The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is, in part, sponsoring the upcoming 2016 Color-Brave Community Read and Conversation, held by Fit Oshkosh.
Various conversations will be held featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ta-Nehisi Coates, who wrote New York Times bestseller Between the World and Me. The kickoff conversations will be held Tuesday, Jan. 19 and two times and locations—Oshkosh Seniors Center, 200 N. Campbell Road, Oshkosh (1-2:30 p.m.), and the UW Oshkosh Alumni Welcome and Conference Center, 625 Pearl Ave., Oshkosh (6:30-8 p.m.). Discussion dates are: Wednesday, Feb. 24; Wednesday, March 16; Wednesday, April 13; Wednesday, May 11; Wednesday, June 15.
The book discusses the feelings, symbolism and realities of life as a Black person in the United States, including the history of violence against Black people. Trained facilitators will help guide the conversations in a safe, open environment with the hope of dispelling fears about discussing race.
Community stakeholders including Winnebago County Executive Mark Harris, Oshkosh Mayor Steve Cummings, State Representative Gordon Hintz, City Councilor Ben Stepanek, Oshkosh Area United Way Executive Director Sue Panek, Oshkosh Area School District Superintendent Stan Mack II and UW Oshkosh Chancellor Andrew Leavitt, are committed to participating in the community read.
Fit Oshkosh has been facilitating community-wide conversations about race in the Fox Valley and nationally since 2012 through workshops and training sessions. Fit Oshkosh’s mission is simple—”increase the racial literacy of residents of Winnebago County.”
The Color-Brave Community Read and Conversation series is made possibly by a grant from the Wisconsin Humanities Council, in partnership with Celebrate Diversity-Appleton, First Congregational Church-Oshkosh, the Oshkosh Seniors Center and UW Oshkosh.
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