The highly publicized racial conflict at the boys' Class A basketball tournament at Mac Court over a year ago exposed deep, systemic issues that divide our Oregon communities, not just our schools. Often, once the fury of addressing an event such as this dies down, we presume the problem solved and go back to the status quo. This approach to isolate each event leaves the deeper structural issues untouched until another unfortunate racial incident occurs.

This time it was different. The school districts, staff, and students approached the issue with the powerful intent of addressing problems around race and racism head on and making a difference. Black, Latino, multiracial, and white students from Roosevelt High School in Portland and Eugene's North and Churchill High Schools faced each other and began to talk honestly about race and racism as lived in their two starkly contrasting communities.

Facilitated by Johnny Lake, a 4J administrator on special assignment, three students from Churchill and North Eugene High Schools will share their perspectives, experiences, and responses to the incident. They will then focus on the positive and proactive results of work done by students from Churchill, North and Roosevelt High Schools to address tensions over racial and cultural differences. Finally, they will challenge adults in our schools and community to have honest conversations about the deeper systemic issues that produce an environment that allows such an incident to occur.

Our first question will be asked by Mike Clark, City Councilor of Eugene.