PORT ANGELES — The newly organized Community Multi-Cultural Alliance holds its first public meeting on Tuesday.
The group will introduce its members and hold a business meeting from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., then a “public forum on appreciating diversity”‘ from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
At the forum, “members of the public are encouraged to come and share their experiences and observations of positive recognition of diversity in our community,” according to an announcement from the group.
Gary Cohn, Port Angeles superintendent of schools and chairman of the group, also invited anyone with discrimination complaints to address the group.
Tuesday’s meeting will be held in Room A-12 of the Cornaby Center at Peninsula College.
The business session will include discussion about this year’s Martin Luther King Day essay contest.
In last year’s contest, the task force asked children in elementary school grades to write about friendship and its importance.
Middle school participates wrote about the importance of different cultures in a strong community. High school students were asked to explain what they can do to further Dr. King’s dream of equality for all people.
The Community Multi-Cultural Alliance grew out of the Port Angeles Multicultural Task Force, a City Council advisory group created in the spring of 2002 to handle racism complaints from personnel at Coast Guard Group/Air Station Port Angeles.
No longer tied to the Port Angeles council, it has reconstituted itself so it could be a broader-based, countywide group focused on how to improve diversity, equality and cultural awareness.
Its members include community, governmental, religious, educational and business leaders and representatives from the Coast Guard and Lower Elwha Klallam tribe.
