic Peace Group, Pax Christi/Peace of Christ;

Jim Knutson-Kolodzne, American Indian Center at St. Cloud State University.



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© 2009 Tri-County News Kimball, Minnesota. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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