Interactive Community Discussion

Photo by John Koniak, St. Louis Public Library Title: St. Louis Public Library logo celebrating 150th anniversary
Source: John Koniak, St. Louis Public Library

ST. LOUIS PUBLIC LIBRARY'S CENTRAL CONVERSATIONS PRESENTS IMPORTANT INTERACTIVE PANEL DISCUSSION ON "RACIAL JUSTICE IN A POST-FERGUSON WORLD"

The St. Louis Public Library's series of interactive community discussions, Central Conversations: Topical Talk About a Sustainable St. Louis, rounds out its 2015 season by addressing "Racial Justice in a Post-Ferguson World."  The program takes place at Central Library, 1301 Olive Street, on September 9 at 6:30 p.m. and is FREE and open to the public.

With Michael Brown's death and the nationwide civil unrest that followed, many have wondered if anything has changed. Is the racial climate in the United States better, the same, or worse? Although there are no definitive answers to these questions, Central Conversations will bring together the public and a distinguished panel of experts moderated by St. Louis Public Radio 90.7 KWMU's Tim Lloyd, co-anchor of We Live Here, to explore this many-faceted issue. The panel includes:

· Susan Balk is the founder of HateBrakers,which provides tools to interrupt the repetitive cycle of hate-breeds-hate and to transform victims, perpetrators, and bystanders into heroes, leaders, and healers. She believes that "the more we understand and observe and celebrate hate-breaking, the sooner it will become a popular part of our everyday lives." Balk has written for Rolling Stone, Playboy, New York Times Magazine, Vogue, Ms., and has authored the books Fame and Vienna's Conscience.

· Sylvester Brown, Jr. of The Sweet Potato Project, grew up on the mean streets of north St. Louis. The former St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist understands how growing up in an environment in which crime and drugs are part of everyday life can cause a young person to believe that's all there is. In 2009, Brown re-read a column he had written about helping inner-city teenagers succeed. It was a call to action for other people. Ultimately, Brown took action of his own and created the Sweet Potato Project.

· Terrell Carter is an author, minister, and former St. Louis City police officer.  He serves as Executive Director of the North Newstead Association, a community development corporation in St. Louis. He has earned degrees in biblical studies, organizational leadership, arts management and leadership, and theology. He is the author of the books Walking the Blue Line: A Police Officer Turned Community Activist Provides Solutions to the Racial Divide; Machiavellian Ministry: What Faith-Filled Leaders Can Learn From a Faithless Politician; and Ministry in Black and White: Lessons Learned While Serving Racially Diverse Communities.

Following the event, the conversation continues on the St. Louis Public Library's social media channels.

Support provided by the St. Louis Public Library Foundation and St. Louis Public Radio 90.7 KWMU.

Light refreshments available courtesy of Urban Eats Café Central.

For more information, call 314.880.8752.

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