Community Dialogue Luncheons

A Forum to Discuss Social and Cultural Issues

Often the first step in understanding a social or cultural issue is to address the many viewpoints that contribute to it. That is the purpose of Rice’s Community Dialogue Luncheons, organized through Rice’s Office of Minority Community Affairs. Last November, the office completed its first round of these quarterly luncheons, which serve as a forum for community leaders to discuss social issues that affect all sectors of society.

“It was good to take part and be enlightened by the exchange of ideas,” says Craig Jackson ’77, a law professor at Texas Southern University. “I am sure all of those in attendance outside of the Rice family were impressed with Rice’s involvement in this kind of forum.”

Offered every three months, the luncheons are designed to provide an informal gathering conducive to an engaging discussion and sharing of ideas. They also help to bring together people from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds in order to get to know each other and form a network. The luncheons take place in the elegant Founder’s Room in Lovett Hall.

“These meetings are a great idea,” says attorney Michael Gomez. “I think they go a long way in building goodwill between the community and Rice—not to mention, getting people, at least for a moment, to think about some of the larger issues.”

For each meeting, a Rice professor is invited to talk about a particular social issue, which serves as the topic of discussion for the select group of participants.

“I found the discussion pertinent and lively,” says Rabbi Kenneth Weiss. “The atmosphere that was created should be replicated in many places as a methodology for focusing groups on important issues.”

Robert Stein, dean of the School of Social Sciences and the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science, gave the first talk about emerging political issues in Houston and the state. At the second luncheon, Stephen L. Klineberg, Rice professor of sociology, spoke on the demographic changes of Houston. Richard Tapia, Rice professor of computational and applied mathematics, gave the third talk on the condition of minority education. And Brent Smith, assistant professor of management at the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management, lectured at the fourth luncheon on “Developing the Next Generation of Leaders.” Baltazar Acevedo, who is now director of the Cross Border Institute for Regional Development at the University of Texas at Brownsville, moderated the discussions.

The luncheons, which will continue through the year, include about 20 people who are considered leaders in Houston’s various ethnic communities.

—David D. Medina