UF presents Think Tank seminar Nov. 13
October 22, 2014
Race and Diversity: Building Bridges, Overcoming Adversity, and Moving Forward
A discussion of current events, unity, and the future
Community Leaders – Mayor Ed Braddy, Representative Clovis Watson, Jr., Superintendent Owen Roberts, Gainesville Police Chief Tony Jones, UF Provost Joseph Glover and others –have united in the name of diversity and unity in support of the African American and underrepresented citizens of Gainesville, Florida at a seminar/think tank event. It is held on Thursday, Nov. 13 at 5:30 p.m. at the UF Straughn IFAS Extension Professional Development Center, 2142 Shealy Dr., Gainesville.
Sponsored by the University of Florida Graduate School and The Florida Society of Social Sciences, the initiative Building Bridges, Overcoming Adversity, and Moving Forward, is a pivotal night of entertainment, inspiration, and open discussion. It is free and open to public. Complimentary refreshments will be served. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m. at the University of Florida's Straughn Center. The program is scheduled to last two hours.
The first half of the program will be an informational session featuring Drs. Sharon Austin, Chris Gibson, and Patricia Hilliard-Nunn. The second half of the program will be a think tank session and open discussion for audience members to dialogue with the Mayor, Police Chief and other distinguished participants.
Micah E. Johnson, president of the Florida Society of the Social Sciences (F3S) and doctoral student and instructor in the Department of the Sociology and Criminology & Law at the University of Florida, created this initiative to educate and inspire the Gainesville community.
"On a very basic level, I hope to display a unified front of diverse leaders who care about the African American citizens of Gainesville, 'town and gown' alike," Johnson said. "Ideally, if we could enlighten people of the social ills affecting underrepresented citizens, contemplate solutions, and inspire action, we would have made enormous progress for the human family. This event is more about love and unity, than about race."
