Program Guest Speaker July 25th Report

On July 25th, the BUF BLM Action Ministry team welcomed Shovia Muchirawehondo as our guest speaker.  Originally from Georgia, Shovia earned her Master’s from Western and recently organized the BIPOC celebration at the Depot in June.

Shovia provided our audience of 13 with an unvarnished perspective on racism in Bellingham, emphasizing that if Bellingham wanted to end racism, the solution needed to start with White on White conversations as racism is a White problem.

Shovia highlighted two economic concerns: one is that the current system of “affordable” housing is racist as it relegates most housing to less desirable land, and in desirable neighborhoods, it is not really affordable for Blacks who have been discriminated against when it comes to intergenerational wealth-building.  The second concern is lack of affirmative hiring of Blacks in professional positions and how White hiring managers still hire White candidates. The issue extends to lack of support for Black entrepreneurs, who are not given the tools to navigate government programs and banking.

The conversation switched to the fragmentation of Bellingham’s Black community and the need for a BIPOC community center. The group discussed how such a space would work and where, with Local Group Studio as an example.

Minutes of July 11 business meeting

 Attendees: Naomi Gary, David Curley, Pam Graham, Rupert Ayton, Stephanie Sarver, Joseph McCarty, Claire Lending, Murray Bennett

1. George Floyd Memorial

a. Meeting with CoB Parks and Rec on July 26 at Fouts Park

b. Changing theme of bench to BLM memorial

c. Need to keep fundraising; we have a thank you letter

2. Brian Womack meeting 7/12

a. Discuss community space at 1211 Cornwall

3. Brave Space Practice Adoption Discussion 7/18

Read these two articles to understand what a ‘Brave Space’ is and how we may use it for our 3rd Monday speaker sessions:

a. https://www.citybureau.org/notebook/2019/12/19/safe-spaces-brave-spaces-and-why-we-gon-be-alright

b. https://artscorps.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Brave-Space-Agreeements.pdf

c. Beloved community ground rules

4. Anti-Racism Moments

• Naomi 7/17 covenant of beloved community and invitation to give an AR moment

• Hank 7/31

• Need volunteers for August 7, 14, and 21

5. Program Meeting Speakers

a. Connect with Genia and Adult Education

7/25 Shovia Muchirawehondo

8/22 Shu-Ling Zhao

Potential Speakers for 9/19, 10/17, 11/21, 12/19

♣ Clyde Ford (Author)

♣ Jason McGill (at NWYS)

♣ TeeJay Morris (NWYS, Juneteenth Coordinator, Bellingham Unity Committee)

♣ Damani Johnson (retired WWU professor)

♣ Whatcom Human Rights Taskforce

♣ Flo Simon (Interim COB Police Chief)

♣ Debra Lekanoff (WA State Rep)

♣ Sislena Ledbetter (WWU ED for Counseling, Health and Wellness)

♣ WWU Black Student Union representative

♣ Brian Womack

♣ Tank Tanksley (Blaine Police Chief)

6. Video/Podcast/Reading Group Topics

a. 8/15 suggested we watch United Shades of America Washington State episode prior to and then discuss

7. Other Ongoing Topics

a. Maintaining a list of possible personal actions such as voting rights and school curriculum

i. Claire to help organize a UU the Vote activity at BUF; Stephanie to assist

b. Maintaining a list of Black-owned businesses in Whatcom County

i. Need to personally ask each business; Rupert has connected with Brandywine and Guud Bowls; need to check with Scott about adding a page to the BUF website

c. Rupert to ask Paul who the Article 2 delegates are

8. Bookmarks/T-shirts/Buttons

a. Need to make new bookmarks

b. We could make buttons and silkscreen t-shirts

9. Community Actions

a. Rupert speaking to Anya Milton and Andrew Welch of Ferndale Chamber of Commerce regarding I Am the Hope and the Dream video

b. Sacred Earth Day July 31 at Center for Spiritual Living and BUF needs tabling volunteers

c. Pam suggested Sufi dancing; event August 27 at Center for Spiritual Living

d. Naomi recommended volunteering for the next Juneteenth event

Program Guest Speaker and Video Discussion Report June 27, 2022

On June 27th, the BUF BLM Action Ministry team welcomed filmmaker Remy Strike to a Zoom discussion of his locally filmed Juneteenth video I Am The Hope And The Dream created for local school districts.  The film featured Black youth and community leaders from the area discussing the meaning of Juneteenth. Remy is a multi-talented musician and videographer working out of New Jersey. The Ferndale Chamber of Commerce recruited him to make the film.

Remy described the process of making the film from shooting to editing, how it was scripted, and how those interviewed reacted to the process.  Each participant was interviewed separately, and everyone had a lot of fun.  Remy was surprised at how comfortable and safe he felt in their company. One youth was inspired to learn more about videography.  30 hours of footage was captured covering a variety of interview topics, and Remy hopes to make a longer, broader video.

The participating BLM team audience asked a series of questions before Remy left the Zoom call. Then a general discussion of reaction to the video followed.  One remark was that the film crew and interviewees had created a beloved community during the filming.

Program Guest Speaker Report June 20, 2022

 On June 20th, the BUF BLM Action Ministry team welcomed assemblage artist Ed Bereal and his wife, abstract painter Barbara Sternberger, as guest speakers.

The couple explained that in 1993, Ed began teaching at Western Washington and the couple moved from Southern California to an ideal farm house in north Bellingham.  Although their political views differed greatly from their new neighbors, the couple became part of a rural community that bonded and looked out for each other.  Ed described the area as having similar social issues to inner city minority neighborhoods

Already a successful artist addressing American stereotypes, Ed told the life-changing story of being in the middle of the National Guard occupation of greater Watts following the riots. The experience moved his practice to greater activism, including the street theater group Bodacious Buggerrilla.

Ed explained the artist expression behind his creation of a unique style of assemblage art that addresses current racial and political issues.  He is currently perfecting a holographic technique to convey his political perspective.

Ed discussed a planned mural project at the Community Co-op in Bellingham that addresses racism.  The project took many months of discussion before a design was agreed to.

Q&A followed.

Minutes of June 13th Business Meeting

Present: David Curley, Rupert Ayton, Murray Bennet, Claire Lending, Mike Betz, Joseph McCarty, Cat McIntyre, Naomi Gary (taking minutes)

1. George Floyd/BLM Memorial wrap up

a. $$ raised so far…over $2k

b. We need to write a letter thanking the speakers and include an outreach to other faith communities seeking more funds (Naomi will write a draft)

c. Rupert is asking PSE to contribute funds

2. Brave Space Practice Adoption Discussion in July before next speaker

Read these two articles to understand what a ‘Brave Space’ is and how we may use it for our 3rd Monday speaker sessions:

https://www.citybureau.org/notebook/2019/12/19/safe-spaces-brave-spaces-and-why-we-gon-be-alright

https://artscorps.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Brave-Space-Agreeements.pdf

3. Anti-Racism Reflection Minutes

Naomi reached out to SEJC members for input in expanding our messaging.

Kara, Beth and Deb agreed we should try to organize the AR moments outside 

of BLM meetings.  Naomi to bring up at the next CBC Forum tomorrow night.

4. Program Meeting Speakers

6/20 Ed Bereal (local activist artist) and partner Barbara Sternberger $100 honorarium approved by SEJC (Rupert to get check from BUF Admin)

Discussion topics are: 1) experience with moving to Bellingham in 1990s, 2) reflect on James Baldwin’s “the purpose of art is to lay bare the questions which have been hidden by the answers” and 3) the Community Co-op mural project

July Speaker …. Rupert to ask Shovia to join us 7/25

8/22       Shu-Ling Zhao (Chuckanut Health Foundation) 

Potential Speakers for 9/19, 10/17, 11/21, 12/19

Clyde Ford (Author)

Jason McGill (at NWYS)

TeeJay Morris (NWYS, Juneteenth Coordinator, Bellingham Unity Committee)

Demani Johnson (retired WWU professor)

Whatcom Human Rights Taskforce

Flo Simon (Interim COB Police Chief)

Debra Lekanoff (WA State Rep)

Sislena Ledbetter (WWU ED for Counseling, Health and Wellness)

WWU Black Student Union representative

We plan to ask the BUF Board to support $50 Honorariums

5. Reading Group Topics

Suggested that we avoid books in favor of videos, podcasts and articles

June 27th    Juneteenth video by Remy Styrk     remy@remystyrk.com

here is the link to the video on YouTube: 

https://youtu.be/gG3n9mMKRB8

and here is the link to the website: 

https://sites.google.com/view/connectferndale/juneteenth?authuser=0

Also, we intend to reach out to Children of the Setting Sun for other documentaries about local Indigenous issues.

6. Black Community Center at BUF

a. Paul is in favor of making the space available gratis

b. We continue to outreach to leaders in the BIPOC community including Shovia M.

7. Other Ongoing Topics…the work continues

a. Interface with SEJC and Beloved Community

i. Naomi is writing the SEJC Quarterly Reports and attending meetings

b. Naomi posting regularly on BUF BLM Facebook page

c. Polling the BLM mailing list for suggestions

d. Assembling and organizing anti-racism educational content

e. Linking with other BLM groups in Whatcom or forming a BLM chapter and creating a network map of all BIPOC groups

f. Maintaining a list of possible personal actions such as voting rights and school curriculum

i. Claire to help organize a UU the Vote event at BUF

ii. David to develop Micro Aggression response mini trainings

g. Maintaining a list of Black-owned businesses in Whatcom County

h. Possible community projects—we have noted that Bellingham lacks a documented Black history and plaques memorializing locations of notable events

8. Social Media

a. Rupert to develop our Blog (especially as a resource of our programs and books)

b. Mike to help with RSS feed and subscription button

c. Rupert to expand our Breeze Mailing List

9. Community Actions

6/18 at Maritime Park JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

Next Business Planning Meeting on zoom:  July 2022

Respectfully submitted

Naomi Gary, Co-Facilitator

AR Reflection of June 12th on Art and Racism

This morning’s reflection is about an issue I was deeply immersed in during my 10 years at the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation: institutional racism toward Native art.

Walk into a major art museum in the United States and you will likely find an “American” gallery.  Whose art is on display there?  Americans, right?  But wait, which Americans?  Lanape, Lakota, Tlingit?  Probably not.  Our Native artists are rarely exhibited in the “American” Gallery.  Often, their work is found in an ethnographic gallery.  Maybe even a transnational ethnographic gallery.  Why?

Let’s go a step further.  If you want to go to university and study Native art, will you find it in art history classes?  Probably not, unless you attend the Institute of American Indian Arts.  More likely, you will find it in anthropology and Native studies classes.  And those curators of those ethnographic galleries?  They typically have PhDs in anthropology, not art history. And how many are actually Native?

And what about the critics and gallerists, who are so important to the art world?  I remember a comment from a well-meaning San Francisco gallerist when referring to Native art. He said it was still stuck in the “identity art” phase.  When is art not about identity?  I guess when it is by a white artist in a white world

The good news is art museums are starting to adjust.  Let me give you an example.

A few years ago, the Portland Art Museum’s Native Gallery Curator took issue with the Museum Director over an exhibition of donated early 20th Century Edward Curtis photographs.  The exhibition was planned as a paean to the wealthy donors.  The curator, a Chumash woman, voiced a common Native objection to Curtis’s posed, period-stereotypical images of the “disappearing” American Indian.  Chastened by the realization that the images could be considered racist, the Museum Director agreed to exhibit the Curtis images in conjunction with the art of three contemporary Native artists, Wendy Red Star, Zig Jackson, and Will Wilson. A coup for them, and the curator.

And, if Curtis photographed your ancestor, you put aside your distaste for him, and treasured the image, as well as the Native artists being exhibited.

The thing is, museum directors have to cater to their public, and their donors, while gallerists have to cater to their patrons.  And sometimes, it is those well-meaning donors and patrons, who profess a love for Native art, and want it segregated for their appreciation. Is that ghettoizing Native art?  Native artists can be split on this.  Some want to get out of the ethnographic space.  Some want to stay in it.  But there’s a third choice.  There is tremendous power in Native artists exhibiting together, in a dedicated space, such as Portland’s Center for Native Arts and Cultures.

Locally, go to the Lightcatcher, and walk the Many Wests exhibition, where several Native artists are included.  Look at the piece by Wendy Red Star.  Then look up her website and look at her art.  It’s complex, and makes a point, as good art should.  It is a celebration of being Absaroka—Crow to you—and as a guest in Indian Country, I greatly appreciate that. Thank you.

Minutes of May 9 Business Meeting

 Present : David Curley, Rick Steele, Rupert Ayton, Murray Bennet, Claire Lending, Mike Betz, Mel Hoover, Naomi Gary (taking minutes)

1. Clyde Ford Debrief

Mel and Rupert 5/4 conversation with Clyde

He was a UU in New York. He remembers BUF hosting the NAACP Bellingham Chapter back in 1992 (we could have a 30th anniversary event!) He suggested ways to create a more inclusive community including “mindful meetings”, building authentic relationships, etc. He prefers opening to BIPOC not just BLM conversations. He said he looks forward to further conversations with BUF. Tonight we discussed having a Book Reading event including his last two books “Think Black” and “Of Blood and Sweat”.

2. Brave Space Practice Adoption Discussion for our next Program Mtg June 20th!

Read these two articles to understand what a ‘Brave Space’ is and how we may use it for our 3rd Monday speaker sessions:

https://www.citybureau.org/notebook/2019/12/19/safe-spaces-brave-spaces-and-why-we-gon-be-alright

https://artscorps.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Brave-Space-Agreeements.pdf

3. Anti-Racism Reflection Minutes

David and Rupert debriefed team on 5/6 meeting with Rev. Paul. He’d like the AR to match the service if possible. Add more SEJC speakers. Keep it to 3 min. MAX!!

These dates offered by Rev. Paul:

5/22 Reflection on George Floyd and BLM Memorial on 5/25

with Naomi, Rupert and David

5/29 Pam Graham on her Personal Journey with racism

6/5 Mike Betz and Deb Cruz

 service is flower communion; suggested environmental subject

6/12 TBD; service includes WA State Poet Laureate Rena Priest 

4. Program Meeting Speakers

5/16 Ed Bereal (local activist artist) and partner Barbara Sternberger $100 honorarium approved by SEJC (Rupert to get check from BUF Admin)

Discussion topics are: 1) experience with moving to Bellingham in 1990s, 2) reflect on James Baldwin’s “the purpose of art is to lay bare the questions which have been hidden by the answers” and 3) the Community Co-op mural project

Potential Speakers for 7/18, 8/15, 9/19, 10/17, 11/21, 12/19

Clyde Ford (Author)

Shu-Ling Zhao (Chuckanut Health Foundation) Naomi waiting to hear back.

Jason McGill (at NWYS)

TeeJay Morris (NWYS, Juneteenth Coordinator, Bellingham Unity Committee)

Demani Johnson (retired WWU professor)

Whatcom Human Rights Taskforce

Flo Simon (Interim COB Police Chief)

Debra Lekanoff (WA State Rep)

Sislena Ledbetter (WWU ED for Counseling, Health and Wellness)

                WWU Black Student Union representative

5. Reading Group Topics

Suggested that we avoid books in favor of videos, podcasts and articles

5/23 Watch the Bellingham History Walking Tour video and discuss

6. Black Community Center at BUF

a. Paul is in favor of making the space available gratis

7. Other Ongoing Topics

a. Interface with SEJC and Beloved Community

        i. Naomi is writing the SEJC Quarterly Reports and attending meetings

b. Naomi posting regularly on BUF BLM Facebook page

c. Polling the BLM mailing list for suggestions

d. Assembling and organizing anti-racism educational content

e. Linking with other BLM groups in Whatcom or forming a BLM chapter and creating a network map of all BIPOC groups

f. Maintaining a list of possible personal actions such as voting rights and school curriculum

        i. Claire to help organize a UU the Vote event at BUF

        ii. David to develop Micro Aggression response mini trainings

g. Maintaining a list of Black-owned businesses in Whatcom County

        i. Pam saw a list at last year’s Juneteenth Celebration

        ii. Claire found an article in the Bellingham Herald

        iii. Rupert has an old list. Rupert has connected with Brandywine, Calypso, and Guud Bowls and there is possible interest in a round table discussion

h. Possible community projects—we have noted that Bellingham lacks a documented Black history and plaques memorializing locations of notable events

        i. Rupert found resources at the library and at the local Cemetery

8. Social Media

a. Rupert to develop our Blog (especially as a resource of our programs and books)

b. Mike to help with RSS feed and subscription button

c. Rupert to expand our Breeze Mailing List

9. Community Actions

5/22 All Aboard the CBC Accountability process live at BUF!

5/25 BLM Memorial Event at Fouts Park 5-6:30pm

6/4 Roaring 20’s themed Annual Auction Fundraiser for BUF

Next Business Planning Meeting on zoom:  June 13, 2022

Respectfully submitted

Naomi Gary, Co-Facilitator