APPLETON, Wisc., (SPECTRUM NEWS) –– A group in Wisconsin’s Fox Valley is working to educate the community on anti-racism, a term that activists and advocates are using to actively fight against racism.

Imagine Fox Cities hosted a virtual event on Thursday. The initiative was created to reshape the Appleton area and ensure everyone feels included. 

Co-chair Beth Flaherty says that conversation quickly focused on race following protests for George Floyd, a Black man who died at the hands of Minneapolis police back in May.

“[Floyd’s death is] a tragic reminder of how much work is left to be done across our country so that all people are valued, all people are treated equally, and all people thrive,” Flaherty says.

Speakers discussed how to turn the Fox Cities into an anti-racist community. That includes actively fighting against racism in all its forms.

“The fact of racism and the sense of not belonging doesn’t just happen in large communities and large urban areas,” says Patrick Ambroso, who works with Imagine Fox Cities. “It happens at home in our backyard.”

On its website, Imagine Fox Cities has a guide on anti-racism. It states, “The ability to have meaningful conversations about race will be instrumental in developing a just and equitable society free from racism.”

Imagine Fox Cities defines itself as an inclusive community-wide initiative created to be intentional about shaping the future of the Fox Cities when it comes to wellbeing.

“If we can continue to open those gates for to make this a more appealing place to live, work and play for a diverse group of people, the potential is limitless in my view,” Ambroso says.