The Bismarck Human Relations committee, United Tribes Technical College and the University of Mary will kick-off “Diversity University”, a series of thought-provoking presentations and interactive panel discussions designed to engage and inform, beginning Thursday, Sept. 11. All events begin at 7 p.m. and take place at United Tribes Technical College (UTTC), Al Stockert Dining Hall, Building 72,3315 University Drive, Bismarck. The events are free of charge and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.
First Person Reflections
•7 p.m. Thursday, September 11
Join us in listening to first hand experiences from people who have recently moved to the community. Gino and Marian DeClay from Arizona and Moneer Nyazi from Afghanistan share their adventures, challenges and triumphs they encountered moving to a new place.
Transitional Services
•7 p.m. Thursday, September 18
How do new residents make the transition from sleeping on a friend’s couch to having a place of their own? Join us for a panel discussion about the organizations providing services to the hidden homeless in our community. Cheryl Kary, Ph.D., and Karla Davis work with families and students on a daily basis. Hear about what is being done to help people make a home in Bismarck and Mandan.
Homeless In Bismarck
• 7 p.m. Thursday, September 25
Jaclyn Hall from the Ruth Meiers Hospitality House; Officer Clint Fuller from the Bismarck Police Department; and Mark Heinert from Youthworks will lead a panel discussion on homelessness in the Bismarck/Mandan area. They will discuss what services are available and what each agency is doing to address homelessness.
Human Trafficking
•7 p.m. Thursday, October 2
Tens of thousands of newcomers have arrived to North Dakota in the past few years to work in the oil fields. Not all individuals are law abiding citizens. Join us as Patrick Atkinson of the God’s Child Project and Christina Sambor of FUSE (Force to End Sexual Exploitation) discuss human trafficking cases in the state along with what is being done to manage the problem.
The mission of the Human Relations Committee is to protect and promote the personal dignity of all Bismarck citizens and to eliminate any discriminatory barriers that prevent them from reaching their full human potential.