Join the ACLU of Northern California Staff Attorney Novella Coleman at a community forum on implicit bias and microaggression experiences in the East Bay hosted by comedian W. Kamau Bell and The Elmwood Café.

Berkeley residents, W. Kamau Bell and his wife Dr. Melissa Hudson Bell,posted a blog on his website describing an incident that happened to them on January 26th at the Elmwood Cafe. It occurred between them and an employee of the café.

Very quickly, the blog spread around the Bay Area and eventually all over the country. It was the kind of story mainstream media couldn’t resist: a local TV personality, accusations of racism, and the backdrop Berkeley – reportedly the most liberal place in America. And usually that is where a story like that ends. But not this time.

Soon after the incident Michael Pearce, an advocate for social justice and owner of the Elmwood Café reached out to the Bell family and immediately apologized. He said he wanted to know what he could do to make sure that this kind of incident never happened again. Melissa and Kamau said all they wanted was a conversation with him, and they wanted to invite the community to come participate.

On March 13 that conversation is happening, and you’re invited. Thanks to the Berkeley Unified School District, it will be at Willard Middle School. The Bells and Michael Pearce will participate on a panel in Berkeley that will be facilitated byPamela Harrison-Small former Executive Director of the Berkeley Alliance.

More info.