MOORHEAD (KVRR) — A conference was held on Friday, Oct. 10, in Moorhead and across Minnesota to explore themes of inclusion and belonging.

The racial equity conference was held in 14 locations across Minnesota.

The focus of this year’s event was on the lived experiences of people in rural communities.

It was organized by the groups Inclusive Moorhead and the Ethnic Self-Help Alliance for Refugee Assistance, or ESHARA.

This is the third year they have held the event, which included keynote speakers and a lunch buffet of fry bread tacos and Somali cuisine.

“We have different kinds of perceptions and viewpoints of what is happening and we have many different people. And so how do we bridge the gap and bring understanding to our community so that we can work together regardless of our background,” said Lyn Dockter-Pinnick of Indivisible.