Bethel UCC established a Respond to Racism (R2R) committee, January 2021. A series of violence against people of color that occurred in the summer of 2020 (precipitated by the murder of George Floyd) demanded that we take action to confront systemic racism. Last fall, the R2R team members offered a six week class using the UCC curriculum called “White Privilege: Let’s Talk”. We also sponsored a day-long DEI Retreat for church leadership led by Carla D. Gary, JD. This column in the Highlights is provided by the R2R committee.
FROM OUR LEXICON FOR EQUITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND ACCESSIBILITY
Inclusion: Authentically bringing traditionally excluded individuals and/or groups into processes, activities and decision/policy making in a way that shares power. Inclusion promotes broad engagement, shared participation, and advances authentic sense of belonging through safe, positive, and nurturing environments. Inclusion is key to eliminating systemic inequality.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
An Evening with Slam Poet Alex Dang
Thursday, May 11 | 6:30-8 PM
Beaverton Main Library, Meeting Rooms A & B
Alex Dang is a poet from Portland. A former TEDx speaker, Dang competed at the National Poetry Slam, was a Portland and Eugene Poetry Slam grand slam champion, and has performed in seven countries. He has strong opinions about burgers and wants to know what your favorite song is. His performance - followed by a writing workshop for attendees - will focus on his identity, the different ways he sees himself, and how that may or may not align with the way the world perceives him. No advanced sign-up is necessary.
Voices from the Our City, Our Stories Project
Thursday, May 25 | 6:30-8 PM
Beaverton Main Library, Auditorium
Our City, Our Stories: An Expanded History of Beaverton focuses on how Beaverton has been
shaped by the experiences and stories of those who have lived, worked, or passed through this city. Hear the voices of some of the current-day individuals featured in the project during this interactive panel discussion with the researchers. Learn about how the city and Five Oaks Museum are working together to expand Beaverton’s narrative, why it matters, and how we’re redefining whose stories are considered history. No advanced sign-up is necessary.
Monday, May 22, 6:30pm
Save the date! Lake Oswego Respond to Racism, Lake Oswego Public Library, and
Lakewood Center for the Arts present a free showing of Vanport Mosaic’s “Walking through Portland with a Panther: The Life of Mr. Kent Ford. All Power!” – a solo play by Don Wilson Glenn, directed by Damaris Webb, and featuring La’Tevin Alexander. The play celebrates the life of Mr. Kent Ford, co-founder of Portland’s chapter of the ’60s-era black empowerment organization, and it incorporates archival footage and storytelling to understand the legacy of local resistance, rediscover lost neighborhoods where the Panthers used to patrol, and learn the intimate makings of unsung leaders of protest andrevolution.
This play is offered free of charge, but ticket reservations are required CLICK HERE to reserve your tickets.
RESOURCES FOR EXPLORING THE TOPIC OF RACISM
Bethel staff and the R2R committee, with the help of folks who attended our DEI retreat, have put together listings of resources for those who are interested in exploring the topic of racism. This week we are sharing the listing of Books and Articles.
The link is:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1qJucuat1Vr9ODV07q8RBLP9EbBwC1U715WOPVDsPZOk