36 :Colorful Connections with Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith

In their new book Colorful Connections: 12 Questions About Race That Open Healthy Conversations, two women of different races, authors Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith and Lori Stanley Roeleveld work together to open healthy conversations about race. Colorful Connections came about because of a question from one of Roeleveld’ s blog readers, asking her to write about how to have a hard conversation about race.

Even though they had only met in professional settings, and weren’t friends, Dalton-Smith agreed to join Roeleveld on this journey. Readers will see a real-time process as Dalton-Smith and Roeleveld walk this journey of healing, knowledge, and faith. Written in a conversational style between the authors, they have also widened the circle to include influencers like Jo Saxton, Jamie Ivey, Dr. Derwin Gray and others. Readers will appreciate Dalton-Smith and Roeleveld’s authentic approach to the vital issue of skin color and race conversations in today’s world.

“We committed to have this public conversation in writing in the hope that it would inspire other Christians to begin (or continue) their own conversations. We did this because we love Jesus and believe that, in him, we have the power and the love we need to heal and move forward together. We did this because we believe God when he says we need one another and that we are one body. We did this even though it was uncomfortable, scary, and made us vulnerable.” says Dalton-Smith and Roeleveld.

Dalton-Smith and Roeleveld have written a thoughtful comprehensive resource for anyone evaluating their own thoughts on race, including tools that will help readers along the way. Each chapter is filled with personal stories from each author and ends with scripture and a special STARTING PLACES section, which gives people steps to take. In addition, Colorful Connections also includes an extensive resource collection, plus a conversation readiness assessment. 

Discussion questions are available in the book, making it accessible to anyone from small groups to individual study, an excellent book, and a great start for so many that are grappling with the issue of race.

Let’s Connect

Connect with Dr. Dalton-Smith: ichoosemybestlife.com

Connect with Lori Stanley Roeleveld: www.loriroeleveld.com