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College of the Redwoods asks Humboldt County groups to partner on campus 'Let’s Talk' conversations
Summary
At a Humboldt County Human Rights Commission meeting, College of the Redwoods President Keith Flamer asked the commission and local groups to help bring the college’s 'Let’s Talk' series—designed to restore civil dialogue and academic freedom—into community spaces and schools.
Keith Flamer, president of College of the Redwoods, asked members of the Humboldt County Human Rights Commission and local nonprofits to partner with the college on a program of facilitated conversations intended to restore civil dialogue on campus and in the community.
Flamer told the commission that the college began a series called "Let’s Talk" after observing that students, faculty and staff were afraid to speak freely and that constructive listening had declined. "We have to force the conversations," he said, describing sessions that bring faculty, staff and students together to practice listening and bridge differences. "We have to sit in the space without judgment," he added, saying the goal is to teach students how to have hard conversations.
Why it matters: Flamer framed the initiative as a civic and educational response to polarized debate and said the college wants to model constructive engagement. He asked the Human Rights Commission to help carry conversations into neighborhoods, churches and community centers rather than asking people to come to the college.
How it would work: Flamer asked for partnerships with community organizations, noting the college will also try to "bring CR to where people are" so staff and students can listen in community settings. At the meeting he invited ideas for where the college should hold off-campus conversations and asked community partners to participate in planning and outreach.
Response and next steps: Commissioners and attendees responded by recommending the college show up at existing neighborhood forums and faith-based gatherings and to work with nonprofits that already operate as community hubs. The commission told attendees it will solicit written suggestions and follow up by email and at future meetings.
The commission closed the discussion by thanking Flamer and inviting local groups interested in partnership to contact the commission by the email address posted on the Humboldt County website or to attend a future meeting for follow-up.
