NATCHEZ — On Saturday, a group of local residents will come together hoping to shift the conversation about race from people talking at each other to people talking to each other.

Mission Mississippi is hosting a Day of Dialogue at the Natchez Convention Center.

“We’ve got to start somewhere, and this is where our small group is trying to start,” Mission Mississippi member Debbie Hudson said.

Mission Mississippi is a statewide, Christian nonprofit which works on racial reconciliation.

“We do still have some issues with race, not just with Mississippi, but across the nation and the world,” member Beverly Adams said.

With everything that’s going on in the world, Hudson said the timing is right for the event.

“I think it’s a great time to visit where we are on our differences, because I think we may just find we’re not so different,” Hudson said.

During a normal meeting of the local branch, Mission Mississippi members discuss topics including current events.

“We talk about things and we try to figure out ways to impact our community for better race relations,” Adams said.

More dialogue, Hudson said, leads to more understanding.

“The more we can talk to each other, the better understanding we have of who we are and who everyone is around us,” Hudson said.

The Day of Dialogue will be similar, but on a larger scale. Hudson said Mission Mississippi hosts related events statewide.

“We decided this sounded like something we wanted to do,” Hudson said.

Mission Mississippi President Neddie Winters will facilitate the event.

Winters will introduce guests to a series of topics designed to lead to better understanding.

“And so we learn to talk and get to know each other, and then we have that understanding of each other and can live together better as a result,” Adams said.

Adams said 10 tables would be set up for participants to gather at to discuss the different topics. Afterward, Hudson said the group would give an overview on what they discovered.

“It’s action,” Hudson said. “It’s letting people express what they think.”

Everyone is welcome. The free event begins promptly at 8:30 a.m. For more information, call 601-445-4611.