Educational Workshops and Resources

The DEI Team publicizes, and often participates in, educational workshops that make us more aware of our biases and prepare us to better engage with others. Below are some examples of current and past workshops, some of which come with resources that can be requested through the UUSG Office.

Past Offerings:

Indigenous Americans Conversation Series - Across three evenings in November 2022, we hosted a series of conversations to consider the effects of white supremacy/colonialism on Native American culture and the Earth. Theses included:

• "Culture of Conquest"
  This conversation involved a discussion of the historical context of the issues facing Indigenous Americans today. The reading material was a chapter scanned from An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, available here. (There are also copies of the book in UUSG’s library.)

• The Wellbriety Journey to Forgiveness
  This conversation involved a discussion of the legacy of boarding schools and ways in which Indigenous Americans are recovering their cultural identity. The advanced material was watching an hour-long video available here.

• Returning the Gift
  By Robin Wall Kimmerer
  This conversation involved a discussion of the ways Native American spiritual traditions inform their world view. The advance material was a 6-page essay available here. 

Beloved Conversations
A program for UUs seeking to embody racial justice as a spiritual practice. Meadville Lombard Theological School has worked to make this traditionally in-person program available online. The program focuses "Within, Among, and Beyond." Participants start by doing the personal work that we each need to do; then spend time focusing on the institutional, systemic change needed in our congregations; and finally begin working with the local community outside our congregations.

Spring 2022 Beloved Conversations Announcement:

Racial justice, and the work of self-understanding that is essential to it, is the work of a lifetime. Beloved Conversations is truly a unique antiracism program. It was designed by UUs and for UUs and has been explored by thousands of UUs at over 250 congregations across the US. For this time of pandemic, this course is fully online, so that participants can engage with others all across the country. Rev. Scot has taken this class as a student, and he has also led a cohort through it as a facilitator. Last spring, a few members of UUSG took the class. They recommend it to any UU ready to take the ideals of diversity, equity, and inclusion from the classroom out into our larger world. Taking this course is a significant statement about our shared commitment to the work of a Beloved Community, justice, and a more inclusive, welcoming, and engaged UUSG.

Beloved Conversations will also be offered virtually in the Fall of 2022, so if this Spring’s timing isn’t right, that’s fine – you can certainly catch the next class. It is Rev. Scot’s hope that over the next several seasons, a majority of our UUSG community will complete this course. What we’re looking for, with this Spring 2022 cohort, are those who are ready to step into the work now and help lead the way.

Note: there is a cost associated with this course. If that cost is a stumbling block, please reach out to the UUSG office; we are able to help. Visit here for more information about the class and to register. Registration runs from January 1 to February 22, 2022.

Difficult Conversations
An online program by facilitator and author Kern Beare
Your boss. A rude neighbor. A challenging family member. A childhood friend. A parent, partner, child. Engaging, or staying engaged, with these important figures in our daily lives can be a challenge. And when the conversation gets tough, what then? Neuroscience tells us that difficult conversations are difficult because they activate our fight/flee/freeze survival drive. In this workshop, you’ll learn about three research-based strategies that counteract this ancient survival instinct, helping us to stay present and creative in any conversation.
This is a workshop for everyone, no-prerequisite required. We’re bringing this to our community as part of our ongoing commitment to living better, together, and with more compassion and connection. All are welcome.
January 27, Feb 1 & 3, 6:00-8:30 via Zoom
Repeat of workshop from spring 2020

White Ally Toolkit
An initiative led by Dr. David Wiley Campt, helping white allies learn non-violent communication techniques to engage with others in their community on issues of race. Online workshops are periodically offered, and a number of written and video resources are available on the website.

Bystander Training

Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Chicago
Responding to anti-Asian harassment, discrimination, and attacks that have been on the rise since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hollaback!
On a mission to end harassment, in all its forms.

See-Something/Say-Something: An Antiracism Workshop
Antiracism is something we have to practice regularly. This workshop focuses on implicit bias, micro vs macro aggressions, and what we might do or say in the moment when someone crosses the line. These skills will help UUSG become a more hospitable and welcoming place to newcomers.
To request notes from the workshop, please contact the UUSG Office.