The Lawrence Alliance Report (Feb 2008 to Sept 2009)

Submitted by Deb Taylor, Lawrence Alliance Chair

September, 2009

The Lawrence Alliance meets the second Wednesday of every Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Sept, and Nov. Our Web site is regularly updated: http://www.lawrencealliance.org. It includes meeting locations/times as well as Minutes. The Alliance continues to increase awareness for diversity issues in Lawrence.

Events/Programs

Cultural Awareness Training for the Lawrence Police Dept; expanding to KU Police Dept

This is a one-hour session presented by a Lawrence group (Native American, African American, elderly, gay and lesbian, Jewish, Muslim) that shares its culture with the Lawrence Police Officers as part of their required yearly training. Its purpose is to help Lawrence police officers become more familiar with and sensitive to customs and cultures of various groups. Concurrently, groups get the opportunity to meet and chat with their town's police officers. These sessions have opened a much-needed dialogue and have increased understanding between law enforcement and Lawrence’s diverse community. We are working with the KU Police Dept to offer awareness training there.

Sessions so far: Islamic Community (Dec 06); Native American Community (Jun 07); Hispanic Community (Feb 08); Domestic Violence Issues (Aug 09)

Diversity Roundtable Discussion, Sept 10, 2008

Various members of Lawrence's minority community shared their thoughts on Lawrence and how their communities fit in it. We also had dinner together.

Lawrence Festival of Cultures, Sept 27, 2009

The Festival of Cultures is a community event that celebrates the rich cultural diversity that makes up Lawrence. This includes groups from different religions and ethnicities, as well as the elderly, youth, women, the disabled, gay/lesbian, and others. The Festival gives groups a chance to showcase their heritage, traditions, and identities with the Lawrence community while discovering and learning about others. The festival features music, dance, activities, food, games, and crafts in a family-friendly atmosphere. We are hoping that folks will come out and bring their kids!

Guest speakers

The Lawrence Alliance has been honored to hear from a variety of representatives who have shared with us their experiences and/or jobs:

• Adrian Marquez, Hispanic community, Sept 08
• Daniel Dorado, Hispanic community, Sept 08
• Jenny and Arthur Burgess, OWL, Sept 08
• Lydia Leon, Centro Hispano, numerous times
• Renita WIlkes, Independence Inc, Sept 08
• Nagabat Abbasi, Islamic Center, Sept 08
• Abdulkhaliq Abdulsalam, Islamic Center, Sept 08

• Abdulbaki Agbas, Islamic Center, Sept 08
• Asra Haq, Islamic Center, Sept 08 (Asra has become a Board member)
• Jennifer Attocknie, Haskell, May 08

Community Support

• KU Expo, April 2, 2009, KU Campus. We set up a booth.
• Working with Centro Hispano to combine the Feria Hispana (Spanish Festival) with one that includes all cultural groups.
• Interfaith Dialogue at the Islamic Center, March 5, 2009

Meetings/Dialogues

The Lawrence Alliance continues to maintain a dialogue with the City and the Lawrence Police Department. We are increasing our dialogue with the Haskell community, including meeting with Ted Wright, VP of University Services.

Events/Goals for 2009 - 2010

• Continue LPD Cultural Awareness Training sessions and the KU Police Department and expand it to other law enforcement agencies.
• Host the Lawrence Festival of Cultures on Sept 27, 2009.
• Continue to increase dialogue with the Haskell community and build a dialogue with the USD 497 community.
• Continue to maintain Board diversity. Currently, the Lawrence Alliance includes members who represent the following groups/diversity: Islamic Community, Hispanic Community, Lawrence Police Department, African American Community, Gay and Lesbian Community, KU, Homeless Community, Women’s Issues, NAACP, Spiritual Community. We would like to continue adding members to the Board who represent and celebrate Lawrence’s diversity.

Lawrence Alliance Mission Statement

That we may continually eliminate discrimination in our city, and that we may move with purpose toward the day when tolerance and justice flourish unhindered within and beyond our city limits.

The Lawrence Alliance will provide a listening ear in our community, making its presence known, gathering information, and providing information to the city's government and its citizens, advocating for the changes that must come.

Current Lawrence Alliance Board Members

Sarah Terwelp, Mike Monroe, Carlos Otero, Robbie Derritt, Chris Keary, Baha Safadi, Bruce Ney, Deb Taylor, Lucas Miller, Peter Luckey, Susan Cooper, Cynthia Colbert.