A free public forum, “Healing Racism - Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity,” will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, at Phoenix College’s Dome Auditorium, 3110 N. 10th Ave., (northeast corner of 11th Avenue and Flower Street).

The discussion will focus on how the concepts of affirmative action and equal opportunity can be used to help heal and remedy race and gender relations in this country. The forum will offer a balanced, unbiased and easily understood account of these topics and offer attendees an opportunity to discuss these issues in a non-confrontational environment.

Dr. Matthew C. Whitaker, associate professor of U.S. History and African and African-American Studies, will provide an historical background of the topic. John Garza, manager, Workforce Services, Arizona Public Service, and president of the Arizona Affirmative Action Association, and Brenda Thomson, CEO and director, LearnLaw, LLC, will offer their expertise on affirmative action and equal opportunity issues. Myles V. Lynk, Peter Kiewit Foundation Professor of Law and the Legal Profession at the Arizona State University College of Law, also will present his views on the subject.

The event, part of an ongoing series of community conversations that explores various aspects of race and racism, is hosted by the Phoenix Human Relations Commission, Arizona State University, Maricopa County Community College District, Phoenix College, Maricopa County Diversity Office, city of Tempe and the city of Phoenix Equal Opportunity Department.

The forum is open to the public. For more information or to request disability accommodation, call 602-261-8242/voice or 602-534-1557/TTY.