The City of College Park is bringing together a cross section of our community to discuss race relations and how we can begin healing. This will be a chance for knowledgeable and invested voices to share space to discuss the importance of real change and how to move forward. The purpose is to have an honest conversation, not a debate.
All virtual forums are available in the Youtube playlist here (click the icon at the top right of the video to view all four forums).
On June 30, 2020, the City of College Park brought together a cross section of our community to discuss race relations and how we can begin healing. This was a chance for knowledgeable and invested voices to share space to discuss the importance of real change and how to move forward. The purpose was to have an honest conversation, not a debate. Panelists included representatives from: Prince George’s County & UMD Police Departments, State, County, and Local Elected Officials, Experts in the Field of Racial Equity, and Community Members.
On September 25, 2020 the second Virtual Forum’s topic focused on Policing and Black Lives Matter. Panelists included the Prince George's County Police Department, Dr. Oscar Barbarin (Professor and Chair of the University of Maryland's African American Studies Department), and Dr. Kim Nickerson (Assistant Dean for Diversity, Diversity Officer and Equity Administrator for the University of Maryland's College of Behavioral and Social Sciences).
The third virtual forum on November 5, 2020's topic was on Racial Equity. Panelists included Dr. Stephen Thomas of the University of Maryland's School of Public Health, State Delegate Joselin Peña-Melnyk, and City staff.
The City held it's fourth virtual forum on January 25, 2021 regarding the Lakeland community and restorative justice. This forum discussed the history/urban renewal, restorative justice and had community input. Panelists included Willow Lung Amam, Curt Rhodes, Johonna Turner, and Maxine Gross. The panel will be moderated by Council Member Monroe Dennis. A video about the history of Lakeland and its community was shown during the forum.