Race & the 2016 National Elections

The Wilder School of Government & Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University and Virginia Union University are examining the role race plays in the electoral process and upcoming elections at the federal, state, and local levels at the Wilder Symposium “Race and American Society.”

The April 6th event will take place on the campus of Virginia Union University, located at 1500 N. Lombardy Street, Richmond, VA. This event will build on the conversation that the Wilder Symposia began in the fall, and the goal is to begin a conversation now about how race will impact elections, including not just votes, but outcomes for voters. The other co-sponsored event, held last October, was held on the VCU Monroe Park Campus. Likewise, this event is free and open to the public.

The day’s first session, “Race & the 2016 National Elections”, will take place between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. The morning session will feature nationally recognized speakers from Virginia and throughout the country and examine the ways in which race is impacting voters and candidate’s positions on the issues facing the nation and at the state level. This morning session will be held at the Claude G. Perkins Living and Learning Center.

The second session, to be held at 7pm will be a Mayoral Forum where candidates for Richmond’s Mayoral Race will be able to answer questions about their vision for the city. This forum will be moderated by Dr. Robert Holsworth, Former Dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences and Wilder School Faculty Member and L. Douglas Wilder, the 66th Governor of Virginia. The Mayoral Forum will be held in Coburn Hall in the Allix B. James Chapel. There will be opportunities at both events for brief questions from the audience.

For more information, contact Angelica E. Bega at 804-828-8520 or .