Community Conversation to focus on LGBT issues, bullying

The Cultural Competence Council at Fulton State Hospital want to engage you in challenging conversation about diversity.

Their second annual Community Conversation returns May 1-2 in Ingle Auditorium at the Missouri School for the Deaf, starting off with renowned psychology professor Debra Hope giving a speech 7 p.m. May 1 titled "To Be or Not To Be Out: The Benefits of Authenticity in the LGBTQ Community."

The event will continue 9 a.m. May 2 with a panel-led discussion.

"We're focusing on how to create safe spaces for people to self-identify and feel comfortable," said Cultural Competence Council Chair Stacie Bickel, "in addition to talking about bullying a little bit more ; how to deal with that and counteract that."

Bickel said the event started last year focused on gay and lesbian issues and experiences with a grant left by social worker Jane Bierdeman-Fike who worked at the state hospital for 38 years and passed away March 2012.

"It was very important to Jane Bierdeman-Fike, and after passing last year she left some money and really wanted this to be a topic that we continued working with," said Bickel.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.