RACE RELATIONS | Building empathy

The public is invited and encouraged to participate in Springfield Race Unity Committee’s “Building Racial Unity: A Grass-Roots Discussion,” Friday, Sept. 20, at Springfield Baha’i Center. The event is inspired by President Obama’s suggestion that grass-roots discussions on race can be helpful in building unity and empathy. A screening of the president’s remarks after the George Zimmerman acquittal in Trayvon Martin’s death will kickoff the evening. Refreshments will be served and organizers expect the event to last about two hours. SRUC is comprised of representatives from local organizations including Frontier’s International Club of Springfield, Springfield Baha’i community, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Springfield African-American History Museum, Springfield Dominican Sisters, Springfield Boys and Girls Club and others. Its creation sprang from the national Baha’i issuance in 1990 that “Racism is the most challenging issue confronting America. America’s peace, prosperity, and even her standing in the international community depend on healing the wounds of racism and building a society in which people of diverse backgrounds live as members of one family.” See the creed at www.lvbahai.org/vision_of_race_unity.htm.