‘Facing Race’ Event Coming to Oakdale

The seventh annual Facing Race Ambassador Awards event will be held in Oakdale this year.

The Saint Paul Foundation’s celebration, which honors Minnesotans “committed to creating a racially equitable community,” is set for Monday, April 29, at the Prom Center.

The event is free and open to the public, but RSVPs are required as seating is limited. For more information and reservations visit www.FacingRace.org or call 651-325-4265.

The evening begins with networking and an appetizer reception at 6 p.m., with the program and awards ceremony to begin at 7 p.m.

The featured speaker is Dr. Manuel Pastor, professor of American studies and ethnicity at the University of Southern California.

Pastor will discuss “the dramatic demographic shifts currently underway in the U.S., the gap between progress in racial attitudes and realities, and a new set of strategies for talking about race and achieving racial equity,” according to a release.

The 2013 Facing Race Ambassador Award winners are:

• Ellen O’Neil, executive director of YWCA of Duluth
• Dr. Josie R. Johnson, Josie Robinson and Associates and University of Minnesota Regent Emeriti

2013 honorable mentions:

• Corinth Matera, teacher Minneapolis South High School
• Oluwaseyi Daniel Oyinloye, independent filmmaker and African American Students Program Coordinator at the University of Minnesota Duluth
• Hli Xyooj, staff attorney for Farmers' Legal Action Group (FLAG)

The Prom Center is located at 484 Inwood Ave. N., in Oakdale.

Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Sign up for our free newsletter