Cultural Conflict Workshop Offered

Community Bridges, a series of workshops sponsored by the Vaughn Family Center to promote dialogue between Latinos and African Americans, will meet again Wednesday.

“The overall goal of Community Bridges is to talk about issues that get in the way of Latinos and African Americans working together,” said Yoland Trevino, director of the nonprofit center.

The Community Bridges program is funded by a grant from the California Community Foundation and attempts to create opportunities for cultural exchange, cooperation, mutual respect and community improvement, Trevino said. The workshops began in January and will continue at least until the end of the year.

One objective of the program is to identify members of both the Latino and African American communities who are willing to undergo intensive training in conflict resolution, Trevino said. These individuals will eventually serve as citizen “peacekeepers” and will help resolve ethnic misunderstanding and disputes in Pacoima.

The free workshop is open to the public and will be from noon to 2 p.m. at the Vaughn Family Center, 13330 Vaughn St., Pacoima. Child care and refreshments will be offered. For details, call (818) 834-1485.