Racial Justice Initiative

Purpose Statement and Goals

Contact:  Linda Campbell at lacampbell52@gmail.com or Barb Iverson at barbiverson100@icloud.com

What’s Going On

Building the Beloved Community Public Safety Project

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Session #3

Tuesday, June 28

In-person and Online

ATTENTION ALL PLYMOUTH MEMBERS:

Please join us at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 28, for our third police encounter dilemma and discussion. It is not necessary to have participated in the first or second discussion. All are welcome. We will hold our discussion live and in person at the church, but will also offer a Zoom streaming option.

 Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington has given us our third police encounter dilemma scenario for feedback, a dilemma he faced as a young police officer, involving an encounter at night, answering a frantic 911 caller’s demand for police support.

Commissioner Harrington has thanked participating congregations for our feedback from the first two sessions and is eager to have our continuing feedback from this third session.

 

PLEASE REGISTER TO JOIN FELLOW PLYMOUTH MEMBERS FOR THIS THIRD SESSION DISCUSSION

As with our first two sessions, this third session will focus on a specific police encounter dilemma that Commissioner Harrington has prepared for each faith community’s detailed discussion and feedback.  We will view a video about this dilemma, followed by a discussion of our immediate and visceral reactions to this dilemma.  Then Rev. Dr. DeWayne Davis will introduce a faith reading that bears on this dilemma, and we will break into small groups to discuss how the values of our faith tradition may change our views about this dilemma.  This feedback will be given to Commissioner Harrington.

Important to Note: During this session, we will be showing a video that discusses police fear in the dark of night about a possibly armed and non-compliant suspect. We encourage everyone to prepare themselves emotionally for this and to mute and/or turn off video if you sense that this may be traumatizing to you.

Registration is required.  

Click here to register to attend this event live at church. 

Click here to attend this event via zoom

The Racial Justice Initiative at Plymouth Church will offer a free, in person, training on Community Organizing and Social Movements Saturday, May 14, 2022 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. <div class='avia-button-wrap avia-button-center ' ><a href='https://secure.accessacs.com/access/eventlogin.aspx?id=Puf0tBmaLHEqMQuJQg8eOw==&site=106818&ReturnUrl=events%2fwz_people.aspx&ChurchID=5136&EventID=219755&sn=106818' class='avia-button avia-color-theme-color avia-icon_select-no avia-size-small avia-position-center ' ><span class='avia_iconbox_title' >Register Here</span></a></div> Everyone wants justice, everyone wants peace – but how do we move from talk to action? This one day workshop will walk you through the basis of grassroots community organizing and social movements so you can better understand how your activism can fit into the opportunities before us as well as participate with skill and understanding. Among the topics discussed include understanding the difference between service and empowerment, how to develop and execute a strategy chart, the power of one-to-one conversations, and the eight stages of a social movement, and more! The late Ann Manning, RJI co-chair, said of this training: It is easy to get discouraged when things don’t change fast enough, and the model of the Eight Stages helps me see the long game. I also found that understanding the Four Roles people play invaluable. We all have a role to play, and it’s so important to see and understand those who are different from you. I encourage everyone who is interested to attend training. You will not regret it. Claudia will make it fun, engaging, and well worth your time.” Claudia Albano, who taught social movement theory at the University of California-Berkeley for 20 years and is a long-time community activist, will share her knowledge of and involvement in community activism and social movements.

Volunteer

The RJI is always looking for volunteers to assist with programming activities.  Topics and sub-committees include the following:  building working and personal relationships with organizations and fighting systemic racism; partnering with Isaiah and other local organizations on voter enfranchisement efforts; reforming police and improving public safety; communicating to the congregation about how people can get involved; fostering the congregation’s curiosity about U.S. history and dismantling the narrative about white supremacy, American exceptionalism and the history of race relations; promoting congregational dialogue through Racial Justice Circles and other ways; inviting speakers on racial justice topics; providing support and racial justice resources; cultivating a relationship between the RJI and the Immigration Welcome Working Group; enhancing resource offerings with books, articles, podcasts, movies and encourage internal reflection; leading book reviews; and encouraging members to share their personal experiences and to understand their own white privilege.  Please contact RJI co-chairs Linda Campbell at lacampbell52@gmail.com or Barb Iverson at barbiverson100@icloud.com

Learn more about our stance for racial justice here:
UCC Racial Justice
Racial Justice Bibliography
Sermon: Antiracism as a Spiritual Practice I
Sermon: Antiracism as a Spiritual Practice II
Sermon: Antiracism as a Spiritual Practice III

This I Believe | Racial Justice Is Personal

A Conversation with AG Keith Ellison

Reimagining Public Safety: Confronting the Problem of Policing