The Office of Multicultural Life at Hope is co-sponsoring discussion of the 2005 WOOD-TV 8 documentary "Race in Reality" on Friday, April 14, at 7 p.m. in the Maas Center auditorium.
The presentation is taking place as the focus of the April meeting of the Alliance for Cultural and Ethnic Harmony (ACEH), to which the public is invited. Admission is free.
WOOD-TV anchor Brian Sterling will talk about the hour-long film, which was a 24 Hour News 8 special that documented West Michigan residents confronting issues of race and each other in an Institute for Healing Racism. The film explores issues fueling racism and how individuals can take steps toward healing race relations.
The station received a large number of e-mails and calls after the broadcast, according to station officials, who said their goal in hosting an Institute and producing the program was to further open dialogue. "There's a section of the population that believes racism exists, and there's a section that wants to say 'Get over it,'" the news director said.
Sterling is a native of metro Detroit, a graduate of Michigan State University, and a former morning news and sports anchor for the statewide radio organization Michigan News Network. He joined 24 Hour News 8 in 1994. He has been recognized by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters for breaking news coverage and received a regional Emmy for community service. In 1996, he won the "Eyes on Education" award.
The Maas Center is located on Columbia Avenue at 11th Street.