Together Oxford Offers Opportunity for Open Discussion

Two University of Mississippi faculty members in the Department of Social Work are hosting Together Oxford, a community workshop on building relationships and peaceful and constructive dialogue on issues of privilege, race and violence next week on campus.
The session is set for 6 p.m. Monday (Jan. 30) at Paris-Yates Chapel.
Faculty members Tony Caldwell and Jandel Crutchfield will moderate the discussion, which will include Ole Miss faculty, staff and students, Oxford residents, local clergy, area law enforcement, educators and social workers.
“My goal is to help all participants answer the question: if we are all a human family and divorce is not an option, then how do we live together?” Caldwell said.
The discussion will include a lecture format with opportunities for audience participation.
“The demographics of our state and our country have changed and will continue to change, so as we guide our students in understanding and responding to these changes, we believe it’s essential for communities to do the same,” she said.
“Thus, the goal of the workshop is to facilitate self-assessment of participants regarding their approach to issues of race and violence. In addition, we hope participants take away a framework for dealing with these issues that lends itself to sustaining the health of the human family.”
The two held a similar event in Tupelo last year and plan to continue to visit other cities in Mississippi.
“Together Tupelo was an effort to address dealing with issues of race and violence after what some called the ‘Summer of Hate,’ following the deaths of police officers and unarmed black men in Texas, Louisiana and Minnesota,” she said.
“While there is no specific case we are responding to in our Together Oxford event, we believe the community can benefit from our work around these issues. As social workers, we follow a long tradition of leaders that help communities navigate these issues.”
Crutchfield invites all citizens with an interest in peaceful and constructive dialogue, and encourages campus organizations and faith communities to invite their members as well.
Courtesy of Christina Steube and the Ole Miss News Desk