FORMER NPR HOST MICHELE NORRIS BRINGS THE RACE CARD PROJECT TO NAZARETH COLLEGE, TONIGHT, MARCH 16

ROCHESTER, NY (03/16/2016)(readMedia)-- WHAT: Award-winning journalist Michele Norris is bringing The Race Card Project to Nazareth College. The former National Public Radio (NPR) host and special correspondent with more than two decades of experience founded the successful initiative to help kick start and encourage public discussion about the difficult topic during a cross-country book tour in 2010. Norris collects thoughts on race, ethnicity, and cultural identity in six words on postcards, emails or tweets, and has received thousands of submissions from all over the U.S. and the world.

The six-word essays were initially compiled on Norris's website TheRaceCardProject.com, but the descriptions eventually grew into a regular segment on NPR's Morning Edition. A single six-word description such as "Ask who I am, not what," "Mexican white girl doesn't speak Spanish" or "My mixed kids have it differently" opened up complicated, vulnerable and insightful discussions about race that we rarely hear in public spaces. Nazareth College has nearly 500 people attending and race cards are being filled out and displayed on The Race Card Wall in the Shults Center on campus.

WHEN: TONIGHT, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, at 7 p.m.

WHERE: Nazareth College Arts Center, 4245 East Avenue, Rochester, N.Y., 14618.

MEDIA: MEDIA ARE INVITED, but event is open to the Nazareth community only. Media can see Julie Long for location to shoot video or take photos from side of theater during first few minutes of talk.

*Interviews with Michele Norris are available BEFORE the event between 6-6:30 p.m. but MUST call Julie Long ahead to confirm, it is not an open window. Norris is also meeting with students during this time.