Forum to foster dialogue between youth and police
Published 10:49 am Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Bellevue Police will get together with youth and people of color at a forum designed to foster dialogue and understanding. Sponsored by the city’s Cultural Diversity program, the forum is scheduled for 5:30 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, April 22, at Sammamish High School, 100 140th Ave. SE.
“Building Bridges of Understanding” will include facilitated discussions. School resource officers, supervisors and at least one detective will be among the police in attendance.
The goals are to break down barriers between the police and the people they serve and to increase understanding of different values, communication styles and patterns of behavior due to racial and cultural differences.
The forum is part of a series of “Eastside Conversations on Race and Culture.” It coincides with expanded outreach efforts by the Police Department.
The “Eastside Conversations” series is cosponsored by: the Bellevue School District; the Parent Advisory Council; Eastside Asian Pacific Islanders; the Institute for Community Involvement; the Black Council of the Eastside; the Japanese Americans Citizens League, Lake Washington Chapter; the Eastside Latino Leadership Forum, City University, Main Street Mediation and Communication Services, Bellevue Community College and the Bellevue Entrepreneur Center.
Light refreshments will be provided at 5:30 p.m. People who want to attend are asked to RSVP to Callie Shanafelt at cshanafelt@bellevuewa.gov or 425.452.7922.
