Debra Raines, the director of mission advancement at the YWCA Princeton (left), will join Barbara Fox, Not in Our Town board member from Princeton United Methodist Church, to facilitate the discussion at Continuing Conversations on Race at the Princeton Public Library on Monday, March 5, at 7:30 p.m. The topic: “Standing Against Racism: Your Experiences and Your Expectations.”

Not in Our Town Princeton works year round to speak truth about racism and other forms of prejudice and discrimination in Princeton, and it also supports the the YWCA’s annual Stand Against Racism Day. In 2010, for instance, NIOT staged an interactive demonstration in Tiger Park of Palmer Square. Last year, with the YWCA and the Princeton Merchants Association, NIOT distributed certificates to merchants who made a pledge to “Stand Against Racism” and printed the names of their companies in a Town Topics ad. On March 5 we will discuss possible ways to observe Stand Against Racism Day 2012 on Friday, April 27.

Raines’ job is to execute the YWCA Princeton mission of eliminating racism and empowering women through the delivery of mission-driven programs and events; she is also involved in state-wide advocacy and public-policy efforts. A native of Queens, she is an alumna of Queens College, City University of New York,  Previously she was the outreach coordinator for the Breast Cancer Resource Center (she celebrates eight years as a breast cancer survivor in December) and had also worked at the University of Medicine and Dentistry.

These “first Monday” Continuing Conversations offer an opportunity to discuss difficult topics in a safe and confidential atmosphere; all are welcome.