Minutes – Business/Planning Meeting – March 7, 2022

BUF Black Lives Matter Ministry Action Team

Minutes – Business/Planning Meeting – March 7, 2022

 

Present: Rupert Ayton, Mike Betz, David Curley, Cat McIntyre, Stephanie Sarver

 

1.Anti-Racism Minutes (aka Anti-Racism Reflections)

Mar. 13      David Curley, stewardship

Mar. 27      Cat will ask Rev. Barbara “Renewing Faith”—women’s hx month

 

2.Program Meeting.  March 14: Bellingham City Council Member Kristina Michelle Martens. Rupert will host. If the number of participants is manageable, we’ll have introductions first, per speaker’s request

 

3.Future program meetings: Mondays at 7. Cat will send out announcements of all the meetings.

 

o   Second Monday of month will be a speaker. Topics of interest: voting rights, policing.

 

o   Third Monday will be review of goals, assignments for tasks, accountability. Stephanie will coordinate on March 21, review, plan and incorporate BLM goals per assessment and goals report; Cat will email it to her. 

 

o   Fourth Monday will be book discussion. On March 28, we’ll discuss Sum of Us. Cat has two copies to give away. 

 

4.Community Actions:  

 

o   Bellingham Community Development Advisory Board Action Plan: Thursday, March 10 at 6 pm

 

o   Bellingham Police semi-finalists 5:30 pm March 17

 

5.In person meetings. We discussed meeting in person, while continuing to incorporate Zoom for those who wish to participate remotely. Question: Can we use the Owl in the flex room, where air circulation would be better than the conference room? Some discussion of whether a table is important psychologically.

 

Reflection: February Training. Two particularly effective items from Kimberley Harris’s training will be written up for the BUF Midweek Update. David will describe Taeku Lee’s discussion of ideological, racial and epistemic polarization, along with some of the remedies that Dr. Lee outlines. Cat will describe Ms. Harris's suggested steps toward opening discussion of unintentionally offensive comments. Links to both of these are in Harris's Distinctive Voices Consulting blog.

 

6.Covenant of Beloved Community Meeting 3/8 at 7 pm.

 

Next Program Meeting on Zoom:  Mar. 14, 6 p.m

Next Business Planning Meeting on zoom:   Apr. 4, 6 pm

 

Respectfully submitted

Cat McIntyre, co-facilitator

Common Patterns in/of Whites

 

Common Patterns in/of Whites

This was one of our handouts in the current Allyship Training this Saturday, February 26, 2022  Enlightening exercise.

Directions: review these common group dynamics:

a.     Check-off any dynamics which you have observed or heard about.

b.     Make a note next to the different dynamics that you have personally participated in.

Some/Many Whites Tend to (consciously and unconsciously):

1. believe they have “earned” what they have, rather than acknowledge the extensive unearned advantages they receive; claim that if people of color just worked harder…

2. not notice the daily indignities that people of color experience; deny and rationalize them away with PLEs (perfectly logical explanations)

3. work to maintain the status quo and protect the advantages and privileges they receive

4. believe that white cultural norms, practices and values are superior and better

5. internalize negative stereotypes and believe that whites are smarter and superior to POC

6. want people of color to conform and assimilate to white cultural norms and practices

7. accept and feel safer around people of color who have assimilated and are “closer to white”

8. blame people of color for the barriers and challenges they experience; believe that if they “worked harder” they could “pull themselves up by their bootstraps”

9. believe that people of color are not competent and are only hired/promoted to fill quotas

10. interrupt and talk over people of color

11. resent taking direction from a person of color

12. dismiss and minimize frustrations of people of color and categorize the person raising issues  as militant, angry, having an “attitude,” working their agenda, not a team player...

13. focus on their “good intent” as whites, rather than on the negative impact of their behavior

14. focus on how much progress we have made, rather than on what still needs to change 

15. want people of color to “get over it” and move on quickly

16. get defensive when people of color express frustration with racism

17. “walk on eggshells” and act more distant and formal with people of color

18. live segregated from people of color and rarely develop authentic cross-racial relationships 

19. exaggerate the level of intimacy they have with individual people of color

20. fear that they will be seen and “found out” as a racist, having racial prejudice

21. focus on individualism and refuse to acknowledge cultural and institutional racism 

22. pressure and punish whites who actively work to dismantle racism to conform and collude with white racism; criticize, gossip about, and find fault with white change agents

23. expect people of color to be the “diversity expert” and address racism as their unpaid job

24. minimize, ignore, and discount the competencies and contributions of people of color 

25. rephrase and reword the comments of people of color

26. ask people of color to repeat what they have just said

27. assume the white person is in charge/the leader; assume people of color are in service roles

28. rationalize away racist treatment of people of color as individual incidents or the result of something the person of color did/failed to do

29. dismiss racism when shared by people of color with comments such as: That happens to me too...You’re too sensitive...That happened because of _____, it has nothing to do with race!

30. judge a person of color as over-reacting and too emotional when they are responding to the cumulative impact of multiple recent racist incidents 

31. accuse people of color of “playing the race card” whenever they challenge racism; instead of exploring the probability that racist attitudes and beliefs are operating

32. if racially confronted by a person of color, shut down and focus on what to avoid saying or doing in the future, rather than engaging and learning from the interaction

33. look to people of color for direction, education, coaching on how to act and what not to do

34. compete with other whites to be “the good white:” the best ally, the friend of people of color

35. aggressively confront other white people and distance yourself from your own racist patterns

36. seek approval, validation, and recognition from people of color

37. if confronted by a person of color, view it as an “attack” and focus on HOW they engaged  me, not my original comments or behaviors

38. disengage if feel any anxiety or discomfort; remain silent in discussions of race and racism

39. avoid confronting other whites on their racist attitudes and behaviors

40. when trying to help people of color, feel angry if they don’t enthusiastically appreciate you 

41. believe there is one “right” way or “fit”, meaning “my way” or the “white way”

Minutes - Business/Planning Meeting – February 6, 2022

BUF Black Lives Matter Ministry Action Team

Minutes - Business/Planning Meeting – February 6, 2022

 

 

 

1. Anti-Racism Minutes (aka Anti-Racism Reflections)

​​Feb. 13 ​​Rupert in Showboat and Robeson 3.5 min.

Feb. 20​​None – Stewardship Sunday – as requested by Rev. Barbara

Feb. 27​​Mel Hoover and accountability team

Mar. 6​​David Curley will contact Rick and/or Roz(ICE vigils, Humanitas)

Mar. 27​​Cat will ask Rev. Barbara “Renewing Faith”—women’s hx month

 

2. Program Meeting.  Dogwhistle Politics next Monday; Change to 7 pm for program. Dogwhistle ends 2014; what happens next in book vs reality (foghorn). The Sum of Us.

 

3. February Training. Allyship 2/19; Need more folks to sign up for allyship, send request to Deb Cruz. Seeing white, 

 

4. Bookmarks. We’re ready for a bookmark making party; during week. Naomi will organize; 3 pm Friday Feb 18. Aim for Feb 27 service launch—black history month

 

5. Reflection: Accountability Event.

 

6. Covenant of Beloved Community Meeting 2/7 at 7 pm

 

7. New facilitator(s).   

 

8. Ideas. Driving (and walking) while not white in Whatcom County, Kristina Michelle: invite her, and advertise that she will be. Alternative to reading books as program. Wants action, live stuff. Naomi could reach out to her. Washington State Patrol is only agency which keeps statistics. All policy with no consequences. Local article. 

 

Next Program Meeting on Zoom: ​​​Feb, 14, 6 p.m

Next Business Planning Meeting on zoom:  ​Mar. 7, 6 pm

 

Respectfully submitted

Cat McIntyre, co-facilitator

Business Meeting 1/3/22

BUF Black Lives Matter Ministry Action Team

Minutes - Business/Planning Meeting – January 3, 2022

 

Present: Rupert Ayton, David Curley, Naomi Gary, Cat McIntyre, Henry Ohana

 

1.Anti-Racism Minutes (aka Anti-Racism Reflections)
                                January 9           Rupert Ayton

January 23 David Curley will discuss with Rose Edington
January 30  None, per request from Rev. Barbara
Feb. 6                 Cat McIntyre (Theme: Universalism – You Matter to God)

 

For other February Sundays: 

Feb. 13 (LGBTQ+ is theme, Kevin Allen-Schmid is celebrant; Rupert and Henry will coordinate with Kevin right away.

Feb. 20  None, per request from Rev. Barbara

Feb. 27               Mel Hoover is conducting service; we will discuss this at 2/7 meeting 

 

2.Program Meeting.  Next Monday at 6 pm, we will begin weekly book discussions on Dogwhistle Politics to educate ourselves for effective action. Rupert suggests two-three chapters/week. We want to invite people who are doing anti-racism work and Beloved Community: Cat will call Murray and Claire; Henry will invite Kara, Beth, Deb, Kathryn, Judy Kasper, Barbara Gilday, Ellis-Quinns, Nuckles-Flinn and others. David will invite Steffany.

 

3.January Training Update. Over 30 people indicated interest, including BUF Board of Trustees and staff, and 4-5 people from each of Blaine and Mt Vernon UU congregations. There will be two sessions, 1/15and 1/22, for three hours each. Both Rupert and Naomi were early asks for participation, but haven’t been notified about whether they were selected or when to pay. David and Cat will ask to Deb Cruz to see the list of participants and who has paid.

 

4.Rubric for Accountability Committee. Rubric report presented to BUF Operations Team on December 17, with very positive feedback on it. The report will be presented to  the Accountability group at the January 30 launch. Naomi and David will represent BLM/MAT at that launch. Mel will talk about accountability  in his February service and we will re-visit in May.

 

5.New facilitator(s).  Cat is writing job description for what she does for the team. Naomi wants to take over when Cat leaves, if David continues. More people will certainly be involved.

 

Next Program Meeting on Zoom:                    January 10, 6 pm

Next Business Planning Meeting on zoom:   February 7, 6 pm

 

Respectfully submitted

Cat McIntyre, co-facilitator

Program Meeting Minutes- December 8, 2021

 BUF Black Lives Matter Ministry Action Team

Minutes of Program Meeting – December 8, 2021

 

Present: Rupert Ayton, Mike Betz, David Curley, Naomi Gary, Mel Hoover, Angie Lindquist, Tom Kirchner, Judy Kasper, Cat McIntyre and Hank Ohana

 

This program meeting was about planning program meetings for 2022. David Curley led the meeting, with questions about Audience, Content and Format. 

 

Who is our Audience?  Who are we trying to reach, how do we reach them, to develop Beloved Community? 

o   Begin with the 105 people who attended the congregational meeting that supported the Eighth Principle (amended to Covenant of Beloved Community). 

o   We don’t just want an audience—we want participation

o   Teams who have completed their accountability assessments

o   Beloved Community meeting group

o   Newcomers to BUF and/or newcomers to BUF Black Lives Matter

o   Core group of committed leaders

o   Young people, parents, elders, multi-cultural representatives

 

 

Considering the Content that participants favor:

o   Naomi found that going to an event together, like Juneteenth, was very powerful

o   Hank suggested a SURJ speaker

o   Rupert finds discussing an issue, like a recent Washington Post article, useful

o   How about focusing on a current event that affects the entire congregation, like the trials in Charlottesburg, or the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict?

o   Feedback from the participants of January anti-racism training?

o   The origins of Community Land Trusts in the American South

o   WWU History professor about the history of Blacks in Bellingham, and the 1852 treaty with Lummi Nation

o   Self-education so that we can be a resource when people have questions; e.g. about Blacks and banking, home ownership, courts, sentencing, institutional racism, dirty politics, local actions in these areas

o   Cowboys: who were they? Why is the cultural perception that they were all white?

o   Institutional change – the congregation accepting that “we won’t be a white congregation anymore” and committing to being a human community

o   Policies, practices and mentalities that support being a human community

o   Learning to be authentic, especially in leadership

o   Help people find their Next Right Step

o   Racism isn’t about Black people, it’s based in White people; don’t be “animal rights” types advocating from outside

o   Learn about BLUU and the Eighth Principle

o   Study books from Beacon Press

 

We decided to have book discussions, beginning in January and February, reading Dogwhistle Politics, by Ian Hainey Lopez in January, and The Sum of Us, by Heather McGee in February. Since the BUF book group, which meets on the third Thursday of every month, is reading McGee’s book in January, we may organize a joint meeting with the BUF book group at the end of February.

 

Format: We will hold weekly meetings every Monday at 6 pm in January and February. We need a leader and some provocative questions about Dogwhistle Politics to begin. We will discuss this at our Monday, January 3, Black Lives Matter business meeting.

 

Cat agreed to publicize the new format and meeting topics in the BUF Midweek Update, and procure weekly zoom links for January and February.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Cat McIntyre, scribe 

Co-facilitator, BUF Black Lives Matter Ministry Action Team

Minutes - Business/Planning Meeting December 6, 2021

BUF Black Lives Matter Ministry Action Team

Minutes - Business/Planning Meeting

December 6, 2021

 

Present:  Rupert Ayton, Murray Bennett, Lauralee Carbone, David Curley, Naomi Gary, Mel Hoover, Judy Kasper, Tom Kirchner, Cat McIntyre, Henry Ohana

 

1.Anti-Racism Minutes:  We discussed the changes that Rev. Barbara has requested in anti-racism minutes, beginning now until the end of her ministerial duty while Rev. Paul is on sabbatical. Though invited, Rev. Barbara did not attend the meeting.

 

We agreed to not do anti-racism minutes on December 19, and December 26. Rupert Ayton will offer a two-minute clip Joy Harjo poetry video to Su Livingston for January 2.  Cat forwarded it to Su after tonight’s meeting.  

 

December 12     Henry Ohana

January 2           2 minute Joy Harjo video  (no anti-racism speaker)

January 9           Rupert Ayton

January 23         Rose Edington

 

We would like to continue anti-racism minutes every Sunday, keeping them to two minutes. Another useful method to involve the congregation would be to have longer presentations by representatives of other groups (Community to Community, Immigrant rights, Native American connections, and/or other categories of oppression), with speakers describing their personal histories with racism and oppression.

 

Anti-racism speakers for January 16 and 30 will be enlisted at the January Black Lives Matter Ministry Action team meeting on January 3. 

 

2.Program Meeting.  David suggested a thorough review of the Black Lives Matter monthly programs to establish some continuity, engage more members of the congregation, etc. Cat sent out the link to the program meeting (Dec. 13) noting that would be the purpose of the program that night.

 

3.January Training. The first training will take place towards the end of January; Deb Cruz is renegotiating length and dates with Courtney Wooten. Most of the BUF board of trustees have signed up, as well as members from the Blaine and Mt. Vernon congregations. Training slots are mostly filled already.

 

The January 16 Sunday service, now in the planning stage, may include the Blaine and Mt. Vernon congregations. 

 

4.Rubric for Accountability Committee. The rubric report is nearly complete, with help from Mel Hoover and Rose Edington. David Curley drew this up and will present it to the BUF Operations Team on December 17. It is due to the Accountability group on January 30; will discuss this again at our next business meeting, January 3.

 

5.New facilitator(s). Cat again asked for volunteer(s) to take over her co-facilitator role by March, so that she can pass on the Black Lives Matter Ministry Action Team archives.

 

Next Program Meeting on Zoom:                    December 13, 7 pm

Next Business Planning Meeting on zoom:   January 3, 2022, 6 pm

 

Respectfully submitted

Cat McIntyre, co-facilitator

AntiRacism Minute 12/5/21 Claire Lending

 Hello, I am Claire Lending and I will talk a few minutes about my Unitarian Universalist and Antiracist journey. 

 

Many years ago, after I moved to Alabama to be a professor, I found a UU Fellowship which allowed me to relax and feel comfortable in a veryconservative place. The principles and purposes aligned with my beliefs and most of all I found a community of like-minded people. I feel so comfortable as a UU. 

 

In contrast, my antiracism journey in the last fouryears mostly makes me feel uncomfortable. I learned that almost all I know about history is through a White Supremacist lens. The more I read and listen, the more disturbing things I learn about the country I live in. 

 

Even harder for me, I realize all the White privilege I have. My education and childhood comfort came from my Father’s ability to go to college with the GI Bill (as he was White) and the fact that I was able to go to good schools due to my Whiteneighborhood. I am also an avid reader of fiction and it never occurred to me I mostly read White authors with White characters. 

 

When I close my eyes to the real world around me and the many privileges I experience because I am White, I am not living my UU values. But by opening my eyes I am using this newfound knowledge to grow. I am starting to catch up on my learning about the world. I am enjoying reading books written by Black authors. I am learning and working with others, both at BUF and at work, to try to create a more equitable society. This work and collaboration, though very new in my life, is helping me to grow as a person. Beginning this journey, even though it is uncomfortable, is fulfilling and it brings me joy.