The Charleston Forum Releases Speaker Lineup for June Event

The Charleston Forum is excited to announce the details for their second annual event scheduled for June 21st at the Charleston Music Hall from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Born in honor of the victims of the 2015 Mother Emanuel AME Church shooting, and part of the official Emanuel 9 commemorative events, The Charleston Forum continues to be an open and honest dialogue on race and the ways in which our community can move forward together.

Last year’s Forum, attended by a sold out crowd of 950 participants, focused on numerous topics and the 32 speakers provided a robust discussion on their experiences and ideas to overcome a variety of issues.  This year’s event will have a more narrowed focus on overcoming racial disparities in education and economics.

“The Charleston Forum fosters an open and honest discussion addressing important issues from many different perspectives,” said Brian Duffy, The Charleston Forum’s Committee Chair.  “We are focused on exploring potential solutions during our second annual event.  We will capitalize on the momentum from our incredibly engaging conversations at the inaugural event last year.”

Panelists will be encouraged to propose solutions to certain disparities identified in the Racial Disparities Report released by the College of Charleston Race and Social Justice Initiative.  The program will host two panels, with one focusing on education and the other on economics.

The program will also include an element of audience participation.  More information about that component will be released prior to June 21st.

Attendees at this year’s event must have a ticket, but the tickets are free and available now at www.thecharlestonforum.com.

Confirmed speakers include: 

• Faith Rivers James, Assistant Provost for Leadership at The Citadel
• Michael Moore, CEO/President of the International African American Museum
• John Read, CEO of Tri County Cradle to Career
• Elliot Smalley, Superintendent of Public Charter School District
• Bakari Sellers, CNN Commentator and Attorney
• Paris Dennard, Senior Director of Strategic Communications at Thurgood Marshall College Fund
• Sue Berkowitz, Executive Director of S.C. Applesee Legal Justice Center

More speakers to be announced soon

About The Charleston Forum

The Charleston Forum is a community project that strives to provide a dialogue that moves the conversation on race forward, with no pre-set agenda but with a common purpose.  The Charleston Forum began in 2016 as a group of local political, business, educational and religious leaders who wanted to provide an outlet to discuss race across many different topics. The Forum has received significant collective support from Charleston leaders including former Mayor John Tecklenburg, former Mayor Joe Riley, Reverend Joe Darby and many others.

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Press Release

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