Replay: Panel discusses Louisville’s school system in ‘Racial Reckoning’ series

How do we close the long-standing racial achievement gap in Jefferson County Public Schools? Does the district's magnet school system need to be reformed? Should lessons on systemic racism be taught in schools?

Join the conversation at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28, as we discuss these topics and more during "Racial Reckoning," a series of community talks on racial justice issues facing Louisville.

The Courier Journal is partnering with the Frazier History Museum and Muhammad Ali Center to bring you the discussions, held monthly through the end of 2021. 

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The education event will be held at the Muhammad Ali Center, 144 N. Sixth St. Panelists are Ronda Cosby, principal at Grace M. James Academy of Excellence; Ricky Jones, graduate director and chair of the University of Louisville Pan-African Studies Department; Sydni Gordon, global issues teacher at Knight Middle School; and Solyana Mesfin, a high school student and member of the Muhammad Ali Center Council of Students. Courier Journal education reporter Mandy McLaren will moderate the discussion.

The gathering also will include personal stories from Ashleigh Hazley, senior manager of programming at the Muhammad Ali Center, and Solyana Mesfin about their public school experiences.

The in-person event is sold out, but it will be streamed live on The Courier Journal's website. Go to www.courierjournal.com to watch.

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This is the second of four monthly conversations planned this year. The first event on housing inequity was held Sept. 30. The third conversation on policing is set for 7 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Frazier History Museum, 829 W. Main St., and the last event on health will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Muhammad Ali Center.

Panelists will help give context to each topic, provide calls to action and simple steps we can take to make a positive difference for our community.

The conversations are "paired with" museum exhibits, including the "West of Ninth: Race, Reckoning and Reconciliation" exhibit at the Frazier Museum and the "Truth Be Told: The Policies That Impacted Black Lives" exhibit on display at the Ali Center through February.

Veda Morgan is the senior director for engagement and diversity at The Courier Journal. Contact her at vmorgan@courierjournal.com or 502-582-4215.