Hopkinsville, Ky., launches effort to address racism

Race relations study circles set to begin talks

by Jennifer P. Brown

August 29, 2007 | Kentucky New Era | Hopkinsville, Kentucky

 

Hoptown's study circles promotional flier.

More than 100 volunteers are set to begin work on a Study Circles program that will encourage local residents to have informal talks about race relations in Hopkinsville and Christian County.

The group will meet at 5:30 p.m. today at the main office of BB&T bank on South Virginia Street. The discussions will begin Sept. 6. Anyone who is still interested in joining a Study Circle should attend tonight’s reception or call the Human Relations Commission at 887-4010, said Ann Petrie, the project coordinator.

Study Circles is a program that has been used in communities across the United States to discuss a variety of issues. The local effort is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and the Human Relations Commission.

“It is a way of bringing together people from different backgrounds and experiences in a comfortable atmosphere to talk about who they are, where they come from, where they want to go and how we can all get there together,” Petrie said.

Each Study Circle will be made up of about 10 people. Two trained facilitators will work with each group.

Twenty-four local facilitators have been trained, and 85 Study Circle members have volunteered for the effort.

Most of the Study Circle groups will meet for a couple of hours every Thursday evening for six weeks. One group has agreed to meet during the day because of an evening scheduling conflict.

Anyone interested in joining a Study Circle should contact the Human Relations Commission.

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Learn more: Racial Equity