By EDWARD HUSAR

Herald-Whig Staff Writer

A meeting will be held Saturday for anyone interested in attending the next round of the city's "Many Voices, One Goal" study circles program.

The informational session is scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon at the Quincy Senior and Family Resource Center, 639 York. People will be able to learn more about the study circles program before deciding whether they'd like to participate. Registration forms and other materials will be available.

Study circles are small-group discussions that give participants a chance to express concerns and share ideas on race-related issues.

The Quincy Human Rights Commission started the study circle program in 2006. Three rounds of discussions have taken place since then, and about 225 people have participated.

A fourth series of meetings will begin the week of April 7, so registration forms must be submitted by April 4. Four circles, each limited to 10 people, will be established. Each group will meet for two hours once a week for six consecutive weeks.

Sessions are from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the YWCA, 1400 N. 30th, Suite 6; from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays at John Wood Community College, Room D021, 1301 S. 48th; from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays at the Quincy Senior and Family Resource Center; and from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturdays at the Redmon and Lee Community Center, 815 Elm.

All study circle discussions are led by trained facilitators using materials from the national Study Circle Resource Center (www.studycircles.org). Participation is free.

Melissa Holden, one of the organizers of the program, said once the six-week series is completed, participants will be invited to attend an "action forum" May 17 to discuss ways to act on their concerns about racism and discrimination in the community.

Action forums in the past have been productive. For example, one forum last year led to the development of an African-American cultural festival held in September on Maine Street between Seventh and Eighth. A similar event is planned for this September.

Holden said one goal of the study circle program is to help participants gain a better understanding of the many aspects of racism so they can make decisions on what they can do as individuals or groups to bring about change.

Holden said racism is a hot topic nationally this year because one of the leading candidates for the Democratic nomination for president -- Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois -- is black, and race has become an issue in the campaign.

"People can sometimes be conflicted about what they feel, and then you throw politics into it," she said. "It's better to talk about the issues than to let them fester and manifest themselves in negative ways."

Holden said racism has been around for a long time and the study circles program is just one way to help people address the issue.

"The effects that we see from racism didn't occur overnight, and they won't be solved overnight," she said. "We're here to make sure that the process continues, and over time we expect that people will be able to see the benefits."

-- ehusar@whig.com/221-3378