The tenth annual Kitsap County Human Rights Conference has been set for Dec. 12, at the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel and Conference Center in Bremerton. Registration includes a continental breakfast and lunch.

The morning workshops will be repeated in the afternoon, giving attendees the opportunity to attend two different sessions.

The cost of the conference is $45 for individuals, $35 for students. OESD 114 has accredited the conference with 6.5 clock hours for educators in attendance.

Bookda Gheisar, MSW, ACSW, a nationally recognized trainer and speaker will provide the keynote address titled “Cultural Competency.”

Gheisar will discuss the elements of cultural competence: Awareness and acceptance of difference; awareness of one’s own culture, understanding the dynamics of difference, institutionalization of cultural knowledge; and adaptation to diversity. Gheisar is the executive director of the Cross Cultural Health Care Program and Interpreter Services at PacMed.

There will be a number of workshop sessions including:
• Getting Along When We Don’t All Believe the Same Things
In an age and a nation of remarkable religious pluralism — where thousands of different faith groups exist side-by-side, and where differing religious beliefs lead us to passionately held stands on political and ethical questions as well. How can we get along with our neighbors, coworkers, and friends when we don’t all believe the same things? Rev. Suzelle Lynch will explore strategies for building understanding across the lines of religious belief.
• Honoring Cultural Differences
We live in a multi-cultural, multilingual, multi-ethnic society, and each day our lives are affected by, and are a part of, the cultural traditions and customs of the many ethnic groups that make up our nation. Deborah Horn, who has coordinated several presentations on this issue before, will facilitate a panel discussion featuring representatives of five different ethnic groups: Asian, Pacific Islander, African, Hispanic and Native Americans.
• Culture of Today’s Youth and White Supremacy Recruitment
White supremacy groups are recruiting targeted youths across the country, including Kitsap County. This workshop will examine the means hate groups use to achieve their ends. Lead by Joe Chevére, former vice chair of the Council of Human Rights and co-founder of the Kitsap Human Rights Network, participants will also discuss how to protect youths from white supremacist influences.
• Living With AIDS, A Mother’s Story
This session is a practicum on living, working or socializing with a person with AIDS. Three mothers and Lenore Morrey, Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS Services program manager for Bremerton/Kitsap County Health Department, describe living with a person who has AIDS, helping people through the grieving process, and dispel many of the lingering myths surrounding the disease.
To register, send your name, organization, address, email address, daytime phone, and mailing address along with a check or purchase order to:
KCCHR.
614 Division Street, MS-23,
Port Orchard, WA 98366.
Registration by purchase order can also be faxed to (360) 337-5721.
For more information, e-mail, humanrightscouncil@co.kitsap.wa.us.