Sojourn to the Past Offers Anti-Racism Workshops

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Seven members of civil rights education group Mahoning Valley Sojourn to the Past have spent the summer developing an anti-racism workshop and are now making it available to local businesses and organizations.

Designed to educate people and move them to action, the workshop includes slides and clips showing the history of racism in America, from the arrival of the first enslaved African people on Aug. 20, 1619, through the modern day. 

It also aims to give people a perspective of racism from Black Americans and teach them about racial terms and how they apply to today’s environment.

The students – Lekeila Houser, Brittany Bailey, Kira Walker, Ke’Lynn Dean, Miah Pierce, Natalia McRae and Meri Johnson – are all Youngstown City Schools or Youngstown State University students. They developed the program after the killing of George Floyd by police officer Derek Chauvin over Memorial Day weekend.

The group has presented their workshop to Youngstown City Schools, the League of Women Voters and the YWCA, as well as groups in Canfield and Columbiana. 

On Saturday, the group will give the presentation at Mount Olivet United Church of Christ in North Lima at 9:30 a.m. The event is open to the public.

Most presentations have been done via Zoom. Those interested in hosting the anti-racism workshop can contact Penny Wells at [email protected].

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.