Loving Across Color Lines looks to increase membership
After just one person showed up to Tuesday's Loving Across Color Lines meeting, facilitator Jen Smith said the group is hoping to increase membership and become a consistent organization.
"We are hoping by next month's meeting the publicity will have made it around to a few more people and we'll have more participation," Smith said.
Loving Across Color Lines is a support group for couples in interracial and interethnic relationships.
"The intentions we have for the group are to discuss challenges and rewards of interracial and interethnic relationships, provide a space for individuals and couples to connect with others who are having similar experiences and give support to one another," Smith said. "Issues of race and ethnicity are often difficult to discuss and we want to provide a safe space for people to engage in the topic as it relates to their romantic relationships."
It was incepted after the Chancellor's Diversity Initiative received a number of inquiries about creating a support group for couples in these type of relationships. Smith is a student intern for Noor Azizan-Gardner, the Diversity Programming and Professional Development director.
"She felt my study in counseling equipped me to facilitate such a group," Smith said.
9:12 p.m., Feb. 19, 2011
James W. Lewis said:
I admire you having a support group for interracial couples. We're in 2011 and have a biracial president, but some people still can't stand a rainbow coalition, which is what America is becoming.