Civil discourse, racism subjects of 2016 Lou Douglas Lecture Series on Public Issues
Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016
MANHATTAN — Two individuals known for influencing public policy will be the speakers for the fall 2016 Lou Douglas Lecture Series on Public Issues at Kansas State University. The lecture series is sponsored by UFM Community Learning Center.
Lecia Brooks, outreach director of the Southern Poverty Law Center, will present "Toward a Civil Discourse in a Time of Change" at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, in the K-State Student Union's Main and West Ballrooms. Tim Wise, antiracism writer, educator and author, will present "Combating Racism in the Post-Obama Era" at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, in the Union's Grand Ballroom.
Both lectures will include an open-ended question-and-answer period after each presentation.
Brooks leads the Southern Poverty Law Center's outreach efforts on key initiatives and social justice issues. As outreach director, she frequently gives presentations around the country to promote tolerance and diversity. She also serves as director of the Civil Rights Memorial Center in Montgomery, Alabama, an interpretive center designed to provide visitors to the Civil Rights Memorial with a deeper understanding of the civil rights movement.
She joined the law center's staff in 2004 as director of Mix It Up at Lunch Day, a Teaching Tolerance program designed to help break down racial, cultural and social barriers in schools. Previously, she worked for 12 years in a number of capacities for the National Conference for Community and Justice in its Los Angeles office. She is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University. Books' presentation is sponsored by UFM Community Learning Center in partnership with Kansas State University's College of Education.
Wise is among the most prominent antiracism writers and educators in the United States. He has spent the past 20 years speaking to audiences in all 50 states, on more 1,000 college and high school campuses, at hundreds of professional and academic conferences, and to community groups across the country. He also has lectured in Canada and Bermuda, and has trained corporate, government, entertainment, media, law enforcement, military and medical industry professionals on methods for dismantling racism in their institutions.
Wise has provided anti-racism training to educators and administrators nationwide. He is the author of seven books, including his latest, "Under the Affluence: Shaming the Poor, Praising the Rich and Sacrificing the Future of America." His presentation is sponsored by UFM Community Learning Center and co-sponsored by the university's College of Education, Housing and Dining Services, K-State First, the Office of Diversity and the Student Governing Association.
The Lou Douglas Lecture Series on Public Issues is dedicated to Douglas, who was a distinguished professor of political science at Kansas State University from 1949 until 1977. Widely known for his power to inspire students, faculty, staff and citizens to instigate change, Douglas was one of the founders of UFM Community Learning Center. After his death in 1979, UFM began the lecture series to honor him. More information is available at tryufm.org.
