September, 2022

While we enjoyed great success with our first event and the feedback was overwhelmingly in favor of more similar events, we have taken a step back to analyze our path and lay a foundation for future events. We want to make sure we have created a safe and productive environment where all attendees can enjoy the comfort of what we are calling a Brave Space. This is what we will refer to when we host meetings and events. A brave space encourages dialogue, honoring differences, and holding each person accountable to do the work of sharing experiences and coming to new understandings.

The leadership of Unity in the Community continue to meet and are creating a foundation from which to affect change in our community. The concepts of social justice, racial trauma, and privilege are all regularly discussed in our meetings as we continue to educate ourselves on these issues so that we may better lead the future events we host. These things take time and while we are just beginning our journey, we also have paid attention to the comments of those who attended our first event and know that we need to offer more and on a consistent basis.

We are happy to announce we have a series of four events that will begin in October. They will be led by Rosalyn Smith-Stover and take place in the new Revolutionary War Visitor Center at Camden in the Liberty Hall. 

These events will be different in nature to our original event and have limited seats for interested individuals to attend. The events will require some prior commitment and could include reading an article, listening to a podcast, or watching a video. The presenter will facilitate conversation and interactive activities around the chosen topic. This series will require a fee to attend to help offset the rental fee and for modest compensation for the leader.

We are casually referring to these events as “Third Thursdays” and the scheduled dates for these four events will be:

Thursday, October 20th                6:30pm – 8:30pm              Liberty Hall

Thursday, November 17th            6:30pm – 8:30pm               Liberty Hall

Thursday, January 19th                 6:30pm – 8:30pm               Liberty Hall

Thursday, February 16th               6:30pm – 8:30pm               Liberty Hall

We will also host another large event similar to the original event that is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, April 22nd, 2023.

Registration for these events will be available on-line as soon as we have our website up and running.

How can you help?

Please remember that you can always help promote the Unity in the Community spirit by reading books and articles that inform about a range of topics like the concepts of social justice, racial trauma, gender affirmation, and privilege. Here are some things you can do and suggested readings that you can take in and discuss with friends as you initiate your own small groups:

·       Understand your own bias. At times, without being aware of it, we sort others into automatic categories. Harvard University has developed a set of interesting online quizzes to check your own implicit biases surrounding race and other subjects. Visit implicit for more information. https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/

·       Supporting institutional, structural change could be making a list and examining the choices you make in your personal and professional life. Take note of your tendencies to include, exclude, and make people of a particular race, religion, gender, etc. a priority over another.

·       As you schedule other important things in your life, schedule time to dedicate yourself to the study of and actions you can take towards equity and inclusion.  

·       Learn ways that you can disrupt “micro-aggressions” when you witness them.

Increase Your Knowledge

Connect with others doing the work of anti-oppression, equity, learning, and un-learning.

·       Participate in workshops and classes designed around anti-oppression.

·       Support organizations committed to doing anti-oppression work.

·       Seek support from anti-oppression work practitioners to support your learning / unlearning.

Read Books and Articles

·       White Fragility | Robin Diangelo

·       How to Be an Antiracist | Ibram X. Kendi

·       My Grandmother’s Hands | Resmaa Menakem

·       Unpacking the Invisible knapsack | Peggy McIntosh

Watch a Documentary or Video

·       The Uncomfortable Truth | Loki Mulholland

·       Understanding My Privilege | Sue Borrego