Courageous Conversation Series Launches

Millersville University (MU) will host the first Courageous Conversation Series event of the semester Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019 from 6-8 p.m. in the Student Memorial Center (SMC) Reighard Multipurpose Room (MPR). The series kick off will feature a film screening of Arnd Wächter’s “American Textures” from Crossing Boarders Films and a dialogue focusing on the impact of the film.   

The documentary focuses on the journey of six young Americans confronting race through the use of dialogue, attempting to avoid prejudice while on a road trip throughout southern United States. After the film, a facilitated dialogue will be led by a representative from Crossing Boarders Films. All students and faculty of MU can participate in this program. 

Since 2017, the Courageous Conversation Series has partnered with the Dr. Rita Smith Wade-El Intercultural Center, School of Social Work and Housing and Residential Programs at MU. The program creates an opportunity for students to develop conversational skills around hard topics such as diversity, equality, inclusion and social identities.  

Dr. Rita Smith Wade-El Intercultural Center Director Jas Whitlow helped organize this event. “Students who attend the conversations are not only allowed a space to learn and grow, but to also share their experiences and perspectives in a productive way,” says Whitlow. “I believe there has been a small and large scale impact on the campus. Since summer 2017, student leaders across various groups have also received information around ways in which they can have courageous conversations within their spheres of influence.”  

The Courageous Conversations Series will take place this semester twice a month on every other Tuesday. This event is free and open to all MU students. More information about the Dr. Rita Smith Wade-El Intercultural Center can be found at www.millersville.edu/icse/. More information on the documentary can be found at www.crossingborders.education/films/american-textures/.