Every moment we have a decision whether to create more inclusion, diversity, equity and antiracism (IDEA) or less. This 8-session course will focus on six actions that you and community partners can take to grow in building beloved community and hence create spaces of belonging and becoming.
You will learn how to have contextual brave conversations that matter, learn evidence-based strategies for bias reduction, become rooted in Theological and Wesleyan principles that undergird this work, and participate in brief spiritual practices that are designed to deepen your capacity to better build bridges, heal divisions and participate in holy reconciliation as disciples of Jesus Christ.
May we journey well together for the glory of God.
You will learn how to have contextual brave conversations that matter, learn evidence-based strategies for bias reduction, become rooted in Theological and Wesleyan principles that undergird this work, and participate in brief spiritual practices that are designed to deepen your capacity to better build bridges, heal divisions and participate in holy reconciliation as disciples of Jesus Christ.
May we journey well together for the glory of God.
Learn More
Whether you are a seasoned advocate for justice, a beginner and/or curious learner who is discerning your next faithful step, these actions will catalyze a heartset, mindset and skill set that allows you to better build bridges, heal divisions and participate in holy reconciliation.
The work and ministry of building an inclusive, diverse, equitable, beloved community that promotes antiracism isn’t separate from our discipleship but integral. It isn’t a partisan issue, but a Gospel mandate. We are not introducing new commitments. We are offering a strategic, just, relevant, intentional and adaptive framework for reclaiming who God has created us to be.
Dismantling racism or other systems of oppression can often be overwhelming and eternal. Yet, it is wholly necessary and essential. Therefore, this course seeks to replace overwhelm with inspiration and provide information and intentional practices that are doable.
Whether you are a seasoned advocate for justice, a beginner and/or curious learner who is discerning your next faithful step, these actions will catalyze a heartset, mindset and skill set that allows you to better build bridges, heal divisions and participate in holy reconciliation.
The work and ministry of building an inclusive, diverse, equitable, beloved community that promotes antiracism isn’t separate from our discipleship but integral. It isn’t a partisan issue, but a Gospel mandate. We are not introducing new commitments. We are offering a strategic, just, relevant, intentional and adaptive framework for reclaiming who God has created us to be.
Dismantling racism or other systems of oppression can often be overwhelming and eternal. Yet, it is wholly necessary and essential. Therefore, this course seeks to replace overwhelm with inspiration and provide information and intentional practices that are doable.
Registration will close on February 2nd, 2023 at 1 pm.
course outline and outcome
Schedule
You will gain:
Syllabus
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QEMrfLUuiEG-dFBO-FYnIddC5q0hT2-y/view?usp=sharing
- Orientation
- Module 1: Seeking Relationships
- Module 2: Examining our Perceptions
- Module 3: Listening for Understanding
- Module 4: Respecting Differences
- Module 5: Assuming Positive Intent
- Module 6: Growing in Cultural Humility
- Celebration and Next Steps
You will gain:
- Theological and Wesleyan Principles for Building Beloved Community via the Great Commandment, the Great Commission, UMC Constitution and Social Principles, and Wesleyan theology.
- Tools for Engaging in Brave Conversations
- Resources for understanding and reducing Implicit Bias
- IDEA Practices for becoming an Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Antiracism (IDEA) disciple of Jesus Christ.
- Resources for being an empathic leader
- An introduction to a model that helps individuals and organizations identify how to move from an monocultural mindset to a intercultural mindset that includes cultural humility.
- Information and language to better create systems of equity and spaces of belonging.
- Tools to identify your next faithful step within your context.
Syllabus
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QEMrfLUuiEG-dFBO-FYnIddC5q0hT2-y/view?usp=sharing
what are the idea practices?
IDEA stands for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Antiracism. These practices--combined with our deep identity as beloved children of God--create spaces where all are respected as sacred, worthy, equal and loved.
There are several evidence-based strategies to reduce bias. Throughout this study, we will explore at least six of them. and not necessarily in the order that Dushaw names them. This curriculum will explore the following practices.
By taking these various steps, we can begin to implement and embody behaviors that include all persons at all times, encourage diversity for the value and wealth of knowledge that comes with differences, do what is right an ensure equity and equal access is not just spoken but lived, and partake in the affirmation of race and ethnicity by being anti-racist in all of our ways.
There are several evidence-based strategies to reduce bias. Throughout this study, we will explore at least six of them. and not necessarily in the order that Dushaw names them. This curriculum will explore the following practices.
- Individuation. Take the time to learn detailed information about people who are different; or, you perceive them to be.
- Perspective Taking. Identify and practice creative ways to ‘walk in the shoes’ – metaphorically speaking – of the other or perceived other.
- Intergroup Contact. Engage in meaningful and ongoing contact across lines of difference.
- Fluency in the Language (individual/interpersonal). Become fluent in the language of race, equity and othering.
- Applies an Equity Lens – (organizational + societal). Talk about equity/racial equity (and applies an equity lens) in ways that are compelling and transformative; this includes using a “targeted universalism” framework to advance equity; and using Racial Equity Impact Assessments (or REIAs) to evaluate proposed policies; as well as using REIAs proactively to craft future policy.
- Knows the History of Race, Racism + Othering. Develop a functional understanding of the history of race + racism + other forms of othering; and practices 3 Rs -- repair, remembrance, and reimagining – as a result.
By taking these various steps, we can begin to implement and embody behaviors that include all persons at all times, encourage diversity for the value and wealth of knowledge that comes with differences, do what is right an ensure equity and equal access is not just spoken but lived, and partake in the affirmation of race and ethnicity by being anti-racist in all of our ways.
How can the podcast deepen experience
For each day of the course, we have provided a short podcast that we invite you to use as a way to start your day and keep the ideas of each week forefront in your mind, heart, and prayers. These 2-3 minutes meditative moments can help deepen our experience and capacity for this sacred work by creating time for centering, quiet and reflection. Each morning, you will receive email notifications with a link directly to the podcast content, so you will be able to access it from your email or by going into the course site on Assembly.
The podcast portion of this experience aims to tap gently on the door of the heart through daily meditations. Their forms and styles vary throughout the weeks but each podcast meditation includes breath work, chanting, imagery and affirmations. Seeking to engage the whole person, these meditative moments are first and foremost designed to be experienced, rather than analyzed. We hope that these moments will entice you, the listener, to open (ever so slightly) that unconscious and subconscious part that is needed for any true change to take root.
The podcast portion of this experience aims to tap gently on the door of the heart through daily meditations. Their forms and styles vary throughout the weeks but each podcast meditation includes breath work, chanting, imagery and affirmations. Seeking to engage the whole person, these meditative moments are first and foremost designed to be experienced, rather than analyzed. We hope that these moments will entice you, the listener, to open (ever so slightly) that unconscious and subconscious part that is needed for any true change to take root.
course design
This course has self-directed (asynchronous) content and activities as well as facilitated zoom (synchronous) conversations. Excluding the weeks for the Orientation and Celebrations & Next Steps Meetings, the course content is designed to run for 6 weeks. The purpose of our facilitated zoom time is to provide you with the opportunity to practice, connect, debrief, and go deeper in your learning with other sojourners. Each week will look a bit different depending on the topic of the week, but the essence and purpose of these live sessions remain the same: to learn and grow together in community.
Facilitated Zoom Sessions (accessed through Assembly) are held on the following dates from 7-8:30 PM ET:
*If you are unable to attend facilitated zoom sessions on Thursday nights, please contact Fathima Rifkey at [email protected] for alternative options
• Thursday, Feb 2, 2023: Orientation
• Thursday, Feb 9, 2023: Discuss Module 1: Seeking Relationships
• Thursday, Feb 16, 2023: Discuss Module 2: Examining our Perceptions
• Thursday, Feb 23, 2023: Discuss Module 3: Listening for Understanding
• Thursday, Mar 2, 2023: Discuss Module 4: Respecting Differences
• Thursday, Mar 9, 2023: Discuss Module 5: Assuming Positive Intent
• Thursday, Mar 16, 2023: Discuss Module 6: Growing in Cultural Humility
• Thursday, Mar 23, 2023: Celebration and Next Steps
Time Commitment
The time commitment is approximately 75 minutes per week. Self-directed content is designed to take about 75 minutes of your time and can be done as desired before each Zoom discussion session. This content includes a 2.5 minute daily podcast to deepen each weekly practice. Facilitated Zoom Sessions are 75 minutes.
Facilitated Zoom Sessions (accessed through Assembly) are held on the following dates from 7-8:30 PM ET:
*If you are unable to attend facilitated zoom sessions on Thursday nights, please contact Fathima Rifkey at [email protected] for alternative options
• Thursday, Feb 2, 2023: Orientation
• Thursday, Feb 9, 2023: Discuss Module 1: Seeking Relationships
• Thursday, Feb 16, 2023: Discuss Module 2: Examining our Perceptions
• Thursday, Feb 23, 2023: Discuss Module 3: Listening for Understanding
• Thursday, Mar 2, 2023: Discuss Module 4: Respecting Differences
• Thursday, Mar 9, 2023: Discuss Module 5: Assuming Positive Intent
• Thursday, Mar 16, 2023: Discuss Module 6: Growing in Cultural Humility
• Thursday, Mar 23, 2023: Celebration and Next Steps
Time Commitment
The time commitment is approximately 75 minutes per week. Self-directed content is designed to take about 75 minutes of your time and can be done as desired before each Zoom discussion session. This content includes a 2.5 minute daily podcast to deepen each weekly practice. Facilitated Zoom Sessions are 75 minutes.
