Rights Panel to Hold Discussion Sessions

The Orange County Human Relations Commission, hoping that diverse ethnic communities can move closer by exploring common ground and appreciating their differences, is inviting people to share their family background in a series of countywide discussion groups.

The commission is organizing Living Room Dialogues, encounter sessions where people discuss their heritage and the nuances of their family background--from religious practices to recipes.

The goal, organizers say, is to bridge the gulfs that separate ethnic groups in an informal, enjoyable ice-breaker, said Rusty Kennedy, the commission’s executive director.

“Most of all, this is time spent together, a structured way to build friendships between people that otherwise might not meet,” Kennedy said. “The family is the fundamental unit of all societies, so it’s a natural starting point to explore.”

The dialogues, which will begin in mid-March, will be in homes, community centers, schools, senior centers and other meeting places. Discussion groups will range from five to 20 members. There will be a facilitator to lead discussions.

Participants will be asked to share stories about their past, their ancestors and heritage. Language, historical events, philosophies and social traditions are sample topics.

The commission, which was created by the Board of Supervisors in 1971 to foster inter-group relations and diffuse tensions, is organizing the dialogues along with Orange County Together and the United Nations International Year of the Family Committee.

Kennedy said people of all ages, backgrounds and professions are invited to participate. For more information about the Living Room Dialogues, call Kennedy at (714) 567-7470, or writethe commission at 1300 S. Grand Ave, Building B, Santa Ana, Calif.92705.