Community Forum: Building Black and Brown Coalitions

Location: Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Place SE, Washington, DC 20020

This forum will provide background on past projects and obstacles relating to Black/Brown solidarity in the District of Columbia. The discussion will touch upon common issues such as labor and housing rights, but will focus more on concepts and perceptions that have both inspired and inhibited solidarity. Audience participation will be the driving force of this presentation. Part of the Smithsonian Anacosia Community Museum's exhibition "African Presence in Mexico: From Yanga to the Present."

Speakers will include:

Ruth Castel-Branco, Solidarity Organzier (Jobs with Justice)

Ricardo Flores, Advocacy Director (Latin American Youth Center)

Felicia Montgomery, DC Charity Examiner (The Examiner)

David Thurston, Anti-Racism Educator and Organizer (CASA de Maryland)

The forum will be moderated by Christopher Rodriguez, Director, Affirmative Employment Programs (US Customs and Border Protection). Mr. Rodriguez has presented several papers at the DC Latino Task Force for Civil Rights hearings on Race Relations.  He has appeared on many radio and television programs in the Washington Metropolitan area addressing the issue of race in the Latino community. He has authored a book entitled “The Latino Manifesto: A Critique of the Race Debate in the U.S. Latino Community.” Mr. Rodriguez has presented at National conferences such as the Federal Asian Pacific American Council and Blacks in Government as the subject matter expert on Affirmative Employment Programs. He has been an invited speaker to colleges throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and Latin America.

For directions and reservations, call 202.633.4844.