NOTTINGHAM, MD—Baltimore County Public schools is inviting the public to watch “A Conversation on Race and Racism in America and Baltimore County Public Schools.”

The first-of-its-kind virtual event will be held on Wednesday, July 8, from 4 – 6 p.m., and simulcast over several platforms including BCPS-TV and Microsoft Teams.

A simultaneous watch party on Instagram Live will be hosted by incoming Student Member of the Board Josh Muhumuza, a rising senior at Dundalk High School.

“We want to take advantage of heightened local and national attention on racial issues,” said BCPS Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams, “to explore the various ways that race and racism affect our school system and the education we offer our students. We recognize that these issues are too complex and far-reaching to be fully explored in two hours, and we intend for this event to be the first in a series of both systemwide and school-based conversations. We also realize that these will be emotionally charged conversations, and we pledge to handle them with honesty and sensitivity. In many ways, this first conversation is a way for us to share with the public work that is ongoing in our school system.”

The July 8 event will be moderated by BCPS staff and will feature discussions with diverse students, teachers, school leaders, and community members.

The program will feature an opening message from the superintendent and a presentation by Dr. Lisa Williams, executive director of the BCPS Department of Equity and Cultural Proficiency.