A mini-exhibition installed at Fargo City Hall invites members of the community to ask questions and learn more about race and diversity.
The exhibit first arrived in the Fargo-Moorhead area in 2018, when it was displayed at the Hjemkomst Center. It was then installed at Minnesota State University Moorhead for a couple of years, before moving to YWCA Cass Clay. It will return to the YWCA in the middle of September later this year.
Allison Pillar is YWCA Communications Manager. She says the exhibit is located in the main hallway of Fargo City Hall. It is open and free to the public.
"There's several timelines on the history of race, the history of different treaties and acts over time. There's some interesting content about census data and how we've collected race data in the census over time, and how the definition of different races have changed with time. There's also a couple interactive video screens where you can hear people sharing their stories, and one game where you can try to guess who is speaking based on the sound of their voice versus their photo on the screen. We also have an opportunity at the end for people to leave behind their reflections and thoughts, and leave behind for future visitors to the exhibit to see what other members of their community have thought, and are thinking about."
Dr. Terry Hogan is Fargo’s Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. He says he plans to be in City Hall daily to engage visitors in conversations and answer questions they may have. And he says the best way to build relationships and partnerships is through education.
"This particular exhibit is something I believe will make us aware of who we are and what we are in regards to cultural differences here in the City of Fargo, and how we can understand the differences that we all, by and large, are different in many ways - and yet, are still the same."
The YWCA is also hosting three open discussion events about the exhibit at the Fargo Public Library. They will take place Friday, July 29; Thursday, August 18; and Thursday, September 29. Each session begins at 11:30am and ends at 1pm.
Registration for those events can be found on the Library’s website.
