Being and Belonging Discussion Group: How Diversity Becomes Inclusivity

The Being and Belonging Group began almost four years ago as the inspiration of practitioner Wayne Haught. The intention of the group was to learn more about racism as a systemic structure. Since then, we have broadened our explorations to talk about the many unique ways that human beings show up and how to celebrate the diversity in our Oneness.

At the beginning of this year, the core team realized that our goal wasn't to talk about diversity. That's a given, how creation shows up. Instead we wanted to learn more about how to authentically include people in ways that honor and acknowledge the richness of our differences as well as the One that lives as us all. That has led to conversations about social rank, racism, oppression, and privilege. We renamed the conversation Being and Belonging, reflecting our goal more accurately.

Over the past month, the brutal realities of racially-focused police violence made it impossible to believe that racism in the US ended in the 1960s. It is time to dismantle the oppressive culture of white supremacy. The Being and Belonging Discussion group provides resources, opportunities to have the difficult conversations, and support for your doing what is yours to do. We invite you to our monthly conversations, on Zoom, from 1:30 to 3 pm on the second Sundays of the month. We invite you to take up the challenge to be actively anti-racist rather than the neutral not racist.

We welcome your comments, especially what you are doing to move us toward a world that works for all. Please send your comments and your suggestions for resources to Rev. Tara at tara.steele@cslsr.org


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Some Thoughts on this Work from Practitioner Krista McAtee

Image
Photo by Harry Grout, Unplash.com As a white woman, I am noticing how my language is shifting on an almost-daily basis! Our evolution is happening quickly. That said, I won’t be quiet for fear of being clumsy with my words. I make mistakes. But if I say something awkward or inept, I own it, apologize, and move on, learning from my misstep. My intention is to support inclusion for everyone. I often remind myself of these truths that have so long lain dormant: There is no such thing as "not racist."  We can be or act in racist OR anti-racist ways. If we are claiming "not racist," it is because we  likely have  not named and deconstructed the ways we have been conditioned in white supremacy. White folks are the ones who need to do the work of dismantling white supremacy . It is ours to do. We need to lean on other white people in our learning, grieving, discomfort, guilt, shame, advocacy— not  on BIPOC (Black, indigenous, and people of color). It is not their job to fo
Read more

A Radical Friendship - A Play by Jane Marla Robbins, Saturday, February 19, 7 pm

Image
  In her outstanding two-person play, “A Radical Friendship,” Jane Marla Robbins envisions an ongoing conversation between spiritual leaders Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel taking place between 1963 and 1972. In the historically accurate interchanges, Dr. King refers to the rabbi as “Father Abraham” and “my Rabbi.” The Shomrei Torah Cultural Committee brings this production to Sonoma County in honor of Black History Month. The play was last seen starring Ed Asner in Southern California. We are fortunate that the Raven Performing Arts Theater’s Artistic Director Steven David Martin will be directing the play with two talented local actors to portray these historic heroes. Saturday, February 19, at 7 pm. For more information and to register to attend this event on Zoom free of charge, go to  https://www.cstsr.org/event/a-radical-friendship.html
Read more

Powerful Summer Reading - You Are Your Best Thing, edited by Tarana Burke and Brene Brown

Image
This book is written to give voice to the experiences of Black people. Too often, they may be only be seen at those who are impacted most directly by racism. That is a part of their identity, and they also live lives of blessing and strength and challenge. This book is a collection of essays from writers, artists, educators, activists and others. They speak in the first person, in Tarana Burke's words, to "give our humanity breathing room." You Are Your Best Thing: Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Experience , edited by Tarana Burke and Brene Brown. From the introduction by the editors: Brene: I kept thinking about bell hook's concept of lovelessness and how she talks about lovelessness as the root of white supremacy and the patriarchy and all forms of oppression. And that the answer to lovelessness is love. I've read bell hooks for thirty years, but these essays and the process of co-creating with you taught me what love in the face of lovelessness
Read more