Saturday, October 2, 2010
UUFCC took its maiden voyage into the Building the World We Dream About curriculum! We had 22 participants, which is great for our small congregation of just under 100. We opted to start with a double session, doing Workshop 1 in the morning with a lunch break of an hour followed by Workshop 2. It was a long day but everybody hung in there and kept their energy and enthusiasm up.
Workshop 1 facilitated by Ginger and Sue. After greeting and making sure everyone had a nametag and journal, Ginger opened with the poem “Telling” by Laura Hershey, included in the curriculum resources. Each person introduced him/herself by telling one thing most people would not already know about them. We made a list of important reasons for our congregation to talk about antiracism/multiculturalism.
We then distributed guidelines for making a covenant. After some clarification of terms and meanings, everyone agreed to adopt all of the items on the list with the reminder that this will be a “living” document that can grow and change as we work together. Our first journaling exercise, Insider/Outsider, followed. Each person wrote about an experience in which they felt like an outsider, holding the story in their heart as a point of reference for later discussions.
Theater of Voices was the next activity. Eight UU voices were selected from the curriculum of UU people of color and whites who had the experiences in their congregations, with some being affirming and others marginalizing. Small group discussions of these experiences were insightful. Participants were asked to write in their journals during the lunch break about situations in which they felt they really mattered and when they felt marginalized.
Workshop 2 facilitated by Pam and Di. They opened by giving us an opportunity to practice Serial Testimony protocol. Each person shared something and then the next person’s testimony begins without comment from others. We divided into five groups used the serial testimony to share a time when we really mattered and a time when we felt marginalized. Each group compared their own experiences with those expressed in the Theater of Voices. This was followed by a large group discussion of what it means to welcome someone into the congregation and how People of Color and other marginalized groups might be discomforted by the welcoming process.
The Taking It Home exercise asked everyone to speak to two people in the congregation or community to learn about why they joined their faith community and reflect on how their stories align with the notion of marginality and mattering.
The feedback from all participants was overwhelmingly positive with some saying that the workshops surpassed their expectations. We look forward to continuing with the workshops.
The next workshop is on Saturday, October 16.
From those who attended Workshops 1 and 2:
ReplyDeleteHearing others' experiences helped me to focus on what needs to be done to reach our goals.
These first two sessions were stimulating and growth producing.
I realize that I am so ignorant, that I have so much to learn and this is a place where I can learn it. I think we will become contagious!
We can all suffer on some level but also benefit and develop a deeper understanding of ourselves, learning to appreciate another person's pain.
I am being challenged to include others as I have been included.
I thought the idea that everyone has had experiences of inclusion and marginalization was very interesting.
Our small group asked, "What is it that makes us see people as 'the other'?"
Being marginalized has many common effects regardless of the reason for marginalization.
We all share in the feelings of marginalization and we also feel empowered when we feel like we "matter."
We need to understand our own prejudices in order to understand others.
I found it most interesting to think about what the differences are between obvious diversity versus diversity which can be revealed or not at the person's discretion.
I liked the tone and level of participation in the workshops, nobody was standing or sitting on the margins.
Our first two workshops were very interesting, I did not think they would hold our attention for such a long time.
We had many welcomed moments of humor, I am eager for more learning in the coming workshops.
It is interesting to me to contemplate, "why do people need to feel superior?"
The sessions have been most interesting, more so than I expected. I really didn't know what to expect and was most pleased.
I miss you all-will see you the end of November. It looks like we're doing some wonderful "work" there in Charlotte County.
ReplyDeleteBest love to all-
Myrna
This looks to be most interesting and exciting. Wish I could be there to actively participate with you all! I look forward to future blog posts with great eagerness ;-)
ReplyDeleteI'm filled with excitement to be returning to you at the peak of the energy engendered by these participatory workshops. I already sense new bonds being forged and new ideas flying, and you can be sure I'll have some of my own to suggest. I love the way this fellowship seizes hold of new adventures (especially those that involve sitting in a circle of chairs--my favorite type of exercise)and sparking ideas and plans off one another. Don't fly off to the moon without me!
ReplyDeleteSharon