URI Honors Colloquium to present panel discussion on building community in Rhode Island

KINGSTON, R.I. -- November 9, 2000 -- A panel discussion on "Bridges to the Future: Building Community in Rhode Island" will be held Tuesday, Nov. 14, as part of the University of Rhode Island's fall Honors Colloquium series, "Nonviolence: Legacies of the Past, Bridges to the Future." The panelists will speak about their recent experiences in developing programs that address poverty and violence, and provide educational and vocational opportunities for disadvantaged people.

The panel, composed of Rhode Islanders taking part in distinguished work in education, mediation, and improving community-police relations, will speak in the Barry Marks Auditorium, Room 271 of the Chafee Social Science Center on URI's Kingston Campus from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

The panel will be moderated by Joel Rawson, senior vice president and executive editor of The Providence Journal, who has strong personal and professional interests in issues of community concern. Panelists include Dr. Al Killilea, Lt. Richard Tarlaian, Sgt. Tonya Harris, and Victor Capellan.

Dr. Alfred Killilea is a professor of political science at URI and co-director of the John Hazen White Center for Ethics and Public Policy. Along with community co-worker Cherie Aiello, Killilea has instituted an innovative mentoring program in South Kingstown High School for disenfranchised youth. The program is now being used in other school districts as well.

Lt. Richard Tarlaian and Sgt. Tonya Harris are certified trainers in Kingian nonviolence with the Providence Police Department. As trainers, they offer workshops within and outside the department to help improve community-police relations. They are also key staff members of Kids, Inc., an educational program for Providence children excluded from school for behavioral issues. Tarlaian is also co-director of Camp Anytown, which provides summer recreational activities in a rural setting for economically-deprived city children.

Victor Capellan has a wide involvement in multicultural and community issues. Formerly the director of the Center for Hispanic Policy and Advocacy, he is currently working with the Providence School Department. Capellan earned his master's degree at URI.

URI's Colloquium series runs Tuesday nights from 7:30 to 9 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

For Information: Lynne Derbyshire, 401-874-4732, Arthur Stein, 401-874-4059, Jan Sawyer, 401-874-2116, Jennifer Smith, 401-874-2116