CORRECTED VERSION: Public invited to participate in Conversations about Race starting Sept. 21

Public invited to participate in Conversations about Race starting Sept. 21;

City will host four-part series addressing race

 

Dallas – The City of Dallas will present a four-part series called Conversations about Race, a dialogue and discussion about race. The first event on Sept. 21 will feature panelists from local media; subsequent events will focus on youth, local leadership and business leaders. The series is the prelude to the Dallas Faces Race: Face Race 2014 National Conference which will be held Nov. 13-15, 2014.  

Conversations about Race Co-Chairs Mayor Michael S. Rawlings, Councilmember Dwaine R. Caraway and Dallas County Commissioner Elba Garcia are inviting the public to attend and take part in the discussions.

“Race is a difficult discussion to have but we will never get beyond our differences if we aren’t brave enough to reverse racial disparities and move our city towards full equity, inclusion and dignity for everyone,” said Mayor Rawlings.

“This is our moment to be honest, to be heroes and to heal so we can truly all work towards making Dallas a 21^st century city,” said Councilmember Caraway.

“These events will present solution-focused dialogues on race; bringing together some of the best minds on this important subject,” said County Commissioner Garcia.

 

The first event in the series will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday Sept. 21 at City Performance Hall, 2520 Flora St. Panelists will include Bob Ray Sanders, Robert Wilonsky, Crystal Ayala, Gerald Britt, and Mollie Finch Belt. The discussion will be moderated by Skot Welch co-host of Radio in Black and White.

 

The event is free and open to the public. Seating will be limited and advanced registration is required. To register, go to www.conversationsaboutrace.eventbrite.com. Tickets not claimed ten minutes before the start of the event will be released on a first-come, first-served basis.  Registration does not guarantee a seat; those wishing to attend should arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the event.  

 

 

 

 

 

ABOUT: Skot Welch / Moderator:

Skot Welch is Founder/Managing Partner of Global Bridgebuilders (GBB) an international results focused diversity and inclusion firm organization comprised of a team of individuals with extensive experience in the development and implementation of sustainable, process focused cultural competency and inclusion initiatives. Skot has focused on the assessment, development and implementation of systematic and measurable diversity and inclusion initiatives for nearly 20 years. His leadership of the firm brings together and maximizes the perfect blend of people and process for GBB’s clients.

Recently, Skot served as Vice President of Business Development and Benchmarking Services for DiversityInc magazine, where he was responsible for new industry development and diversity best practices benchmarking analysis of Fortune 500 companies. Skot is also co-host of Radio in Black and White a weekly, two hour, positive, solution oriented discussion about faces and places. Hosts, guests and live callers discuss new multicultural, multiracial models emerging in business, community life, health care, law, education and faith. The program is designed to develop new language and perspective on racially driven content. Skot received his Bachelor’s Degree (B.A.) from Albion College and His Masters in Management and International Marketing (M.M.) from Aquinas College.

 

 

ABOUT: Bob Ray Sanders / Panelist

The journalism career of Bob Ray Sanders, professional in residence at the Schieffer School, has spanned three decades and three media: newspaper, television and radio. He currently is Associate Editor and Senior Columnist for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the newspaper where he began his professional career. As a young journalist with the paper, he served as courthouse reporter and political writer before leaving to begin a distinguished career in broadcasting. He joined KERA-TV in 1972 as a reporter for the station's innovative Newsroom program. Sanders later served as vice president of KERA-TV and host and producer of the station's award-winning program, News Addition. A 1969 graduate of North Texas State University, Sanders is past president of the Press Club of Fort Worth. He is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, the National Association of Black Journalists and the Dallas/Fort Worth Association of Black Communicators. He currently serves on the board of the Mental Health Association of Tarrant County, the advisory board of the AIDS Outreach Center in Fort Worth and the advisory board of Goodwill Industries. Sanders has received some of journalism's most prestigious awards, among them: five awards from the Houston, New York and Chicago film festivals, five Dallas Press Club KATIE Awards, three Corporation for Public Broadcasting Awards; a regional Emmy Award; a National Association of Black Journalists award for Best TV Sports Feature, and a National Headliner Award for outstanding investigative reporting. Other honors include the Ethics Award from the Schieffer School of Journalism; Distinguished Alumni Award, Fort Worth Independent School District; induction into the "Hall of Honor," University of North Texas Journalism Department; the "Thomas Jefferson Liberty Award" from the Dallas Civil Liberties Union; and induction into the Texas Literary Hall of Fame.

 

 

ABOUT: Robert Wilonsky / Panelist

Robert Wilonsky is the managing editor of DallasNews.com, the website for The Dallas Morning News, an American journalist and the former host of Higher Definition, an interview program on the cable television network HDNet. Wilonsky was born in Dallas, Texas to Margaret and Herschel Wilonsky. Wilonsky graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School, where he was an avid swimmer and cheerleader and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1990. During his senior year he was the managing editor of The Daily Texan. After graduation, Wilonsky was hired by the Dallas Times-Herald, but moved to the Dallas Observer after the former ceased publication in 1991. Wilonsky served as feature writer, music editor, film critic, sports columnist and pop culture editor for the Observer. In March 2006, he supervised the launching of the paper's weblog, Unfair Park, which he edits. He has also been published in Salon and American Way, and has appeared as a guest critic on At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper. In 2003, Wilonsky was hired as the host of HDNet’s new talk show, Higher Definition. The half-hour program initially had him engaging in recreational activities with the guests while interviewing them about the impact of high-definition video on entertainment. However, the show has since adopted a conventional sit-down format. He is the former host of The Ultimate Trailer Show on HDNet. Wilonsky has been a frequent guest on The Hardline, a popular afternoon show on KTCK, contributing pop culture analysis and commentary. In March 2012, Wilonsky left the Dallas Observer to oversee the website for the The Dallas Morning News.

 

ABOUT: Gerald Britt / Panelist

Rev. Gerald Britt is Vice President of Public Policy and Workforce Development for CitySquare. Rev. Britt joined CitySquare in September 2004 to further his lifelong work of serving those around him. His pastoral and community experience and wisdom are rich assets to CitySquare. Gerald oversees the public policy and workforce development efforts of CitySquare. A high profile community leader for many years, Gerald has strong ties to the political, faith and business communities of Dallas. Gerald most recently served as Senior Pastor for the New Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, located in the heart of far South Dallas. During his 22 years there, he led the church in significant growth and organizational change. Through his work in the church and surrounding neighborhoods as well as years of leadership in Dallas Area Interfaith, Gerald has distinguished himself as one of Dallas’ most influential community leaders. He has been out front on many city issues, from advocating for better care for Parkland Hospital patients to increasing voter turnout in South Dallas, among others.

 

ABOUT: Mollie Finch Belt / Panelist

A native of Dallas, Mollie Belt assumed the role of publisher of The Dallas Examiner after her father’s untimely death. Her father, Fred J. Finch, Jr., founded The Dallas Examiner in 1986.   Mr. Finch’s vision was to publish a quality publication with news from an African American perspective. He was a charter member of Newsfinder, the Associated Press wire for weekly newspapers.  The Dallas Examiner was the first African American newspaper in Dallas to use four-color processing.  Many residents were pleased to have a paper where trained, professional African American journalists practiced their craft, reporting on breaking news and relevant issues.  It was a newspaper with excellent editorial content and few ads. In March 1986 Mr. and Mrs. Finch were murdered in their home.  Mollie was determined not to see her father’s vision die. She and her husband, Attorney James C. Belt, Jr., put their resources in the newspaper to keep it alive. The Dallas Examiner has won numerous national, state and local awards including the prestigious Katie Awards.  In April 2002 The Texas Publisher’s Association awarded The Dallas Examiner Best Weekly Newspaper. In March 2004 the regional chapter of NABJ awarded The Dallas Examiner 12 awards including Best Newspaper and Best Practices. Mollie is a member of St. Luke Community United Methodist Church and a Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the NAACP and the National Parent Teachers Association.  She is a member of the National Association of Bench and Bar Spouses, the Texas Publishers Association and the National Newspaper Publishers Association.  She currently serves as Vice President for the Texas Publishers Association and secretary of the National Newspaper Publishers Association.  She is past vice president print of The Dallas-Fort Worth Association of Black Communicators and she has served on the advisory boards for The Peabody Health Center (a center in South Dallas serving persons living with AIDS) and Dodd Education and Support, Inc. 

 

ABOUT: Crystal Ayala / Panelist

Crystal Ayala is an Emmy-nominated journalist currently working as a news anchor for Univision Dallas. In almost a decade of her journalism career, she has had the opportunity to interview world-renowned personalities, such as now President Barack Obama, Vice-president Joe Biden, and Senator John McCain. Crystal also covered the 2008 presidential election, and the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Previously, she worked as a San Juan news correspondent for NTN24TV (International News Network), an associate producer for Univision National News and Affiliate News Department and as a reporter for Univision Denver. She has a BA Journalism Degree from the University of Puerto Rico and an M.A in Investigative Journalism from Florida International University.

 

 

ABOUT: Dallas Faces Race:

Dallas Faces Race is the beginning of a sustainable forum on race in Dallas. The forum will bring together organizations to actively build their capacity to address racial equity and make change. Dallas Faces Race will move beyond discussion groups on race, cultural awareness and diversity. Dallas Faces Race will engage those who are ready to define equity and collaborate to make change. http://dallasfacesrace.com/