"Dismantling Racism Through Diversity Circles," small groups of people talking together about an important public issue, will be sponsored in Central Wisconsin this winter by the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in collaboration with UW-Parkside.

Community organizations are encouraged to send a representative to facilitator training sessions at UWSP on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 20 and 21. The free training sessions will be held in Room 241 University Center from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday. Roseann Mason, director of Diversity Circles at UW-Parkside, will be the trainer.

Diversity Circles meet together for two-hour sessions over a period of five weeks to look at an issue from many points of view. Their purpose is to build a stronger community by expanding the participation of citizens in dialogue that will foster greater understanding, cooperation and community participation.

Members of community groups interested in facilitator training are asked to contact Portia Hamlar, UWSP director of Equity and Affirmative Action, (715) 346-2002 or e-mail phamlar@uwsp.edu by Jan. 31.

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