Michigan Roundtable prepare for Race2Equity Conference November 4-5

Naomi Tutu to speak and Michigan’s first and only Truth and Reconciliation Commission to be seated Nov. 4-5, 2011

DETROIT, MI (Tell Us Det) -  Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion, Naomi Tutu will be hosting this event to seat a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to examine racial inequality in metropolitan Detroit. Cost for the two-day conference is $50.

This event will be held Friday, Nov. 4, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Cobo Conference and Exhibition Center in downtown Detroit.

It has been long known that metro Detroit is one of the most segregated regions in the country. This places southeast Michigan in a unique position to study the causes and effects of racial segregation in housing, education, business and employment. Our historical legacy impacts the entire state. Why does the current landscape look the way it does?

How can we reimagine Metro Detroit? This Truth and Reconciliation Commission will examine the past injustices that led to the current state of racial inequality in Metro Detroit, current practices that allow racial segregation to remain so much higher than in surrounding areas, the impact of racial segregation in Detroit and Wayne County and what can be done to facilitate change.

Racism continues to cast a shadow over southeast Michigan, and we are still feeling the impact of these troubled times. Moreover, racial segregation is also the segregation of opportunity and hope for the future. An inclusive and prosperous tomorrow can only be ensured by an inquiry into and understanding of the structural dynamics of racial segregation, past and present. This recognition is critical to the creation of a sustainable, vibrant and economically viable future for this region and this state.

For event information or to register visit www.miroundtable.org or call Freda Sampson at 313-870-1500.