American Conference on Diversity and Kean University to Host “No Hate” Town Hall

Follow the discussion on social media with #NoHateNJ.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  December 5, 2016

New Brunswick, N.J. / Union, N.J. – The American Conference on Diversity, in collaboration with Kean University, will hold a "No Hate" Town Hall at the New Jersey Center for Science, Technology and Mathematics building on Kean’s campus (1075 Morris Ave., Union, N.J. 07083) on Thursday, January 12, 2017, from 4-6 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is to engage in diversity and inclusion dialog related to current issues impacting people in New Jersey and across the nation. Follow the discussion on social media with #NoHateNJ.

The featured guest will be Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) Director of Outreach Lecia Brooks. SLPC ranks New Jersey fourth in the nation for having the most active hate groups.

The town hall is open to educators, students, faculty, diversity and inclusion leaders, career-development professionals, nonprofits, and the general public. There is no cost to participate, but seating is limited and registration is required. 

“2017 is a new year with a new vision! While Americans continue to express their anxieties and fears, this town hall will offer a much-needed space for public discourse and discussion to move forward,” says American Conference on Diversity President and CEO Elizabeth Williams-Riley.

The American Conference on Diversity and Kean University value diversity, educate leaders and promote respect. This timely event aligns with the American Conference on Diversity’s role in ending hate and its mission of empowering individuals and institutions to address issues of bias and discrimination.

“As one of the most diverse universities in the nation, Kean University takes pride in maintaining a campus where all are welcomed,” said Kean President Dawood Farahi, Ph.D. “This information session will play an important role in allowing an open exchange of ideas to flourish.”

The two-hour event will feature panel discussions with experts from business, higher education, media and the community, who will focus on productive ways to address the ongoing challenges of dealing with hate, bias and bigotry in our communities. Panelists and moderators will include:

• Kean EOF Director, criminal justice professor and former New Jersey State Public Defender Yvonne Smith Segars, Esq.

• Rutgers School of Communication and Information Instructor and Debate Coach Matthew Maddex

• City Year New York member Alexis Miller, also an active member of the Black Lives Matter Paterson chapter

• Kean University’s first woman President of Student Organization Emily Cubilete

• L’Oréal USA Senior Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion and American Conference on Diversity Board of Trustees Co-Chair Angela Guy

• Rutgers University School of Communication and Information Professor/Director of Interdisciplinary Studies Mary Chayko

• Civil Rights Attorney Alan Dexter Bowman, Esq.

To register for the event, visit www.kean.edu/no-hate-town-hall.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN CONFERENCE ON DIVERSITY
The American Conference on Diversity is dedicated to building just and inclusive schools, workplaces, and communities through awareness, education, and advocacy. The nonprofit organization was founded in 1948 as the National Conference of Christians and Jews. Today the programs, services, and initiatives of the American Conference on Diversity are among the most important work focused on creating a more inclusive society. It is the unfinished business of living in a highly diverse nation: educating and empowering our next generation of leaders, enhancing our workplaces, and helping to create inclusive communities. Visit www.AmericanConferenceonDiversity.org to learn more.

ABOUT KEAN UNIVERSITY
Founded in 1855, Kean University has become one of the largest metropolitan institutions of higher education in the region, with a richly diverse student, faculty and staff population. Kean continues to play a key role in the training of teachers and is a hub of educational, technological and cultural enrichment serving nearly 15,000 students. The University’s six undergraduate colleges offer 50 undergraduate degrees over a full range of academic subjects. The Nathan Weiss Graduate College offers four doctorate degree programs and more than 60 options for graduate study leading to master’s degrees, professional diplomas or certifications. With campuses in Union and Toms River, New Jersey, and Wenzhou, China, Kean University furthers its mission by providing an affordable, accessible and world-class education.  Visit www.kean.edu.

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Margaret McCorry
Kean University
mmccorry@kean.edu
(908) 737-0583

Gail Zoppo
American Conference on Diversity
gail@americanconferenceondiversity.org
(732) 745-9330