First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest to Host Free Talk Tackling Race and Education, Nov. 13

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Nov. 3, 2014 - PRLog -- “Those who avoid our racial history out of embarrassment and those stuck on it out of anger both share one thing in common: an acute awareness of the horror of racial injustice,” says Desmond Odugu, Ph.D., assistant professor of education at Lake Forest College and director of the Institute for Research and International Studies (IRIS). “But learning to walk that patchy road of embarrassment and anger together can lead to meaningful social transformation.”

It is from this line of thinking that Dr. Odugu will base his discussion on race on Nov. 13 at First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest, located at 700 N Sheridan Road. During the two-hour presentation to be held from 7 to 9 p.m., Dr. Odugu will explore definitions of race and space that have shaped American educational history. He will guide the audience in assessing how these two constructs fundamentally inform socioeconomic dynamics, educational policy and lived realities of adolescents, college students and young adults today.

“Our hope for this conversation is to increase our understanding of the world in which we serve and love as church members and local volunteers, and to encourage conversation rather than ignore realities that keep us separate and unequal,” adds First Presbyterian’s Director of College Ministries Jennifer L. Aycock.

She also will provide a brief theological reflection and the floor will be open for Q&A.

Sponsored by the church’s College Ministry Team, this informative discussion is part of a larger Speaker Series that aims to help our community grow in understanding how broader social, political and economic realities impact students.

All Speaker Series events are free and open to the public but RSVPs are requested. Do so by emailing Jennifer L. Aycock at jaycock@firstchurchlf.org by Nov. 11.

About First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest

Our mission at First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest is to send inspired and well-equipped followers of Jesus into the world, loving and serving God in their daily lives. We invite you to join us in these resilient Christian practices: worship, learn, connect, serve and invite. Find out more about our worship services, study groups, mission outreach and fellowship opportunities by visiting our website at www.firstchurchlf.org or calling us at (847) 234-6250.