SOMA Living May 2025

COALITION ON RACE

CONVERSATIONS ON RACE TO ADDRESS BACKLASH AGAINST DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION

Communities like ours—committed to racial integration where all residents participate in civic life—must come together to address national challenges to diversity, equity, and

• Olivia Lewis Chang, Clinical Psychologist and South Orange Township Committee Member • Kerri Waibel, Director of Data, Planning, Research, and Evaluation in the South Orange/ Maplewood School District • Robert A. Marchman, Senior Policy Advisor on Diversity and Inclusion at the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission, and a founding trustee of the Coalition Following the panel, attendees will participate in small group discussions to reflect, share experiences, and develop strategies to sustain racial equity efforts. RSVP at communitycoalitiononrace.org/events

inclusion. We invite residents to this year’s Conversations on Race on Tuesday, May 13th at 7:30 p.m. at Bethany Hall, Seton Hall University. This is a free annual event that has served as a cornerstone for dialogue, learning, and action on racial equity and integration for nearly two decades. Local leaders will examine how assaults on racial equity policies affect our schools, governance, and broader community life—and, crucially, what we can do to push forward in the face of resistance. Featured panelists include: • Lori Brown, Chief Equity, Diversity & Compliance Officer, Seton Hall University Dean Dafis, Director, Division of Housing & Community Resources, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and Maplewood Township Committee Member

Nancy Gagnier, Executive Director of the South Orange/ Maplewood Community Coalition on Race, develops pro-integrative strategies to support racial equity and inclusion.

Disney’s The Little Mermaid Music by ALAN MENKEN Lyrics by HOWARD ASHMAN & GLENN SLATER Book by DOUG WRIGHT Based on the Hans Christian Andersen story and the Disney film produced by Howard Ashman & John Musker and written & directed by John Musker & Ron Clements Directed & Choreographed by JOANN M. HUNTER

MAY 29–JUN 29 TICKETS START AT $35 973.376.4343 PAPERMILL.ORG

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