Walker Institute to kick off community forums with Michael Moore talk

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Award-winning filmmaker Michael Moore will visit Kalamazoo next month to discuss the Flint, Michigan, water crisis; disinvestment in low-income communities; and how we get to a future that works better for everyone.

Moore will present "It Only Hurts when I Laugh” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, in Miller Auditorium on Western Michigan University's main campus. He also will reflect on his career as a citizen filmmaker.

The event is free and open to the public, with seating on a first-come, first served basis. It is being sponsored by WMU's Lewis Walker Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnic Relations, in collaboration with the Lee Honors College, School of Communication and other entities at the University.

Dr. Tim Ready, director of the Walker Institute, says Moore's appearance is the kick-off event for a series of upcoming community forums and scholarly discussions being sponsored by the institute.

The series, "Growing Together or Pulling Apart? Making Public Policies that Work for Everyone," will begin later in April with a presentation on "Building a Sustainable Michigan: Social and Environmental Aspects of the Challenge." It will continue through April 2017 and cover topics including immigration, criminal justice reform, housing segregation by race and class, equality of opportunity, and poverty and education.

For more information, contact Ready at (269) 387-2141. Additional details about Moore's visit will be posted on the Walker Institute website at wmich.edu/walkerinstitute as they become available.

For more news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.