Over the next few months, small neighborhood groups will be talking openly about race issues, in hopes of arriving at actions that will make a difference. Their ideas will be shared with you daily in this space. Today, the conversation from the University of Cincinnati:

Read all about it in our special section

        Host: Just Community

        Discussion leaders: Andrea Dixon, assistant professor of marketing, UC; and Sarah Anderson, senior administrative specialist, city of Cincinnati

        What actions can we, as citizens, take in our neighborhood to improve race relations?

        1) Speak up against wrongdoing; break through comfort zones.

        2) Become politically active and stay on top of issues.

        3) Become interracial foster parents if you desire.

        What actions can community leaders take?

        1) Stop looking for easy answers.

        2) Put teeth into current anti-discrimination laws

        3)make decisions on substance, not image; seek to understand, not to be understood.

        What did we agree are our shared concerns?

        There are no easy answers and a great deal of skepticism regarding racial initiatives. Public officials have a responsibility to listen and learn.

        Where did we disagree?

        No major disagreements.

        What's next: Dozens of “Neighbor to Neighbor” conversations on race are planned in the coming weeks, and there's still time for residents to get involved.

        Response to the initiative has been so great, the conversations will be extended into January. This will give hosts in communities that have not yet been heard from a chance to schedule one.

        Recommendations made by residents during the conversations will be the basis for a “citizens' report” to local officials. Participants are considering what they, and their community leaders, can do to ease racial tensions in Greater Cincinnati.

        Also, public broadcasting station WCET-48 plans to air a studio-based “Neighbor to Neighbor” conversation on Dec. 5.

        Neighborhood conversations are limited to 25 people, so anyone interested in joining should call the host listed to the right and reserve a seat. Discussions last about 2 1/2 hours. Many hosts will serve refreshments.

        Here is a schedule for conversations Tuesday and Wednesday:

        • Tuesday, 9 a.m.: East End Adult Education Center, 4015 Eastern Ave., Columbia Tusculum. Adele Craft, 321-6744.

        • Tuesday, 7 p.m.: Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce offices, 300 Buttermilk Pike, Fort Mitchell. Millie Diehl, (859) 344-1014.

        • Tuesday, 7 p.m.: Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 4600 Erie Ave., Madisonville. Libby Golden, 984-8725.

        • Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.: Mount Healthy High School library, 2046 Adams Road, Mount Healthy. Viki McCorkel, 368-8806.

        • Tuesday, 7 p.m.: Tylersville Road Christian Church, 6771 Tylersville Road, Mason. Rev. George Reese Sr., 754-0777.

        • Tuesday, , 7 p.m.: Monroe City Building Community Room, 233 S. Main., Monroe. Susan Crawford, 539-7654.

        • Tuesday, 7 p.m.: North Presbyterian Church, 4222 Hamilton Ave., Northside. Rev. Erwin Goedicke, 681-1400.

        • Wednesday, 7 p.m.: Gradison McDonald offices, Banc One Towers, 8044 Montgomery Road, Kenwood. Mike Garfunkel, 762-8023.

        • Wednesday, 7 p.m.: Church of the Nativity, school cafeteria, 5935 Pandora Ave., Pleasant Ridge. Louise LeCompte, 531-3164.

        • Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.: Union Elementary School, 8735 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, West Chester. Nancy Mullen, 777-8995.

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