T. Thomas Fortune Center To Hold Forums on Race, Social Justice

RED BANK, NJ — The T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center is inviting the greater Red Bank community to engage in conversations around race and social justice.

The cultural center will hold its free educational series, "Unlearning What You Thought You Knew: Culturally Immersive Forums On Race & Social Justice," over five nights beginning next week.

One of the main goals of the forums is to "foster more culturally relevant teaching methods - not just for teachers - but for anyone willing to learn and teach others. Each session will include the arts as a starting point," according to the center's website.

The first forum, "Why Do I Need to Learn All This Black Stuff" is led by Alan Burgess, creative director of Benduka Arts in Los Angeles, and will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on July 12 at 94 Drs. James Parker Blvd.

All of the forums will be a "safe space to foster self-reflection, to explore perspectives and open up new levels of engagement around race," according to series description.

Additional forums will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on July 13, 14, 19 and 20. For more information on the educational series, and to register for the free forums, visit the T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center's website.