'No Hate' Town Hall To Be Held At Kean University Friday

UNION, NJ — A "No Hate" Town Hall will be held at Kean University to explore injustice, poverty and racism in New Jersey.

In collaboration with the American Conference on Diversity (ACOD) the Town Hall will be held at the New Jersey Center for Science, Technology and Mathematics building on Kean’s campus, 1075 Morris Ave., Union on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m.

The conference will feature a keynote by Renee Wolf Koubiadis, LSW, who will discuss the key findings from the Anti-Poverty Network of New Jersey’s recent report "The Uncomfortable Truth: Racism, Injustice and Poverty in New Jersey," highlighting the intersectionality of poverty and structural racism.

Koubiadis has helped disempowered populations use their voices toward social change for more than 15 years, and has educated thousands of people on issues of poverty, leadership and civic engagement. She helped create Garden State Leaders, a leadership and advocacy institute for people impacted by poverty, and recently served as co-chair for Governor Phil Murphy’s Transition Team Housing Committee.

Topics will include economic justice, criminal justice, children and youth, health, hunger and mental health. In addition to the presentation, the town hall meeting will include a panel discussion with experts from advocacy organizations that respond to the harmful impact of bias, bigotry, discrimination and hate.

Panelists and speakers will include Reverend Eric Dobson, outreach coordinator for the Fair Share Housing Center; Johanna Calle, director of New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice; Norma Bowe, Ph.D., Kean University education professor and founder of Be the Change; former New Jersey State Senator Raymond Lesniak; and Emily Cubilete ’17, Kean University alumna.

The town hall is open to educators, students, faculty, diversity and inclusion leaders, career-development professionals, nonprofits and the general public. There is no cost to participate, but seating is limited and registration is required.

To register for the free event, visit www.kean.edu/no-hate-town-hall. Follow the discussion on social media using #NoHateNJ.

(Image via Kean University: Kean University alumna Emily Cubilete ’17 will be among the panelists for the Second Annual No Hate Town Hall. )

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