East Lansing High School student Alex Hosey will read his essay addressed to the East Lansing City Council about racial discrimination in East Lansing at the panel.

After first reading the essay, the city council apologized for past racial discrimination and discriminatory policies in the community and decided to have an annual conversation about race in East Lansing.

East Lansing Mayor Mark Meadows will be present and will speak. Panelists will share their experiences and anecdotes of racism in the community and in other places as well.

Dr. Dorinda Carter Andrews, assistant dean of equity outreach initiatives for the College of Education and associate professor of race, culture and equity in the Department of Teacher Education, will lead the conversation.

“Our plan is to make this an annual community event, at which we raise awareness about our history and discuss how we, as a community, can continue to combat racial discrimination in both the present day and future,” Meadows said in a press release. “We are a community that prides ourselves on our diversity and inclusivity, but that has not always been the case. We need to have these community discussions because there is always more work to be done.”