The Tower Forum is a private, non-profit, non-partisan business organization established in 1976.  The organization consists of business executives, professionals, and others active in our community. It has become the “go-to” venue in Broward, where featured key players engage in discussions of timely, critical issues to encourage positive change.

Though these are trying times, we are continuing this tradition, by inviting our members and their guests to attend our Zoom webinars.

Below is a compilation of our 3-part Zoom Webinar series on Race and Racism, one of the most pressing current issues facing our nation and our community. If you registered for any of these sessions, we have added you to our active e-mail distribution. If you wish to be added, please send your request to towerforum@towerforum.org –please include your name, email, phone number and affiliation. When verified, we will include you in future events.

 3-PART ZOOM WEBINAR SUMMER SERIES

Recommended resource reference links re Race & Racism

Part 1 – Thursday, July 16, 2020
The Stories: the listening session

Video 7/16/20 – click to view

What happens and why? Listening to the experiences of respected leaders in our community. First person accounts, by blacks and whites, relating the experiences and their story of conscious or unconscious racism – as victim or as someone who perpetrates systemic racism actions, stands by while it occurs, or admits defensiveness about the issue of racism, racial difference and power dynamics.

Moderator: Clarence Williams, attorney, Becker law firm
Panel: Robert Runcie, Superintendent, Broward Public Schools; Miguel Pilgram, The Pilgram Group; Stephen Moss, attorney, Holland & Knight; Hon. Levoyd Williams, Commissioner, City of Lauderdale Lakes

Part 2 – Thursday, July 30, 2020
The Talk: a difficult conversation

Video 7/30/20 – click to view

An open discussion, to raise awareness of implicit bias, racism and “whiteness,” moderated by an expert in sociology, race relations. The panel discusses how we protect ourselves from racial stress by virtue of race, how it contributes to racism, the ways in which injustice, suppression and violence are perpetuated, and the need to develop “racial stamina” to better address racism and strive to become anti-racist.

Moderator: Eileen Dowse, PhD, Human Dynamics
Panel: Dr. J. Preston Jones, Dean, Florida Memorial University School of Business; Richard Clark, Clark Leadership Consulting; Maggie Gunther, Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance; Terence Shepherd, WLRN News

Part 3 – Thursday, August 13, 2020
The Call to Action: implementing systemic change across our community

Video 8/13/20 – click to view

A presentation of specific actions that need to be made, have been made, or may be underway, across sectors (public/private) to identify and root out the scaffolding that supports systemic racism. This presentation features participation from attendees who can discuss specific actions, personally or through their organizations, and how we can influence and activate change.

MODERATOR: Sheryl A. Dickey, founder and owner of Dickey Consulting Services (DCS).

Sheryl is a community and economic development professional with more than 35 years of
experience and a track record of success in these areas. DCS is an economic development, government relations, project management and communications consulting firm, providing services to public and private enterprises. It provides staffing for invoicing, accounting, documents control, contract administration, civil-CAD, construction inspections, and communications assistance. The firm also provides administrative support for budgeting, planning, management, and purchasing.

PANEL:

Dr. Greg Haile, President/CEO, Broward College.
A public servant, community leader, and an accomplished educator, President Haile has served on over 35 board or committee capacities, and has received extensive recognition for his leadership and service.

James Carras, Carras Community Investment, Inc.
James is Principal of Carras Community Investment, Inc., a development finance consulting firm and is a Lecturer at Harvard University where he teaches graduate seminars in “Policy Making in Urban Settings” and “Financing Community Economic Development.”

Dr. Germaine Smith-Baugh. President/CEO, Urban League of Broward County
Known for her tenacity, visionary leadership and ‘can-do-it’ attitude, Dr. Smith-Baugh’s goal is to be known as a leading change-agent and problem-solver in helping Broward County fulfill its potential.

Walter Honaman, Esq., Legal Aid Service of Broward County
Honaman is supervising attorney of the Children’s Advocacy Program at LAS and a statewide leader in the field of children’s advocacy. He also serves on the Justice Project Taskforce and the Broward County Dismantling Racism Workshop.

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We hope you stay safe, be well and help keep the COVID19 from spreading by continuing social distancing, avoiding crowded interior spaces, wearing face masks, and thorough, frequent handwashing. 

• Become an active participant and network with community business leaders, professionals and public officials.
• Engage directly with key players regarding hot, current topics which impact you and the community.
• Enjoy full buffet breakfasts in downtown Fort Lauderdale’s prestigious Tower Club.
  (Because of the Coronavirus Pandemic, breakfasts in person have been suspended.)
  
• Your membership begins on payment and lasts one year from joining. Submit your information with a credit card on our convenient online Membership Application, or print out the form and postal mail it with your check.