Granby Racial Reconciliation (GRR) is hosting a series of workshops with the first two on Saturday, April 20, and Sunday May 19. The Race, Religion, and Politics workshops will be guided conversations where participants can deepen their understanding of the dynamics of these social forces at work in our nation.
It is the GRR Education task team’s hope that these workshops will promote civic engagement by supporting an environment where attendees can explore the typically-avoided topics of politics, religion, and race through responsive listening and shared discussion.
Our presenter and guide for these explorations is Dr. Matthew Hughey, a tenured professor of sociology at the University of Connecticut. He wrote several books including the award winning, White Bound (Stanford University Press, 2012). He speaks on college campuses and at other institutions seeking a deeper understanding of the social forces that influence our thoughts and behavior. Hughey writes, “…I aim to illumine and educate others about social scientific truths that may be…[hidden] by fear, prejudice, habit, or various interest groups opposed to scientific reasoning…”
Hughey’s methodology rejects “labeling any one person or group as either ‘prejudiced’ or ‘racist’” and employs both lecture and dialogue with participants, in order to deepen our collective understandings. He does not belong to a political party and is a member of the Baháa’íi faith, which encourages its followers to refrain from partisan politics lest it become a source of disunity and antagonism.
All workshops will be held at the Granby Senior Center. Spring workshop dates: Saturday, April 20, 12–1:30 p.m., and Sunday, May 19, 3–4:30 p.m. The fall workshop dates are still to be determined. To register for the first workshops, go to Granbyrr.com