COMMUNITY FORUM TONIGHT HIGHLIGHTS STEREOTYPING

Organizers hope a special forum on diversity tonight will result in good solutions that help dispel racial stereotypes.

The People-To-People Forum will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Show Me Center meeting rooms. The forum is co-sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce Multicultural Relations Committee and Southeast Missouri State University.

The meeting's focus will be on improving communication and fostering mutual respect for people from diverse backgrounds.

"What we wanted to do was to try to bring people together and talk about issues that are out there in the community," said J.J. Williamson, a member of the multicultural committee. "We just felt it was something everybody could talk about and discuss positively."

A seven-member panel will lead the forum discussion. Panel members include Michael Miller, city manager; John Mehner, Chamber of Commerce president; Rick Hetzel, chief of police; Dr. Paul Keys, dean of health and Human Services at Southeast Missouri State University; the Rev. David Allen, president of the city chapter of the NAACP; Jim Caughlan with the Ministerial Alliance; and the Rev. William Bird with the African-American Ministerial Alliance.

Williamson said presenters will not discuss a recent late-night clash between Cape Girardeau police and several people in the 300 block of Good Hope. While the incident may relate to some issues discussed during the forum, it does not directly relate to the forum's emphasis on racial stereotyping, he said.

"It may come up, but not to the degree that it could otherwise," said Williamson. "I think we're going to have other community forums that would accommodate that particular issue."

Williamson said the forum is the first in a series of events his committee plans to sponsor. Different issues surrounding cultural diversity and human relations will be discussed at each event. The group's goal is to improve community unity and mutual respect and appreciation, he said.

"We want people to tell us how to improve our forums and discuss relevant issues," he said. "I feel the only way we can address problems is if we give ourselves some time tables to set and reach goals."