THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 15, 1996 TAG: 9609130258
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 13 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: COVER STORY
SOURCE: BY REBECCA MYERS CUTCHINS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 89 lines
At the Children's Museum of Virginia, young people are encouraged to explore their similarities and differences.
In one exhibit area, children can mix different facial features on large movable blocks and interact with computerized storytellers from different ethnic backgrounds.
But now it's the grown-ups' turn to explore cultural diversity at the Children's Museum.
The organizers of the Umoja Festival will present a community education forum, ``Communicating Across Cultures in a Time of Change,'' from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the museum, 221 High St.
In the past, the Umoja forums have been geared specifically to the African-American community.
They covered important topics ranging from violence and its impact on the African-American family to health issues in the black community.
But Umoja means unity.
So this year organizers decided to design a program that would bring black and white participants together.
``Basically, the whole purpose for this year's forum is to generate more interaction among the different cultures,'' said Aldora Hatcher, community forum co-chair.
After a few opening remarks, participants will be divided into small groups and guided through four ``informational stations,'' where 15-minute discussions on cultural diversity will take place.
One station - led by Delta Kappa Gamma, the Portsmouth Service League, the Portsmouth Panhellenic Council and the American Association of University Women - will focus on women's issues.
Another station will be led by a group of Girl Scouts and students involved in CHROME, a club for minorities interested in engineering.
In a third station, a group from the Federal Managers Association of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard will demonstrate how a study circle works. At a fourth station, members of an equality committee from Hoechst-Celanese will discuss workplace issues.
``As we experience the event itself, we'll all be learning quite a bit about African-American life,'' said Anne Lyons, a program administrator with the Community Services Board who co-chaired the program. ``And I think it's going to lead to not just better awareness but I'm hoping a little more understanding.''
After taking part in discussions at all four stations, participants again will gather as a group to sing with members of church groups that have predominantly black or predominantly white congregations.
Participating churches include Fellowship United Church of Christ, Simonsdale Presbyterian, St. Andrew's United Methodist and Ebenezer Baptist.
``This was kind of carefully crafted to build to a crescendo,'' Lyons said. ``I guarantee there's going to be a real feeling of Umoja by the end of the evening.''
Reggie Connor, a Cavalier Manor resident who helped plan the forum, agrees.
``We have a diverse group planning this,'' he said, ``and that's the one thing that we're working toward - making certain that the final product will indeed show unity in the city.''
For about four years, Connor has served as a facilitator for several study circles, and he will oversee Thursday night's demonstration given by the shipyard group.
``This is just another instrument for us to get more people involved, to show people what the study circles are,'' he said. ``It will not be anything rehearsed. We'll pick a toss-up question, so to speak, and ask people for their responses to it.''
The question could be as simple as: ``Have you ever experienced racial discrimination?''
``You'd be surprised at some of the answers that you'd get to a question of that nature,'' Connor said. ``Some of them will knock your socks off.''
Connor emphasized that a study circle is not a problem-solving tool. It's simply a tool to get people talking.
``I feel that the time for separatism has passed,'' he said. ``We must think of ourselves as one people and realize that we're all living here in the city of Portsmouth together.
``I'd like to see our city as the best place in the world, but we have to work together to do it.'' ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
COMMUNITY FORUM
Event: Umoja Festival Community Forum - ``Communicating Across
Cultures in a Time of Change.''
What: Local social and service organizations offer workshops in
effectively communicating with different cultures.
When: 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday
Where: Children's Museum of Virginia, 221 High St.
Cost: Free
Call: Aldora Hatcher at 393-8481 or Anne Lyons at 393-8618, Ext.
313, for more information by CNB