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EvCC offers workshop on discrimination, hate

Published 9:00 pm Friday, April 9, 2004

By Pamela Brice / Herald Writer

EVERETT — The recent cross burning on a black pastor’s lawn in Arlington is just the type of hateful act that today’s free workshop at Everett Community College hopes to address.

"A lot of times the reason discrimination and hate crimes like this happen is because people don’t know about other cultures, and they become afraid of them," said Therese Quinn, dignity and diversity director with the Interfaith Association.

"This workshop will bring people together, to open up, talk and learn about other cultures and how other people might feel in different situations," she said.

The fourth annual "Violence Can’t Live Here" workshop will take place 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. today at Everett Community College, 801 Wetmore Ave.

Community leaders, youth, parents and the public can learn how peaceful solutions can be reached on diversity, domestic violence and racism.

"We want to bring together everyone from the community, not just leaders, youth and parents, to discuss issues that could divide us and find peaceful solutions," Quinn said.

The event features a keynote address by Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney Janice Ellis, a free lunch, door prizes and interactive theater and Aikido demonstrations.

Several workshops are planned by local agencies including:

  • "Conflict Resolution" by Everett Peace Action.

  • "Domestic Violence" by the Center for Battered Women.

  • "Learning Violence: Our Children at Play" by the Snohomish County Health District and the Human Rights Coalition.

  • "Less Violence = Less Crime: The Inside Viewpoint" by Justice Works.

  • "Video and Discussion on the Backlash Against Immigrants After 9-11" by Hate Free Zone.

  • "Youth Panel and Discussion on Gay, Lesbian, Bi- and Trans-sexual Diversity and Harassment Prevention" by GLOBE/Snohomish County Health District.

  • "The Criminal Color: A Book on Realism" an interactive presentation by author Geanne Misha Martinez Carter.

  • "Hate Crime Law" a presentation by Bern Haggerty, who authored a law on that topic in Laramie, Wyo.

  • "Journey to a Hate Free Millennium" a video presentation and discussion by Ed Glazer, with the Human Rights Coalition for Snohomish County.

    The summit is important for the community, Quinn said, because "people sometimes feel they don’t have the power to change things — but they do."

    "The more people we have throughout our community actively working to find peaceful solutions, the less violence we will have," she said.

    Reporter Pam Brice: 425-339-3439 or brice@heraldnet.com.

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