By Al Benson
Four community dialogues on racism opened Monday, June 7, at Santori Aurora Public Library. Co-hosts for the series, free to the public in-person and on Zoom, are Study Circles Illinois, Santori Library, and Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Avenue, Elgin.
The inaugural dialogue, moderated by Benedictine University history professor Dr. Vincent Gaddis, opened with “Let’s Talk about Racism.” Approximately 10 persons attended with another half-dozen joining online.
After opening remarks by Gaddis, audience members reflected on personal experiences with racism. The series continues from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, June 21, at the Aurora Library. Dialogues at Gail Borden Library will be announced.
Gaddis writes and researches on issues of race, class and social justice and is a frequent workshop presenter and facilitator on such issues. Additionally, he serves as chairman of the criminal justice committee of the DuPage NAACP, the advisory board of Northern Illinois Jobs with Justice, The African American Family Commission, and is an ordained minister serving at River Valley Community Church in Aurora. He has served on the African American Employment Advisory Council for the State and the city government of Aurora’s Human Relations Commission.
Gaddis holds a Ph.D. in history from Northern Illinois University and has more than 20 years of teaching experience in higher education.
To register for Aurora sessions at go to www.aurorapubliclibrary.org/event/5128593 and www.aurorapubliclibrary.org/event/5128628. Call 630-264-4145, or visit Aurorapubliclibrary.org for more information.