[NEohioPAL]Working for a Hate Free Society

[Joni Chi]

Joni Christian
Judy Shepard Initiative
Working for a Hate Free Society
330-297-6226
330-472-3763 Cell

Working For A Hate-Free Society

Date		Event	
April 14	Akron PFLAG Annual Banquet
		Keynote Speaker: Michael Muska, America’s first openly gay collegiate
		athletic director from Oberlin College
		Triple Crown Restaurant, 6 p.m.
		335 S. Main St., Munroe Falls
		Public welcome.  For reservations call 330/864-0680
			
April 15	Seminar and Lecture on Hate Crimes			
		Facilitated by Bob Denton, Victim Assistance Program
		The University of Akron, Gardner Student Center, Summit Lounge, 12N-1
p.m.
		Free and open to the public

April 16	Reading of The Laramie Project
		The University of Akron, Gardner Student Center Theatre, 7 p.m.
		Free and open to the public
		
April 21	Reading of The Laramie Project
		Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron, 7 p.m.
		3300 Morewood Rd., Fairlawn
		Free and open to the public
		
April 23	National Victims Rights Week Luncheon				
		Special Guest Speaker
		Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 12N
		129 S. Union St.
		For reservations or further information call 330/376-0040		

April 23	Judy Shepard Lecture 
		The Legacy of Matthew Shepard
		E. J. Thomas Hall, 8 p.m., $8
		Part of the University of Akron Forum Speaker Series.  
		Tickets for the Judy Shepard Lecture are available at the Thomas Hall
		Ticket Office, 330/972-7570, all Ticketmaster Centers or
charge-by-phone,
		330/945-9400 (Akron), 216/241-5555 (Cleveland) or 330/747-1212 
		(Youngstown)
	
April 24	Journey to a Hate Free Millennium movie &		
		Lecture by a former neo-Nazi Skinhead
		Temple Israel, 7:30 p.m.
	133 Merriman Rd.
		Free and open to the public
April 25	Journey to a Hate Free Millennium movie &		
		Lecture by a former neo-Nazi Skinhead
		The University of Akron, Gardner Student Center Theatre, 6 p.m.
		Free and open to the public

April 29	Teaching Appreciation of Diversity
		First Congregational Church, Corner of Union and E. Market
		7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
		Free and open to the public
		
April 30	Society vs. Hate: Hate Crimes Legislation 2002
		What Can You Do!	
		Moderator: Dr. Fannie L. Brown, Coming Together Project of Akron
		The University of Akron, Gardner Student Center, Cardinal Room, 7 p.m.
- 
8:30 p.m.
		Free and open to the public

The above events have been a collaboration of the following
organizations:
The University Program Board, E. J. Thomas Hall, 
The Pride Center, The Coming Together Project, Victim Assistance Program
of Akron 
and The Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics
Special Thanks to Associated Student Government, Panhellenic and
Interfraternity Councils, The Office of the Vice President for Student
Affairs, Gardner Student Center, Akron Area NOW, 
Akron PFLAG, American Friends Service Committee, First Congregational
Church of Akron, 
LGBTU of  The University of Akron, NEO Visions, Stonewall Akron, Temple
Israel 
and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron

Further descriptions of some events can be found on the reverse side

E. J. Thomas Hall - The University of Akron




Descriptions of the Events and Lectures

Seminar and Lecture on Hate Crimes
Increase your understanding of our changing society!  Join us for an
interactive presentation discussing issues facing our world today.

The Laramie Project: A riveting docu-drama 
In November of 1998, one month after Matthew Shepard was brutally
murdered for being gay, Moises Kaufman brought his nine member Tectonic
Theatre Project group to Laramie Wyoming where they conducted 200
face-to-face interviews with townspeople.  This process created a
revolutionary form of documentary theatre.  Performed as a readers’
theater, The Laramie Project reveals that theatre is indeed a medium that
can transform and contribute to the dialogue on national events.  A
living documentary theatre that pays homage to the memory of Matthew
Shepard and vigilantly keeps hope alive.

Judy Shepard Lecture: The Legacy of Matthew Shepard
In October 1998, Judy Shepard lost her twenty-one-year old son, Matthew,
to a murder inspired by anti-gay hate.  Since then, she has made the
prevention of hate crimes the focus of her efforts and is speaking to
audiences nationwide about what they can do to make their schools and
communities safer for everyone, regardless of their race, sex, religion
or sexual orientation.

Journey To A Hate Free Millennium
An inspirational new documentary that seeks solutions to the horrible
hate crimes that have now become frequent events in our daily lives. 
This stirring and powerful film features shocking examples straight from
today’s headlines: the vicious murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay college
student in Wyoming; the horrendous dragging death of James Byrd Jr., an
African American man in Texas; the unfathomable shootings by high school
students at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado.  Sharing their
thoughts in this film through exclusive interviews are Judy and Dennis
Shepard, the family of James Byrd Jr., Darrell Scott, father of slain
Columbine student Rachel Scott, a reformed neo-Nazi Skinhead, as well as
students, teachers and various celebrities, all moved by these timely
events.  This film not only asks the question why, but begs to find
answers and invites the viewer to create their own vision of a new
millennium, where senseless acts of violence and hate are a thing of the
past.

After the movie, a former neo-Nazi Skinhead, working for StrHATE Talk
Consulting will offer his own unique perspective.

Teaching Appreciation of Diversity
Hate crime legislation is about punishment after a crime.  This seminar
is focused on methods and materials to do the education that builds
positive appreciation for diversity so hate crimes will not occur.

Society vs. Hate: Hate Crimes Legislation 2002
What Can You Do!
Dr. Brown will moderate presentations by the following panelists:
	Jeff Adler, Asst. Professor Mathematics, University of Akron
	Lynn Clark, Executive Director, Ohio Fair Housing Contact Service
	Leonard Hubert, Director of Minority Affairs and Economic Opportunity
for 
Governor Bob Taft
	Wilson Huhn, Professor of Law, University of Akron					Richard Johnson,
Coordinator, City of Akron, Human & Community Relations 
The presentation will provide an overview of hate crimes legislation
including both support and opposition.  There will be a report on the
status of hate crimes and finally, the panel will address what the
individual citizen can do to diminish hate crimes in our society.  The
remaining time will be used for discussion and questions from the
audience, coordinated by the moderator.
A light reception will be held following the panel discussion in the
lobby outside the Cardinal Room

Joni Christian
Judy Shepard Initiative
Working for a Hate Free Society
330-297-6226
330-472-3763 Cell


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