Woodland Hills : Seminars to Focus on Racial Harmony

Concerned over strained race relations in the city, the Los Angeles Human Relations Commission has organized a series of seminars to promote harmony among Angelenos of all colors.

At the first session, scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon Thursday at the Pierce College Campus Center, speakers will include City Councilwoman Laura Chick, who represents the southwest Valley; May Chen, director of research and planning in the chancellor’s office of the Los Angeles Community College District; Khalid Soliman, a librarian at the Muslim Public Library Islamic Foundation; Roni Blau, director of the San Fernando Valley Anti-Defamation League; Susan Ng, assistant director of the Asian Pacific Islander Council of the San Fernando Valley; and Irene Tovar, executive director of the Latin American Civic Assn.

Also speaking will be Jorge Garcia, dean of humanities at Cal State Northridge; Patricia Siever, Pierce College history instructor; Capt. Valentino P. Panaccea of the Los Angeles Police Department’s West Valley Division; Rhetta Alexander, assistant executive director of the San Fernando Valley Interfaith Council; and Lucky Altman, community and workplace program director of the National Conference.

Marlyn Dinon, a member of the Human Relations Commission, said two other City Council districts, the 14th and the 1st, will host similar events in coming months.

Pierce College is located at 6201 Winnetka Ave. in Woodland Hills. Free parking will be available.

For details, call Christopher McCauley at (213) 485-4495 or Dinon at (818) 884-1399.