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Health & Fitness

"Healing Our Nation" Needed Now More Than Ever!!!

With everything happening in our community and in Washington this "Healing Our Nation" workshop introductory session is needed more than ever and we need people from all "camps" and opinions to participate to show how democracy and community is supposed to work:
The Cobb United for Change Coalition (CUCC), or “Cobb Coalition”, has been, since 2008, addressing issues and cases of alleged injustice including human rights and civil rights violations brought to its attention by people of all races, cultures and backgrounds. As part of this mission, the Coalition has also developed a close working relationship and collaboration with the Cobb County Police Department and other county-wide departments and law enforcement agencies, with all involved reporting mutually beneficial results.According to Coalition spokesperson and President of the SCLC, Cobb Chapter, Dr. Ben Williams, “The recent announcement of the Trayvon Martin verdict and accompanying anxieties experienced and expressed by people on all sides of the issue, in addition to the other recent incidents of violent crime in Cobb, have combined to amplify the very different perspectives on the role of race and culture in our society and community, and the real and perceived disparities involved. For this reason an increasing number of Cobb residents, especially youth but also adults of all backgrounds, have come to us seeking solutions and ways we can all work together to prevent and stop the escalating violence and societal divisions. In order to help channel this anxiety into constructive dialogue and action, we have initiated nine lines of action, one of which is geared towards healing our community by helping people of all backgrounds understand and address the sources of prejudice in ourselves and in our community, with the purpose of building bridges of understanding and cooperation, which we feel is the first step towards solving our community’s problems. In light of the present impasse in Washington, this is even more important and timely to accomplish at the local, grassroots level, which perhaps will provide an example of how our elected leaders should behave.”              To this end , the Coalition has invited  Rita Star, founder and facilitator of the nationally acclaimed organization, Healing Our Nation Workshops (www.healingournation.com), and some of her professionally trained facilitators, to present an introduction to the “Healing our Nation Workshop: Understanding the Impact of Prejudice & Race”, which they have been conducting for organizations, corporations and municipalities nationwide for over 20 years, recognized by the “President’s Initiative on Race”, with the latest up to date research and practices. Starr states, “These workshops are facilitated in a way that is respectful of everyone’s background and culture--in other words, not a ‘blame game’-- in order to build bridges of understanding and bring communities together through the knowledge and understanding of our diversity,  and they work best when the participants come from a diversity of backgrounds and opinions. Dr Williams stated, “The Coalition is reaching out to thoughtful people and leaders of all backgrounds to attend the 2.5 hr introductory sessions which will be repeated at various times and locations in Cobb, the week of Oct 14th, in order to accommodate everyone’s schedules (*see schedule below and on attached flier*).  In addition to the general public, participants will include Cobb public officials, law enforcement personnel, community leaders and community members from all backgrounds. One of the purposes of the introductory sessions will be to inform people about the full 30 hour comprehensive workshops, which we will be co-sponsoring in Cobb County the near future.” We additionally invite everyone to plan to attend these enriching "healing" sessions and bring a friend to impact our community outreach. Cobb Coalition, dedicated to being the change we want to see.---- What:  “Healing our Nation” Workshop Introductory Sessions: “Understanding the Impact of Prejudice & Race”When/Where: Dates, Times & Locations:
Thursday, Oct. 17, 7:00 to 9:30 pm:  Victory International Church, 5228 Brookwood Dr SW, Mableton  
Friday, Oct 18,  1:30 to 4pm
 :   Marietta Public Library, 266 Roswell Street, Marietta, GA 30060
Saturday, Oct 19, 1:30 to 4pm     Powder Springs Public Library, 
4181 Atlanta Street, Powder Springs
Saturday, Oct, 19, 
7:00  to 9:30 pm: Unity North Atlanta Church, 4255 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta
Contacts:
Dr. Ben Williams, President, SCLC Cobb Chapter, 770-876-2070, docben@att.net
Rich Pellegrino, Director, Cobb Immigrant Alliance, 404-573-1199, pilgrim1@mindspring.com 

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