Central Lakes College to host cultural public forum Thursday

Central Lakes College in Brainerd will host a public forum called "A Bridge Called Community -- Building Inclusive Communities" from 5:15 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the college cafeteria.

Juan C. Moreno, a diversity and inclusion specialist with the University of Minnesota Extension Service, will be the featured presenter. Moreno will discuss the changing face of communities across Minnesota as cultural diversity transforms the world.

A panel discussion will include presenters Sonia Reyes, who will discuss her role as liaison at Long Prairie Packing and the Todd County multicultural liaison office, and George O'Brien, former mayor of Melrose and chair of Communities Connecting Cultures Board. O'Brien will discuss how Melrose has taken the proactive approach to create an inclusive community with immigrants.

The public forum is sponsored by the Gordon Rosenmeier Center for State and Local Government. It also is sponsored by CLC, University of Minnesota Extension, Initiative Foundation, Bremer Bank, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Corporate Commission and the Lakes Area Human Resources Association.