Episode 12
Race Awareness – Talking about, not around racism with Al Vivian
& Frank McCloskey
Friday, May 25, 2007; 10AM (Eastern)

“Race is still the primary dividing point in the nation” according to Al Vivian who facilitates The Race Awareness Workshop, evaluated as the most effective race relations seminar in the country; and the first program to be the sole feature for two consecutive days on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

On this episode of Diversity Matters, Richard Friend and Judy Seidenstein discuss the edgy, hard hitting approach developed by Al's father C.T. Vivian for dealing with racism. Frank McCloskey, Vice President of Georgia Power, will weigh in on the conversation and share his individual and organizational experience with Vivian's Race Awareness Workshop. While times have changed, we'll explore why this workshop has essentially remained the same for over 33 years.

• Is this methodology the ultimate approach for racial reconciliation and a deep honest dialogue about race?
• Can racial understanding be achieved without being "in your face?"
• How does this type of work inform other dimensions of diversity?