The Roundtable discussion will focus on racial discrimination in the purchase and rental of housing, fair lending policies, racial segregation, and the advancement of equal housing opportunities. The forum will include audience participation.

Joan A. Magagna, Acting Chief of the Housing and Civil Enforcement Section, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice will be the keynote speaker. She will speak on the state of fair housing in America and the effects of the Fair Housing Act.

The forum, "Many Neighborhoods, One America," will focus on three housing issues in New Jersey: discrimination, integration, and development. This will also be an opportunity to consider how housing has developed in Newark since hundreds of houses and many communities were destroyed by fire during civil unrest in the 1960's. Participants in the discussion will include: Lee Porter, Fair Housing Council of Northern New Jersey; Fred Profeta and Phylis Peterman of the Maplewood-South Orange Racial Balance Task Force; Raymond O'Cassio, La Casa de Don Pedro; Chris Kui, Asian Americans for Equality; Hilda Garcia, American Indian Housing Issues; and David Listokin, the Center for Urban Policy Research at Rutgers University.

Following the roundtable discussion, the audience will have an opportunity to ask questions.

WHAT:
Roundtable discussion on race and housing in New Jersey

WHO:

• John Hope Franklin, President's Initiative on Race Advisory Board Chair
• Joan A. Magagna, Acting Chief of the Housing and Civil Enforcement Section, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice (keynote speaker)
• Eva Plaza, HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
• Thomas Kean, President's Initiative on Race Adisory Board member and former Governer of New Jersey

WHEN:
Thursday, April 23, 1998
10:00am-12:30pm

WHERE:
Rutgers University
School of Law - Newark
15 Washington Street
Newark, New Jersey

COVERAGE:
Open Press

The President's Initiative on Race is a year-long effort to create a stronger, more united American community. For additional information, write: The President's Initiative on Race at: New Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street, NW, Room 3236, Washington, D.C. 20503, or visit the One America Web site: www.whitehouse.gov/Initiatives/OneAmerica.