As the national conversation about identity, racism, free speech, hate speech and censorship continues, challenging conversations are sure to arise across college campuses. The University of Kentucky College of Communication and Information is hosting events next week that tackle these issues and present strategies for finding common ground.
The first event 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31, will feature Lecia Brooks, outreach director for the Southern Poverty Law Center. Brooks also serves as director of the Civil Rights Memorial Center in Montgomery, Alabama, an interpretive center designed to provide visitors to the Civil Rights Memorial with a deeper understanding of the civil rights movement. Brooks will present an overview of the Southern Poverty Law Center and talk about the alt-right movement.
The talk is free and open to the public and will take place in the Gatton College Building's Kincaid Auditorium.
The following evening, the college will team up with student organizations Underground Perspective and the Communication Student Association to present a panel discussion titled, "Finding Common Ground: Communication Strategies for Challenging Conversations." The discussion will take place 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1, in Kincaid Auditorium and will focus on real-life scenarios previously submitted by students.
Panelists for the Feb. 1 event include:
- Lance Poston, director of LGBTQ* Resources at UK;
- Ashley Sorrell, who leads the Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching's Courageous Conversations initiative;
- Victor Hazard, associate vice president for student engagement at UK;
- DeBraun Thomas, founder of Take Back Cheapside Movement; and
- Melissa Will, doctoral student and psychology intern at the UK Counseling Center.