Brown Commemoration Community Read training set for March 21

Brown Commemoration Community Read training set for March 21March 19, 2004Kelly Homan Rodoskikahoman@syr.edu

The Syracuse University Brown v. Board of Education Committee and Community-Wide Dialogue to End Racism are sponsoring Community Reads as part of the activities planned to mark the 50th anniversary of the May 17, 1954, Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision that declared segregation in public schools to be unconstitutional.

The committee is seeking volunteers to read to children in grades K-6 at schools in the coming weeks. The book selected for young readers is “The Other Side” by Jacqueline Woodson, an illustrated book that captures the essence of Brown through the story of a friendship between two girls during the era of segregation. The book serves as powerful tool to foster discussion about the racial divides that have existed in the past and continue to exist in today’s society.

Faculty, staff, students and community members interested in volunteering as readers are asked to attend a training session on Sunday, March 21, at 1:30 p.m. in the Hendricks Chapel Noble Room.

For more information on the Community Reads or how you can volunteer, call the Hendricks Chapel Dean’s Office at 443-2901. For more information on the Brown commemorative events, visit the Web at http://hendricks.syr.edu/brownvboard/index.html