Racial Equity Series Upcoming In Stratford

STRATFORD, CT — Several Stratford organizations have come together to present Courageous Conversations, a series of discussions on racial equity designed to unite and strengthen the community.

The free monthly series will take place on Zoom from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. the first Thursday of the month from November through April. It is hosted by Stratford Citizens Addressing Racial Equity, but involves many additional sponsors and collaborators.

"I honestly don't know when so many different organizations have come together to do such important work," Stratford CARE Chair Tammy Langston said in an email.

Led by trained facilitators from Raising the BAR, a program of The Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport, the goal of the series is to help people work together to make Stratford stronger and healthier for all, according to a news release from the Stratford Library, which is one of the sponsors.

Thought-provoking videos, articles and podcasts about how racism has shaped our environment will be discussed, and participants will work in small groups to consider how to unite to take action, heal divides and make a difference in Stratford, the news release said.

Topics include:

• Starting Point: Implicit Bias, Nov. 5
• Redlining: Housing Disparities, Dec. 3
• Access & Outcomes: Health Disparities, Jan. 7
• Unequal: Educational Disparities, Feb. 4
• Left Behind: Employment Disparities, March 4
• Black Lives Matter: Criminal Justice Disparities, April 1

Sponsors and collaborating organizations include: the town of Stratford, Stratford Clergy Association, Stratford Library, South End Community Center, Stratford Board of Education, Stratford Partnership for Youth & Families, Stratford Police Department and Sterling House Community Center.

To register for the series, visit www.stratfordcare.org/courage.