Sponsored by “Our Shared Future: Reckoning with Our Racial Past,” the Smithsonian’s race initiative, the program is the first in a series of conversations across the U.S. that will bring together diverse groups of individuals to discuss race and racism in historical, cultural and contemporary contexts. 

The inaugural conversation in Washington, D.C., will take place 7 to 8:30 p.m. ET at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The event is open to the public, but free tickets are required to attend in person. The public can reserve tickets or join a livestream of the program on the initiative’s website. The program will include remarks from Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III, a panel discussion and musical performance by composer and producer Nolan Williams Jr. Members of the audience will also have the opportunity to participate in a live Q&A following the discussion.

NBC News correspondent Morgan Radford will moderate the discussion. It will focus on the panelists’ connections to these issues through their work and showcase their active participation in creating a more equitable future. Panelists for the conversation are:
 

• Stacey Bohlen, CEO of the National Indian Health Board
• Theodore S. Gonzalves, curator of Asian Pacific American history at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History
• Amanda Nguyen, CEO of RISE and civil rights activist
• Dometi Pongo, MTV host of the docuseries “True Life”
• Akiima Price, A Price Consulting