Multicultural community forum shines spotlight on Muslims, Sikhs

The first in a series of public forums designed to foster increased understanding and appreciation of local cultures will focus on local Muslim and Sikh communities.

Presenters Khalid Saeed, national president of the American Muslim Voice Foundation, and Kavneet Singh, managing director of the Sikh American Legal Defense & Education Fund, will each provide a perspective on cultural challenges and opportunities within Muslim and Sikh communities.

The free event will take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday in Room 800 at Woodland Community College, 2300 E. Gibson Road in Woodland. Parking is free in the student parking lot. Anyone interested in learning more about the many cultures found in Yolo County is welcome to attend.

The forums are an outgrowth of efforts by the Yolo County’s Multi-Cultural Community Council to enrich understanding of Yolo County’s diverse population and to celebrate how cultural knowledge expands our ability to accept and appreciate differences.

The council, created by Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig and chaired by Jesse Ortiz, organizes and sponsors culture-enriching forums and events and also acts as an advisory group to Reisig. Members are Carlos Matos, Alan Brownstein, Louis Campos, Griselda Castro, Raul DeAnda, Diane Evans, Tim Fong, Bill Petty, Jonathan Raven, Khalid Saeed, Gary Sandy and Laura Valdes.

A second forum has been planned for May 16 featuring the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation.

For more information, contact Ortiz at jortiz@yccd.edu or Chief Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Raven at jonathan.raven@yolocounty.org.