Byron Barnett to Facilitate Panel Tuesday, June 23, with Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D.A. Rachael Rollins, Sheriff Steven Tompkins, Mayor Yvonne Spicer, Mayor Joe Curtatone,  Councilor Will Mbah, School Committee Member Andre Green, and SHS Black Student Union President Floreisha Bastien

Representative Ayanna Pressley, D.A. Rachael Rollins, and other regional and community leaders will take part in a Panel Discussion on Structural Racism hosted by the City of Somerville on Tuesday, June 23, at 10:30 a.m. Byron Barnett of Channel 7 News will facilitate the panel, which will also include Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins, Framingham Mayor Yvonne Spicer, Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone, Somerville City Councilor At-Large Will Mbah, Ward 4 School Committee Member Andre Green, and Somerville High School Black Student Union President Floreisha Bastien.

The one-hour discussion will focus on how structural racism impacts health, public safety, education, jobs, housing, and other aspects of our society and communities. Panelists will take on the questions of ‘Where do we go from here and how can everyone be an ally?’ The panel is part of a series of upcoming related events hosted by the City, including an interactive public forum of racism and policing, as well as a series of ongoing small group listening sessions with Mayor Curtatone. For more information, visit www.somervillema.gov/virtualtownhall. 

Event details: 

• When and where: The Panel Discussion will be held on the Zoom teleconferencing platform on Tuesday, June 23, 10:30-11:30 a.m., with simultaneous live streaming on youtube.com/SomervilleCity and Somerville City Cable TV (RCN 613 and 13, Comcast 22) and will be recorded for later viewing on all of the above. 

• How to join: Visit www.somervillema.gov/StructuralRacismPanel just before the start time of the meeting to join live online or get call-in information to listen by phone. You can also call 311 the morning of the meeting for call-in information.

• Sign language interpretation will be provided. 

Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact Nency Salamoun, at 617-625-6600 x2323 or NSalamoun@somervillema.gov.