NIACC offers Being Black in Iowa workshop

Press staff report

Five speakers will foster discussion on “Being Black in Iowa” as part of the Lifelong Learning Institute at North Iowa Area Community College.

The workshop sessions will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 2, at the NIACC Auditorium in Mason City. Speakers will cover race in the school systems, Iowa’s African American History, Jim Crow-style obstacles in the 21st century, and racial justice in the law.

“The question that becomes most pressing is: How is it that Iowa continues to be among the worst states in our country in all of the ways in which racial equity, justice and well-being are measured?” a press release for the event said.

The workshop is free and open to the public.

Being Black in Iowa Schedule
Monday, Oct. 2

• 9:30 a.m. – Introduction, featuring Harvey Harrison, retired lawyer.

• 9:45 a.m. – Race and Our School Systems, Daniel Spikes, assistant professor at Iowa State University.

• 11 a.m. – Iowa’s African American History, Krystal Gladden, African American Museum in Cedar Rapids.

• 1 p.m. – 21st Century Jim Crow: What does the data suggest?, Corey Harris, director of middle schools in Des Moines.

• 2:30 p.m. – The Law and Racial Justice, Daniel Zeno, Policy Council of the Iowa ACLU.

• 3:30-4:30 p.m. – Q&A session.