Community Relations event set for April 19
Staff Writer
Monday, March 24, 2008
In 2006, a controversial survey cast a mixed view on race relations in Elizabeth City. A year and a half later, the survey's recommendations will finally be addressed.
The Elizabeth City-Pasquotank County Community Relations Commission will hold a Building Bridges Conference Saturday, April 19 at the K.E. White Graduate Center. The conference will include workshops on conflict resolution and building cultural competency.
Among the speakers for the conference will be U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C., Albemarle Health CEO Sharon Tanner, and Althea Riddick, vice president of instruction at College of The Albemarle.
The conference will also address the findings of a survey the Community Relations Commission requested in 2006. The survey, conducted by JEM Research Inc., found a majority of respondents — 83 percent — believe there is a conflict between the races. But 78 percent of respondents also believed race relations had improved over the past five years. Eighty percent wanted to see a communitywide effort to end the conflicts.
However, the survey was criticized by then-Councilman Johnnie Walton for under-representing minority respondents. Of the 400 people who participated in the survey only 79 —19 percent — were black. By contrast, 73 percent of respondents were white.
Lena Lawrence, chairwoman of the Community Relations Commission, said additional research has been completed that includes more minority viewpoints.
Lawrence said she believes area residents are ready to confront racial issues.
"I really don't think there is a matter of hesitation," she said. "People do want to talk about things going on with them."
Lawrence said the conference will provide a forum for participants to talk freely about challenges facing racial and ethnic groups.
"We really want to be able to come together and be in dialogue," she said.
She said one of the goals of the conference — and the 15-member commission's work — is to be able to come up with recommendations to take to elected officials.
The conference will be from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and lunch will be included. There is no cost to attend, but space will be limited to about 150 participants. Participants are asked to register by April 15. For more information, call 335-5365 or visit www.elizabethcitychamber.org
Comments
By Researcher
Mar 25, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this
No. That's not what it means, at all. In most research situations with a bias like this, the problem is due to the actual sample.
The researcher should know exactly how many whites and blacks (and others) received the survey. With that info, what is called a "non-response bias" can be determined.
The fact of the matter is that when your sample is skewed like this, you don't publish the results and pass them off as particularly credible.
The researchers should have redistributed the survey.
By M&M
Mar 24, 2008 5:55 PM | Link to this
Regarding the comment of J. Walton in the article. Was the criticism of the survey to imply the under representation of minority respondents the fault of the those initiating the survey or that fact that the minorities choose not to respond? Since, only 19% blacks responded, and the survey is voluntary, should one conclude there is a distinctive indication of apathy and disinterest in conflict resolution on their part?
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