Courageous Conversations at the University of North Florida

The U.S. Attorney’s Office, in partnership with the University of North Florida (UNF), hosted Courageous Conversations: Racism and Reality. Facilitators Dr. Roy Kaplan and Dr. Navita Cummings James guided the more than 200 attendees, including university faculty and students, public safety officials, and local community members, through an interactive discussion addressing current issues on race and the way the media portrays people of color in our society. Focus areas for the conversation included race and recent police encounters with black males that have received media  coverage, the evolution of technology as it affects racial matters in our society,  and the impact that socio-economic, education and health disparities have on communities of color, and the nation as a whole. The event culminated in smaller group discussions, where participants committed themselves to pursing ongoing projects to promote greater diversity and addressing ongoing disparity issues.

Courageous Conversations is a collaborative speaker series that examines current events and policies in our nation that directly impact our communities.

Special thanks to the University of North Florida's Office of the President, Office of the Provost and Academic Affairs, Division of Student Affairs, Coggin College of Business, OneJax, Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnic Relations, Commission on Diversity and Inclusion, Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, Taylor Leadership Institute, African American Faculty and Staff Association, and the University Police Department.