Our facilitator, Rev. Joan, has some tasks for those joining the upcoming August workshop.

Please complete the following assignments before the Aug 1st session.

If you haven’t registered yet, please do so now at this link.

Watch: Tell Them We Are Rising. You can find this film on your local PBS station under Independent Lens or you can watch it here.

Read:

1. Workshop Description & Notice (below). If you need clarification, please contact Rev. Joan before July 31st .

2. BEGIN reading The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabelle Wilkerson OR The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein

Do: Go to YouTube and listen to various renditions of “Lift Every Voice & Sing,” the Black National Anthem. Once you find your favorite version please send it to me at deaconjoan@joancrawford.org. If you can, please share (or copy and paste) the link to me. Otherwise you can email me the name of the performer.

Workshop Objectives and Notice

This workshop will not overwhelm you with...

facts and data,

definitions and theories.

The intent is not to persuade you to work for racial justice; it is assumed that you are already committed to ending racism.

The objective of this workshop is to:

PROVIDE a SAFE space for you to LISTEN and RESPOND to what Black people are saying about race.

MOVE you BEYOND your comfort zone so that you can gain a better awareness of white privilege and better resistance to white fragility and implicit bias.

STIR your emotions whereby you gain a better sense of "the black struggle in America” as well as, the accomplishments and victories.

ENCOURAGE you to delve deeper into African American history, culture and spirituality.

And, primarily...

INSPIRE you to develop and sustain honest relationships with Black people so that truths can be shared and trust can be fostered.

The workshop will provide:

Honest and straightforward strategies on how you can work in solidarity with the Black American community.

NOTICE: A few of the video and audio clips used in the workshop contain profanity, violence and use of the N-word. In addition, a few of the recorded interviews were conducted by journalist who have since been charged with sexual misconduct. I have chosen to keep these segments in my presentation because the subject matter is relevant and pertinent to our discussion on race. I regret any discomfort this may cause you. If you have concerns, please feel free to contact me.