The City Club presents a panel discussion about some of the subtle ways a community with a reputation for being progressive may set up obstacles to full inclusion. Panelists include Greg Evans, Joseph Lowndes, Yvette Alex-Assensoh, and Luhui Whitebear.

From the City Club's website:

Martin Luther King Jr is remembered and respected around the world for his passionate advocacy of unity, civil rights, equal opportunity, and nonviolent strategies for social change. On January 21, our national holiday honors King’s legacy and reminds us of his dream of a country free from the shackles of prejudice and discrimination.

We have taken many strides forward in realizing this dream, but we still have a long way to go. Tensions among racial, cultural, and social groups are still present, and they continue to impede development of our full potential individually and as a nation. Some recent polls show that most Americans feel that these issues are not easing but have in fact worsened in recent years. We do not need to look further than our own community to see this. Oregon reported 146 hate crimes last year. According to the FBI, discrimination on the basis of race and ethnicity was the leading cause. Disturbingly, more than half of these incidents occurred in Eugene.

The event is free to City Club members; admission for the public is $5. Lunch is available for $15 for members and $17 for guests. A cookie and coffee/tea option is also available for $5/$7.