Understanding Black Lives Matter – The New Civil Rights Movement: Info Sessions and Listening Circles

Understanding Black Lives Matter – The New Civil Rights Movement

The Council for Faith in Action is sponsoring informational opportunities for congregants to learn about the Black Lives Matter movement and the Unitarian Universalist Association’s support of this movement for racial justice. These opportunities will be focused on the movement and racial justice as a whole, not whether UUCWC should display a banner on our property. If appropriate, that will be a subsequent conversation.

Two information sessions are scheduled as follows:

  • Sunday, October 2, at 12:30 pm, facilitated by Pete Rafle
  • Wednesday, October 5 at 7:30 pm, facilitated by Marianne Alt

The sessions are expected to last 30 to 45 minutes and are purely informational with no discussion opportunities at this time. However, clarifying questions can be asked and members of CFA will be on hand to answer these. Subsequent Listening Circles will provide the opportunity for reflection and discussion. Information session participants will be provided with a Frequently Asked Questions document after the sessions and can sign up for the Listening Circles. The FAQ document will also be widely distributed, both online and as hard copy.

Childcare will be available for both sessions; please contact cfa@uucwc.org by September 28 if you will need childcare.

If you have questions you think the information sessions should cover please submit them, no later than Friday, September 23, by email to cfa@uucwc.org or racialjustice@uucwc.org . If you wish to be anonymous, you can put a note in the CFA mailbox in the office.

It would help us in our planning if you could please sign up either on the Racial Justice Bulletin Board in the lobby or by email to either cfa@uucwc.org or racialjustice@uucwc.org. However, you are welcome to attend even if you don’t sign up beforehand.

Listening Circles

There are 3 circles scheduled:

  • Wednesday, October 19, at 7:30 pm
  • Thursday, October 20 at 10:30 am
  • Sunday, October 23, at 12:30 pm

There will be a maximum of 10 people per session to allow all to be heard; if necessary, another session will be added. The circles will be facilitated by members of the Right Relations Committee with CFA members present to answer specific questions as needed. It is not necessary to attend the info sessions to participate in the circles but it’s expected that participants will familiarize themselves with the FAQ document. You will be able to sign up for the circles after the information sessions have occurred.

Neither Rev. Kim Wildszweski nor the members of the Council for Faith in Action will be determining whether UUCWC officially supports Black Lives Matter or whether UUCWC should display a Black Lives Matter banner. These are congregational decisions. There will be a review after the information sessions and listening circles and at that time a report will be made to the congregation for further consideration.

Nathalie Edmond, Sallie Dunner, and Dan Tuft, co-leaders of the UUCWC Racial Justice Initiative, are always available to answer any questions or concerns.

In faith and love,

The Council for Faith in Action

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