Mildura Sporting Precinct will host a deep conversation about the pressures on Aboriginal and culturally and linguistically diverse people in our communities on Wednesday 6 April from 5.30pm to 9pm.
The Mildura Anti-Racism Community Yarning Circle, a partnership between Mildura Rural City Council's Ngiwa Yarna (Aboriginal Action) Committee and Yuranga Local Aboriginal Network Mildura, will bring together a diverse panel of speakers to share their personal experiences with racism, and discuss how our community can best tackle racism.
The panel will be led by award-winning journalist and writer Stan Grant, who will also provide the key note address.
A safe, mediated process where community members can submit questions to the panel will also take place.
The panel will feature:
- Ro Allen - Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner
- Indi Clarke - Executive Officer of the Koorie Youth Council
- Robby Wirramanda Knight - artist, singer, songwriter, and Operations Development Officer of First People Millewa-Mallee Aboriginal Corporation
- Baden Moore - Ngintait Traditional Owner, member of First Peoples of Millewa-Mallee
- Vivienne Nguyen - Victorian Multicultural Commission Chair
- Claudine Uwamahoro - Rwandan migrant, Aged Care Worker in Mildura
- Dean Wickham - former EO of Sunraysia Mallee Ethnic Communities Council, and Honorary Consul for Solomon Islands in Victoria
Ngiwa Yarna Committee chair Thelma Chilly said the event was a great opportunity to come together and address in a safe way the effects of racism in our community.
"We are extremely excited to welcome Stan to speak at this special event," she said.
"He is fantastic speaker, and will offer some fantastic insight into what is a very confronting topic.
"The committee is also grateful to be partnering with sections of our culturally and linguistically diverse community to share their experiences.
"These are tough conversations, and there are plenty of stories to share. We look forward to coming together with our community to have this discussion.
"We invite the community to make the Mildura Anti-Racism Yarning Circle a place that is welcoming and respectful for all participants, regardless of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, national origin, ethnicity or religion.
"All attendees are expected to treat others with respect and abide by the event's Code of Conduct. This includes online activities and social media before, during and after the event."
Stan Grant is a multi-award winning current affairs host, and author. Born in Griffith in south-west New South Wales in 1963, Stan's mother is from the Kamilaroi people and his father is of the Wiradjuri.
He has written The Tears of Strangers, Talking To My Country, Australia Day, and With the Falling of the Dusk, On Identity, On Thomas Keneally and the Quarterly Essay 'The Australian Dream: Blood, History and Becoming (Black Inc)' and has published numerous articles and opinion pieces for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian.
The Mildura Anti-Racism Community Yarning Circle is FREE to attend, with tickets available online at https://events.humanitix.com/the-mildura-anti-racism-community-yarning-circle
Proof of COVID-19 vaccination (Medicare or formal exemption only) is required to attend.
This event is funded through the Victorian DFFH Local Anti-Racism Initiatives Grants Program.
