MOUNT VERNON — The Knox County Democratic Women hosted “A Conversation on Diversity in Knox County” on Tuesday evening at the Knox County Educational Service Center. The event was the second of four community forums designed to explore national issues that impact life in Knox County.

Ric Sheffield, associate provost and associate professor of sociology and legal studies at Kenyon College, introduced the conversation as “an ongoing dialogue that all of us should have, must have, will have ... we have work to do.”

“Look around this room tonight,” he said. “There is a great deal of diversity.”

Sheffield noted that the 2000 U.S. Census lists 371 people in Knox County who identify themselves as Hispanic/Latino, 367 who identify as African-American/Black, 188 who identify as Asian, and more than 400 people who identify themselves as being of mixed race.

Sheffield spoke of growing up in Mount Vernon, but still being viewed as “not from around here.” His niece, Tamara Parson, spoke of the five generations of their family who have lived in Mount Vernon.

Sheffield noted that the idea of diversity is changing, that it is no longer about black people and white people, but about people of many colors, mixed races, sexual preferences and gender identities, about disabled and able-bodied people, and people of disadvantaged economic circumstances and people of means.

Karen Boyd, chairwoman of the department of social work at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, moderated the discussion. Many panelists spoke about the similarities between people and recommended learning to understand the differences.

“The differences between us will make our lives richer,” Kate Lockhart said.

“By virtue of being human, we have more similarities than differences,” Noah Aydin added.

The panelists discussed their cultures, religions, experiences of discrimination and the raising of their children in a changing world that is culturally and racially diverse but that also, they said, remains bigoted and intolerant.

There was discussion of the recent sentencing of Dale Klein for an attack on Robert Cantu in 2008 that has been labeled a hate crime.

“I don’t want to think we are a community where people have to move away to be safe,” said one audience member. “That is very sad and tragic for us as a community. We don’t want to be a community where nooses are used.”

Another asked, “Did we fail this past week by not coming together as a community [to protest the crime]? A kid had a noose around his neck, and that scared the hell out of me. I wanted to be with people who felt the same way. We e-mailed, but why didn’t we go to the square?”

Lockhart said she believes intolerance comes from a fear of the unknown. A small minority are intolerant, but they are a vocal minority, she said, recommending that people speak up if one hears slurs of any kind against any person.

Tony Marconi agreed.

“Because every time one of my friends is treated unjustly,” he said, “it takes something away from me. We’re being robbed as much as the victims are being robbed. We’re being robbed in our souls as well as our culture.”

Asked about his church’s views on diversity in Knox County culture, the Rev. R. Keith Stuart, who pastors First Congregational United Church of Christ, explained his congregation’s mission statement: “Do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God,” as a succinct statement on diversity, peace and justice.

“The [Cantu] story saddened me,” said Stuart, “but did you notice the [other] article in the newspaper about the man who alleges that the school board has a ‘homosexual agenda’ in the school system? The reason [Dale Klein] acted out [in the Robert Cantu case] is because of the same filth that is coming through. We’re teaching our children that and it manifests itself all across our culture. But we have to stand up and be counted.”

“Does this end tonight?” asked Peggy Mavis. “Where do we go now to celebrate diversity?”

Parson, who works with The DELTA Project, which utilizes education to prevent sexual abuse and domestic violence, suggested DELTA could be a model for a diversity coalition. There was also discussion of a Diversity Market or a Unity Day on the square or in conjunction with a First Friday event.

As the two-hour conversation drew to a close, Boyd said, “What has happened tonight is beyond what I thought would happen. I am so pleased. Thank you for your insight, and your willingness to be vulnerable here. There is strength in this room as we work together.”

The next diversity meeting will be July 21 from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Educational Service Center.