Edited by author 09-28-2004 12:40 PM
Hello everyone! Welcome to the WTC partners bulletin board.
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You can post a message here by clicking on the orange button that says "post a new message."

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address the message just to me, or just send me the file as an attachment via email and I'll take care of the rest! My email address is: claudia@thewtc.org

Looking forward to stimulating, exciting, thought-provoking
discussion with all of you!

Hi, Everyone,

Isn't this great! Just a reminder that there will be another great talk at 38 Cameron this Wednesday. It's by the founder of World Cafe, Juanita Brown. For details go to: www.38cameron.com. Katsuko is thinking of gong and wants to know if anyone else is (I think I have a conflict).

Donna

Thank you, Claudia, for preparing this meeting place.

You're most welcome!

Claudia

You wrote:

> From: QuickTopic daily digest <qtopic+27-yMYqZNNXb8t@quicktopic.com>
> To: claudia@thewtc.org
> Date: 18 Oct 2004 04:06:10 -0000
> Subject: WTC Partners
>
>
< replied-to message removed by QT >

Hi everyone!
Topic: revising the curriculum

Just wanted you to know that Judy Tso has done an amazing job of writing up a first draft of a trainers' manual for LFS. Thank you Judy!

Donna, Claudia and I have gone through the curriculum making revisions -- Judy's manual was really helpful for anchoring the changes. It has been an enlivening process.

Claudia and I are also going to try to pull together two Power Point presentations that can be used to walk people through the presentations about Spiritual Leadership and about states of consciousness. We are hoping to have them be visually beautiful as well as aid the participants in taking in the information in more of a step-at-a-time approach. The handouts give the whole picture at once -- which can be hard to follow. So we're breaking it down.

Of course, this means we'll need computers and projectors -- but I believe we have access to what we need.

Claudia will be incorporating changes to Judy's draft of the trainers' manual. Hopefully, it will be in shape to share with you all soon.

Topic: Bios and Photos

We have not yet received a bio from most of you -- that is a 75 word blurb about yourself.

We recognize that some guidance here might be helpful. Emily swung by yesterday to pick up some postcards and flyers and asked about what she should include in her bio. Should we include educational credentials, for example, and how might that play out in terms of the rank accorded to different "credentials" in dominant culture?

Does it make sense for us each to decide what it is we want others to know about us that would help them understand why we are doing this work with WTC? What inspires us, what experience do we bring to it, what about who we are -- our purpose -- leads us to this work at this time?

Please jump in with your own questions and comments. This message is meant to spark conversation on this topic -- not to limit possibility.

Meck

Topic: registration

I believe you already know, that we didn't get enough people signed up for the November 4 and 5 offering of LFS.

At the moment, registration for the others is as follows:
LFS 2 - Nov 12/13 - 7 registrants
LFS 3 - Nov 20/21 - 8 registrants
LFS 4 - Dec 10/11 - 2 registrants

A WTC member just offered to send $225 as a scholarship toward a non-member coming who can't afford the cost. If you know of someone who would love to come but can't pay for it, let us know. Perhaps we can split this amount up and offer a reduction to more than one person.

Topic: Photos

Oops -- I forgot to mention something about Photos. We would love to post your photo with your bio -- but that means we need a photo. If you already have a digital photo that you can send as an email attachment, please do. If not, please send us a photo that we can scan and drop in (we will give you the photo back). Thanks!!!

This message board is great! I really feel like WTC is "moving on up"! About the training scholarship, I think my co-worker who wants to come to the training could use a full or partial scholarship. Should I ask her to call you?

Hello all, here's the self-assessment/reflection statements. If you are reworking one of them, please leave a trail for others (e.g. "to re-word Cultural #3 ..."), thanks! And keep that advertising going! Make sure everyone that should be attending a training knows about it!

GIFTS OF THE INTERNAL
1. I love and accept myself as I am
2. I know what I am feeling and what my feelings are telling me
3. I investigate my own assumptions
4. I am aware of the rank and/or power I have within the various contexts I find myself
5. I know what my purpose is
6. I stay centered through chaos and upheaval
7. I know that who I am is not determined by something or someone outside me
8. I approach the world with a spirit of abundance knowing that I always have what I need
9. I know what my gifts are
10. I know that I am not separate from anything
GIFTS OF THE INTERPERSONAL
1. I love and accept others as they are
2. I know when to encourage others to change and when to step back
3. I am not invested in how or when others change
4. I am able to put myself in someone else's shoes
5. I am able to stand up for myself without putting others down
6. I encourage and inspire others to identify and share their gifts
7. I am able to help others find ways to explore their situation for meaning, learning and growth
8. I am willing to engage in conflict creatively
9. I ask questions rather than interpret others' behaviors
10. I use my rank purposefully and beneficially
GIFTS OF THE INSTITUTIONAL / STRUCTURAL
1. I am aware of how policies and procedures effect all members of organizations and institutions I am part of
2. I do whatever I can to help make the values of organizations and institution apparent to themselves
3. I help create environments within organizations and institutions where people can learn, grow, and receive what they need to flourish and succeed
4. I create environments that support individuals within organizations and institutions to offer their gifts
5. I help create environments within organizations and institutions in which each individuals' gifts can be received, embraced, and put in the service of the mission of the organization / institution
6. I use my power, resources and gifts to help the organizations and institutions I am part of clarify and stay focused on their mission
7. I am able to assess what barriers stand in the way of organizations and institutions living out their mission
8. I am able to assess whether policies and practices within organizations and institutions serve to support the Spiritual Leadership of the organization / institution and its stakeholders
9. I accept things within organizations and institutions as they are and understand that every situation is a gift that contains the possibility for growth and transformation
10. I use my power, resources, and gifts within organizations and institutions to lift up the gifts that present themselves within differences of culture, class, ability, etc.
GIFTS OF THE CULTURAL
1. I love my People and accept us as we are
2. I do whatever I am able to raise awareness among my People of our connection to other Peoples
3. I connect with others despite our differences
4. I am committed and able to increase the voice and participation of diverse and sometimes conflicting individuals or collaborators
5. I work for the liberation of both the oppressed and the oppressor
6. I honor those whose shoulders I and my accomplishments stand on
7. I act in consideration of the well being of future generations
8. I do not project onto other cultures either what I particularly like or dislike about them. Rather, I claim these aspects in my own culture and seek either to cultivate or transform them.
9. I am able to discern when it is necessary to risk (sacrifice) my own well being for something greater than myself
10. I stay conscious of the contradictions within and across different perceptions of reality and I work for their co-existence

Hi all,

A thought on the numbering system for the self-inventory
(used to be self-assessment):

1- never
2- infrequently
3- sometimes
4- frequently
5- consistently

This gives people an opportunity to consider the number
score as a matter of frequency rather than absolutes.
The "marking" can still be an addition of points, but if
we add the total and divide by the number of questions in
that section (internal, etc.), then there's an overall
number that corresponds to the frequency of a way of being or behavior, rather than just an absolute number. The questions would have to be phrased accordingly...

Hope that makes sense.

Claudia

Hi, Everyone,

I've been thinking a lot since the election about the question Jacqui's been asking us "what field should WTC focus on and try to impact". I really have a sense that the election is going to have a huge impact on how the rest of my little life goes and I know that whatever we do should be grounded in young people. We need to be a part of " the values and meaning" discussion as it is being communicated for and by them. I think we should focus on education for transformation---and come to deeper understandings of what that means for us. I suggest we start where we did with the Spirit in Leadership program--with adults and youth committed to education. I think the work on transformation is right on target.

Margo Adair --who has is part of our sister organization Tools for Change--sent me this article

http://www.cwsworkshop.org/pdfs/CARA/AOYP/...oral_Imperative.PDF

I'd love to know your thoughts on this article and any ideas about how we might take Leading from Spirit to the education field.

Love,
Donna

Hi all,

Jacqui reminded me that I had volunteered to start a discussion on the "target audiences" or focus of the
WTC/partners' future work. What we have discussed is
that we could make a more effective impact, and also
have more opportunities for funding, if we have a specific
population or arena where we direct our work. For example,
we could focus on young people,women of color, or
low-income families; or the national political agenda (ahem!), day care, education, etc.

My own take on this since the recent elections would be
that given the WTC's/our orientation to values and purpose,
we could link spiritual leadership to political empowerment among under-represented/disenfranchised populations, and to influencing the national conversation. Why
should the Right have the franchise on moral values?

Before now, I would not have gone in this direction in
a million years. But I feel the need to act - in a non-reactive way, but still to act.

Claudia

Hi again!

I'm trying to do two things--have a conversation AND learn to use this discussion space.

First, I want to thank Lisa for her message. (can't wait to see you, Lisa!)

Secondly, I want to say I agree with Claudia on the possible focus but I'm not sure how it gets framed as an area/field. And I think the connection to young people and education is atill important--can they be combined? Today I went to a good talk by a woman who was talking about the "achievement/oopportunity gap" (or whatever!) and Latino youth. In the discussion following her talk fascinating concerns about their ( the youth's) sense of belonging and the values that keep mainstream U.S. from seeing their well-being as important were raised. I thought there was a lot we (WTC/S.L.) could do to affect that struggle. There ended up what I've recently come to see as a polarization among "progressive people" between the call for personal responsibility and the demand to addressing systemic racism and other systemic oppression. I think the spiritual leadership model can help remind people that these need not be at odds and should in fact to work together.

Did you have a chance to read the Pharr articleI sent? What do you think?

My last question is about how you use this discussion tool. I wanted to start a new topic called Focus and Impact (or something like that) to continue this conversation that Claudia and I have started. Can this program do that? Can it eventually thread everything under that topic? Not sure of the uses of this. Help!

Donna

P.S. Would love to hear from more people on this topic!!

Hello all. Just some questions about recent posts. The term "young people" has now been used a few times, so I'd like to ask those who have used it to clarify who you're talking about. In thinking of how young people can be involved in this training or linked work, it makes a big difference if we're talking about people under 12, people under 18, people in their early 20s, etc. Wanting to understand people's visions a bit better . . .

Also, the new evaluation questions are good; thank you to the writers. Writers- I'm wondering what your thoughts were about throwing out most of the parallel structures found in the original version. It seems like a big change, I'm just wondering how you all came to it.

Happy posting,
Marjorie

Hi everyone --

As you can tell from the comments by participants of last weekend's Leading from Spirit training, the training was well received and went very well. It also taught Donna and me LOTS more about what needs to be held in consciousness and tended as we proceed. The curriculum itself is strong. Attending to the process of delivering it is ongoing deep work. I hope partners who were there this time will share how they experienced it, what they saw as needing to be adapted, what they learned, etc. Just a reminder to all of you that it would be great for there to be discussion on this I notice that Marjorie just posted some questions and comments -- lets activate conversations there.

There are 12 people signed up for this weekend's training. Please keep Gladys, the group and me in your thoughts and prayers this weekend as we engage in LFS 3! The reports about last weekend's training are so far all glowing. People are very happy with the information and the affirmation that the training provides them. It resonates with people's hearts, minds, and souls.

And there are at least 10 people signed up for the December weekend! But keep spreading the word.

LFS (OVERVIEW) TRAININGS IN 2005
As Jacqui has already suggested, we need schedule trainings beyond December. Donna and I propose the following. Your feedback and indication of availability as trainers would be appreciated:

LFS - 5 - on the MLK weekend -- specifically Sunday night the 16th from 7 to 9 and Monday of the holiday from 9 to 5. This may not be a good idea. Please consider and let us know your thoughts about scheduling a training then.

LFS - 6 - this one would be co-sponsored with the Girls' Coalition (GC) and be offered (though not limited to) women/men who serve girls. We're looking at Thursday, February 10 (3 to 5) and Friday, 11 (9 to 5). That makes it possible for those who can't do weekend work to come during the week. We'll hear back soon from Katie Wheeler at the GC about whether or not those dates seem good for them.

LFS - 7 - Friday April 1 (7 to 9) and Saturday April 2 (9 to 5)

Twell as the trainings yet to be developed -- eg. the one on each dimension -- is a piece of work that is going to require some planning and thought. However, perhaps the place to begin is with choosing a date for the next three -- let's say one a month: January, February, March. To do that, we need to know what YOUR schedules are like. Any thoughts about whether we figure that out face-to-face or just use email?

LFS (DIMENSIONS) TRAININGS
As soon as we can, we need to develop the trainings for the four dimensions of spiritual leadership. So far, we have a very strong beginning to a training for the INTERNAL and another for the INTERPERSONAL. We need help developing all of these and plans need to be made for doing this work -- as well as scheduling trainings.

LFS OUT-OF-BOSTON
We also want to begin taking the training to other cities as soon as we can begin doing that. We would begin that process by speaking to WTC members in other parts of the country and developing those networks and relationships. We need help there as well.

Obviously, there's plenty to do. LET'S MEET. Please let me know ALL of the following dates for which you are available to meet with the partners' group:

Tuesday, November 30 - 3 to 6 PM
Tuesday, November 30 - 6 to 9 PM
Wednesday, December 8 - 6 to 9 PM
Tuesday, December 21 - 3 to 6 PM
Tuesday, December 21- 6 to 9 PM
Wednesday, December 22 - 3 to 6 PM
Wednesday, December 22 - 6 to 9 PM

I'm going to post this on the message board as well.

Meck

Thanks for your note, Marjorie. I miss seeing you!

I don't think I'm clear yet when I say "young people". As you may know, the spiritual leadership work started to get more concrete when WTC did a collaboration with the Massachusetts School Age Coalition called "Spirit in Leadership" that was designed to support and develop the leadership of people of color in the after school field. It was not designed for youth specifically but focused on those who "worked with' young people-- adults and youth peer leaders were the desired target group although in fact, it was just about all adults.

We also had a fledgling program called Taking Wing that tried to do similar work with women and peer leaders of African descent who work with children and youth of African descent. Again that has been put on hold in a big way but I think it contributed greatly to the development of this work.

So--- we could continue in that direction. Attempting to target educators--adult and peer--of young people as a way to impact the field of education by supporting spiritual leadership development in that field.

Another way to go is to focus on young people (say 13-30) in their spiritual leadership development as a way to impact the youth development field.

Another focus we could have is some sort of cross-generational work that looks at say "education for a sustainable future for humanity"--really targeting developing the spiritual leadership of U.S. people (we need it!) as a way of impacting the blue-red divide.

There are so many possiblities and I welcome others. It's totally in the air and the sooner we can come to some agreement the sooner we can start writing grants to get this off the ground which is crucial for WTC's immediate survival.

I hope you'll all start to weigh in on this. It'd be great to have something in time to start seeking support before the end of the year.

Donna

P.S. I'm sending this on the list-serve and on emai. Please let's start using the list serve (though we may change it at some point to get one that does more things!)

I just read Donna's email. I've not figured out yet how I get into the list serve but Donna made it easy by including it in her email.

Spiritual leadership and what WTC has to offer is very much in the "education" field. I do believe we need to put energy into "younger" people. Here in Over-the-Rhine many folks are always asking those of us in the progressive movement, what are you doing to involve more young people. We have seen young as being from 18-30 range. I think if the training was to go to younger than that age, we'd have to rewrite it. I think we have not done well with that generation of people. The voter turnout in that range was not as big as expected.

It's exciting to know all the work you've been doing.

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Hi all,
I wanted to share my experience and review of the Leading From Spirit training on Nov 13. I want to commend Donna and Meck for being IN the training with us, rather than standing outside of it as "trainers" perfectly formed and delivering the curriculum to us. They were beautiful, wonderful and real in both the breakdowns and the breakthroughs and how they were being about it all really made a difference.

Other great stuff about the training:
- the introductions with the ancestor cards worked great
- the garland of fingers story was terrific and had us get to the essence of spiritual leadership almost effortlessly
- good review of ground rules and good rules/ guidelines
- i've used the 3 types of leadership distinction as part of sharing what this work it and it is really easy to remember and very effective
- the power point on spiritual leadership was gorgeous, clear, simple and powerfully conveyed its message. good job!
- the states of consciousness (the egg to butterfly transformation metaphor) needs some work to make it smoother but I thought it was still effective in conveying the various states of being and their nature.
- the workshop has a subtle power that I still feel unfolding oh so quietly. i like it. i like it.

Here are my observations
About the ground rules, a few thoughts on follow through
- Actually have a sheet of paper that is the "parking lot" so participants know things can go there. It can be on the wall, even if it remains blank.
- I think going around in the circle to speak actually pressures people to speak, despite the guideline that "we respect your right to pass." It takes courage to pass in a circle if someone doesn't do it early and show it is OK. This is and isn't a minor point. I think the participants are social change agents and are fine with speaking, making this a non-issue. At the same time, we promised to allow it but aren't fully creating the means to do so. I would suggest inviting people to respond to questions and share, in what ever order they do so. If there is a lull and more folks to go, one can say "anyone else?" or "let's wait a few more minutes to see if anyone else will like to share before we move on to the next activity."
- I'm not sure what to do about the falling off-schedule piece, which is quite normal especially with lunch. Two suggestions, make lunch 1.5 hours to allow for chatting at the beginning of break and making plans, travel, bathroom, calls, etc and hand out a list of quick, close lunch places. Keep the schedule the same but add an extra hour at the end so there is a one-hour flexible time cushion. If we finish early, great. If things run behind, there is some time to catch-up. Also, perhaps suggest people plan to arrive 15-30 minutes early in the morning so they have time to go to the rest room, get coffee and still settle in by 9am.
- I am happy to host people who have long commutes. Two hours is really a kicker to travel in for a training. It's just one night and I am 30-40 minutes away by the T.

On to substance. On the powerpoint on spiritual leadership
- can you add a screen that plasters the earth with positive, loving things that is comparable to the negative plastering that occurs earlier in the presentation?
- the presentation was great but there wasn't really a discussion or a way for folks to participate in all the issues raised. it took on a bit of a lecture quality. people could observe from a distance but not fully engage or relate to their own lives how this has played out and how spiritual leadership furnishes an alternative.
suggestions: What if the exercise that followed was in the sphere of Systemic Racism? Or if an exercise in personal transformation came after the self-assessment tool (maybe journal to self), then the powerpoint, then a reflection on systemic racism as we have experienced it? Or a discussion of the systemic racism presentation followed by the group (or small groups) filling in the circles on another "ism" and how it works and the challenges to transformation.
- Clearly the boardwork (and future powerpoint?) for the Johari box will be refined. I think the way of writing/drawing this up and the colors used should be systematic so the final product is really clear. For example, use red for that side of the box that keeps changing to reflect the stage of transformation. Or use 4 different colors, especially if you layer all the changes on the same box. Some preparation on what the final picture should look like could make the process of doing so during the training a little smoother.

p17 - On the small group exercise, some groups did not answer the questions. Also it seemed there may be an opportunity to step back and see what lessons cut across the groups and the 4 areas of transformation. Each group presented its work but there wasn't much of a conversation about what this all meant.

The discussions of systemic racism and the johari box were the only two places where the information was terrific but I felt a bit like an observer. Is there any way to create a more visceral experience or participatory exercise to go along with the presentation. The exercise after the Johari box may be fine. It really may be not feeling like the exercise after the SL presentation has us tackle systemic racism.

The instructions for the paired exercise p22 = I found the series of and/or, could/might, you or your group a bit confusing. I had to work too hard to figure out all the options and which one applied to me.

Comments overheard -- why the clapping exercise; wished the weekend left them with more "tools" they could take back to the office.

Could you announce that 4 more trainings in each of the 4 areas of SL are being developed? I had no idea. Others may think that there is no where else to go with this rather powerful model that you have opened up.

OK. Those are my thoughts. Again, the training is incredibly powerful, crisp and clear and reflects an impressive amount of intellectual and spiritual creativity. I am honored to be a part of this work and to share in this journey with all of you. Best, Alethia

Dear Alethia,
Thanks so much for your thoughtful review! Your questions are very helpful (and your feedback is so encouraging!)

Will write back on this shortly. I LOVE hearing from people on the discussion board (hint, hint!)

Donna

P.S.This is my news article for the day: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=271501

It shows how much work there is to do! We have to get very busy!

Hi, Everyone,

We had a great meeting last night--it was so ggod to see everyone. We missed those of you who weren't able to make it.

Meck and I will be away until January 3rd. I wanted to leave you with a few things I found. One is a wonderful statement of principles for "faith-based organizing". inspired by last night's meeting, Meck and I were talking about having a big gathering on faith-based social justice so we're just trying to begin a conversation about what that means to us. I thought these principles were a good start (http://www.catholiclabor.org/gen-art/Quigley-1.htm).

Also, below is a wonderful speech written by the director of a WTC sister organization called Leaven. Hope you enjoy it. Meanwhile, have a wonderful holiday and thank you for your part in our collective labor of love!

Love,
Donna

The End of Safety
Address given at a gathering of representatives
from progressive United Methodist organizations
© Melanie Morrison
October 15, 2004 ~ Chicago, Illinois

the question for you is
what have you ever traveled toward
more than your own safety?
    – Lucille Cliffton

 As I pondered what I wanted to say this morning, to my surprise there was a verse from Genesis that kept surfacing and staying with me: What God hath joined together, let no one put asunder. Aware that I am plucking that phrase from its original context, I want to use it as one of the lenses for our conversation this morning. Because it is my experience that we are contending with centrifugal forces at work in our world, in our churches, in our movements for social change, and in our very bodies – forces that are threatening to pull us asunder; forces demanding that we give allegiance to this group and not that; to this identity and not that. Forces that urge us to rank oppressions and causes, declaring some more important than others.
 I experienced these forces at work recently when I visited a predominantly white, local United Church of Christ congregation as part of the steering committee for an organization called Word & World – a school for faith-based activists that is designed as a national-local collaboration in different regions of the country that seeks to bridge the sanctuary, the seminary, and the streets. There are plans underway for a week-long Word & World school in Memphis next August that will focus on the labor movement and issues of economic and racial justice. Memphis has been chosen as the site of this school because of its historic significance as the place where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated as he lived out his solidarity with the poor by joining the labor struggle of the Memphis sanitation workers. And because the city is one of the poorest in the nation.
 The pastor was initially enthusiastic about my visit. We have a friend in common and the pastor has known of my work within the UCC in the area of human sexuality. However, as I described the work of Word & World and the focus of the Memphis school in particular, I could tell that the pastor’s enthusiasm was waning. He suggested I come ahead and participate in worship, but he indicated he was having some second thoughts about my making an announcement about the Memphis school. “It is so far in the future. People in our church don’t plan that far into the future.”
 When I arrived at the church, the pastor saw me, greeted me enthusiastically, and said he wanted me to meet one of the leaders of the church who is a gay man. “The LGBT study group here at the congregation has been reading your book. He will be thrilled to meet you!” Then the pastor went on to say, “I don’t think it makes much sense for you to talk about Word & World. Today is the anniversary of Matthew Shepherd’s death. Tomorrow is National Coming Out Day. I would like to introduce you as a leader for sexual justice within the UCC and it would be so nice if you could congratulate this congregation for being open and affirming. Why don’t we just leave it at that?” I responded that I would be happy to greet the congregation, expressing gratitude for their explicit welcome of LGBT people, but that I also intended to talk about the Memphis school and invite them to participate in it.
 I don’t know for sure why the pastor had decided it was ill-advised for me to talk about Word & World and the Memphis school. It may be that he didn’t want me to “muddy the waters” by naming issues of racial justice on a day when the focus was supposed to be sexual justice. After the service, I told the pastor that I could not adequately represent Word & World or myself without addressing both racism and homophobia. I told him that if he and I, as white people, are outspoken about sexual justice and silent about racism, we reinforce the illusion that racism is a “people of color issue” and sexual justice is a “white issue” and in both cases we render lgbt people of color invisible.
 During worship that day, I remembered a conversation earlier that week with an activist friend from Detroit who had told me how utterly demoralized she had become in her efforts to enlist support in the African American church community for the defeat of Proposition 2 – a proposition that would amend the Michigan constitution to define marriage as strictly between a man and a woman and would cut off all funds to organizations or universities that have domestic partner benefits. My friend, who has lived and worked for years in Detroit, said that she knew of no black clergy person in Detroit who was willing to step forward in public opposition to Proposition 2. There may, indeed, be African American pastors who have been vocal in their opposition, but she had not yet encountered any and some of the pastors she deeply respects for their unceasing commitment to racial and economic justice, had said to her that lgbt issues are “white issues” and that speaking out against Proposition 2 might “muddy the waters” and detract from more important issues within the black community. Another splitting; another gesture that pulls us asunder, another way of rendering LGBT people of color invisible.
 Both of these incidents in turned caused me to ruminate on an experience that occurred a couple years ago in my then home-town of Lansing, Michigan. The city council was considering adding sexual orientation to the city’s civil rights ordinance and I had gone to a public hearing to testify in support of the ordinance. I identified myself as a Christian and an ordained minister; something I felt called to do when I discovered that, without exception, every person who spoke in opposition to the ordinance that evening was invoking God and the Bible in their condemnation of homosexuality.
 When I gathered with some friends at a local restaurant after the hearing, I was struck by the vehemence and selectivity of their anger at the opposition. My friends were white; the majority of people who spoke out at the hearing in opposition to the ordinance were white; but my friends’ anger was focused on the black clergy: “How could they do that? They, of all people, should know about discrimination! There is so much homophobia in the black church!” I remember being struck by the selectivity of this anger and by the fact that the only people who were being marked racially in our conversation were African Americans. My friends were not speaking of the other clergy opponents as white clergy. They were not raging against the homophobia rampant in white churches nor asking how white racism and homophobia reinforce each other. The white clergy were generically lumped together as “clergy” or “the opposition.” And, by default, they were being held to a different standard. This, too, is an all too common splitting; a racialization of the issue, and a means of tearing us asunder.
 I am deeply grateful to be in the company of all of you who have signed the Common Witness statement issued at General Conference 2004 because I hear in the words and the spirit of this document your intention to resist this splitting and false naming of the issues, the responses, and our very lives. I hear you boldly declaring, “What God hath joined together, let no one put asunder.” I am heartened by Common Witness because it is not a sentimental or superficial call for Christian unity that seeks to submerge our unique and diverse histories and identities. Rather it affirms that we can be different and not divided.
 Most of all, I am inspired by the fact that you are not satisfied with simply issuing another statement – eloquent as it is. That you have called this gathering today as a first step in asking: how does this statement convict those of us who have signed it? How will we walk the walk and not just talk the talk? It is tempting to issue statements that we hope will shine a bright light on the other side’s moral failings and expose their inherent contradictions. It is quite another thing to shine that light on ourselves and to ask: How are we found wanting in light of the words we speak and the faith we espouse? What are the contradictions inherent in our own organizations? What is our work?
 When Joe and Kathryn invited me to lead this morning’s session, I heard them say, in so many words: we want to shine the light of the first “we believe” upon our lives and our organizations in such a way that it both convicts us and emboldens us: We believe in a church that passionately works for racial justice. With that declaration of faith ringing in our ears, we are invited to engage in an honest and searching self-inventory – in which these questions are central: How do we hold ourselves accountable to the covenant we have made? How do we enact our passionate work for racial justice over time in a largely white church and in predominantly white organizations? What does it mean – tangibly and concretely – to passionately work for racial justice where we live, work, and worship?
 I believe we have the rare and awesome opportunity to do some strenuous, hard, and exhilarating work together in the next few hours and in the time to come. If we will. That will only happen if we are strong and vulnerable enough to bring our whole selves to this sacred task. In doing so, we always take the risk of having what is precious to us bruised or misunderstood. But we enter this time remembering the pledge to listen to one another with open minds and open hearts and to speak respectfully to one another with love, especially when we disagree.
 We will need to be strong and vulnerable enough to share what we know from our particular places on the margins as women in a sexist world, or as gay men, lesbians, and bisexual people in a heterosexist world, or as people of color in a racist world, or as transgender people in a transphobic world. We will also need to be strong and vulnerable enough to acknowledge that many of us are on the margins of some communities and at the center of others because most of us are, in one way or another, recipients of unearned privilege as well as targets of oppression.
 For example, I stand before you as a lesbian and a woman who is, by reason of my gender and my sexual orientation, often relegated to the margins of church and society. I also stand here as a white able-bodied person. Those identities accord me privilege and a proximity to centers of power within church and society that people of color and people with disabilities do not enjoy. Part of my work as a white person in this racist world is to be asking, in every situation, every encounter: how is my white skin privilege keeping me from seeing what I need to see, understanding what I need to understand, and doing what I need to do?
 As a white person, part of my work in this world and in my church is to take great care with the assumptions I make and with the words I use and especially to work at not presuming to speak for all lesbians or all women. Because that is what people with privilege do again and again. We talk in universals as though we represent the norm and we thereby render invisible the lives, cultures, and experiences of people different from us.
 So, let’s take care with our language this morning and instead of referring to the LGBT community, for example, let’s pause and ask ourselves and each other: which LGBT community? Contrary to popular opinion, we who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender are not part of a culture. There is no such thing as the LGBT community. What gets mistaken for the LGTB community is a white, financially secure, more-able-to-be-out-and-visible group of LGBT people. In reality, we are many races, many classes, many cultures, many communities. We are, indeed everywhere, but we are often separated from each other by racism, ableism, and classism.
 As a white woman who identifies as a feminist, I need to bring the same kinds of self-critical questions and the same spirit of humility and deep listening, acknowledging that racism and classism profoundly divide women in this country, and within our churches, from each other. I believe this Common Witness document calls us to do some incredible work together. If we will. If we dare to be strong and vulnerable enough to examine the complexities and contradictions that we bear in our own bodies and in our movements for social justice. If we dare to be strong and vulnerable enough not to use our privilege to protect ourselves against deeper knowing or use our particular experience of oppression as a defense against examining the ways we may be oppressing others. In the early eighties, Audre Lorde addressed a largely white feminist women’s conference and she posed these searing questions that we here may also take to heart:
What woman here is so enamored of her own oppression that she cannot see her heel print upon another woman’s face? What woman’s terms of oppression have become precious and necessary to her as a ticket into the fold of the righteous, away from the cold winds of self-scrutiny?

 To become an anti-racist, inclusive church, we need to be prepared for the cold winds of self-scrutiny to blow into every corner of our lives – those corners where we seek release from our oppressors and those corners where we may discover our oppressive heel print upon the face of others.
 It is deeply troubling to me when I honestly reflect on my own history of activism over the past thirty-five years. In the late sixties and early seventies, anti-racism work was a priority in my life. Then, in my mid-twenties, I became involved in feminist organizations, in my mid-thirties in peace and anti-nuclear organizations, and, later yet, lesbian and gay organizations. These organizations had predominantly white leadership and constituency. It is troubling for me to acknowledge that my involvement in those movements and organizations led me away from, rather than deeper into, anti-racism work and activism. I am not placing blame on others; I take responsibility for my own part in this history. Nevertheless, it is something I need to examine more deeply. This personal history helps me understand why some people of color feel skeptical about the gay and lesbian movement and why some of them see it as a diversion or a "white agenda." We can protest vehemently and angrily insist that this is not true. But unless our personal lives and our organizational priorities reflect a sustained commitment to anti-racism work, our defense does not hold water.
 Sharon Martinas, a white anti-racist activist, said something that has haunted me ever since I read it: "When [white people] organize against our own oppression, but not against our privilege – that is, against the oppression of people of color, we become oppressors of people of color."(2) What does it mean to organize – in the MFSA, the Reconciling Movement Network, or On Fire – against white skin privilege, against the oppression of people of color? What would these organizations look like if we who are white cared as passionately about eliminating white racism as we do about eliminating homophobia and sexism?
 To organize against white skin privilege means, first of all, a willingness to have the world as we have known it altered. As James Baldwin put it: "Any real change implies the breakup of the world as one has always known it...the end of safety." For white people to wake up to how we have unconsciously benefitted from racism is painful work. It requires that we develop an elasticity of spirit so that when we suddenly see what we had not seen before, we do not retreat into a defensive posture or feel undone by shame and embarrassment, but find the grace to say: "I see now why that remark or that behavior or that program was racist. I see now...and seeing, I want to do it differently."
 I don't know about you, but admitting I'm wrong and feeling exposed are two things I don't do very gracefully! However, I am learning that the world does not end when I am challenged by people of color or other white people to confront my acts of racist commission or omission; when I am called to account for thoughtless gestures or the presumption that I can speak for everyone. I am also learning more about my own humanity and the grace of forgiving myself and others when we make mistakes and fail.
 Many of the social justice organizations I have been affiliated with are predominantly white and most have a stated desire to become multiracial and multicultural. Unfortunately, that desire usually gets arrested at the stage of asking: “why aren't there more people of color in our organization? What can we do to reach out to people of color?” Or the efforts at becoming multiracial/multicultural get stuck at the level of recruiting a couple board members of color or hiring a staff person of color to "represent" their constituencies. It is not often that I have known a predominantly white organization to have, as part of its core mission and purpose, the dismantling of white racism. Too rarely have I experienced predominantly white organizations asking themselves: what would this organization look like if the needs, concerns, insights, and gifts of people of color were central rather than marginal? Too rarely have I known predominantly white organizations to engage in the regular practice of sending representatives to the meetings or conferences of people of color organizations so that they might learn about the issues and concerns and agendas of those communities.
 None of our organizations can become truly inclusive organizations without a long-term, (actually never-ending) commitment to acknowledging, analyzing, and confronting white racism. If the needs, concerns, insights, and gifts of people of color are to move from the margins to the center of our organizational life, those of us who are white may need to get out of the way, step back, relinquish control, learn how to share power, listen more, and talk less. It will mean shifting the questions from: Where are they? Why aren't they here? to: Where are we? Why aren't we there? Why aren't we actively making connections with communities of color and finding out what the political, social, theological, and economic priorities are in those communities? It will mean working collaboratively with organizations that are led by and for people of color. And that kind of collaborative work is hard. It has to be learned through trial and error. Many of us are novices at working collaboratively with anyone, much less with people of other cultures, ethnicities, and races where there are centuries of mistrust and misunderstanding between us.
 Let me share a personal story. Those who work with me know that I can be driven at times, rather perfectionistic, with strong convictions about how and when things ought to be done. I tend to think the shortest and best route to getting a project accomplished well is to do it myself. The commitment that I have made in the last few years to become an anti-racist ally directly challenges every one of these personal and cultural characteristics of mine. This became abundantly clear to me a few years ago when an African American United Methodist colleague, Rev. Lynnette Stallworth, and I decided to co-facilitate a seminar for African American and white women called Difficult Conversations. I was used to doing seminars in my work and had a particular format and style for designing programs and facilitating groups. I had also written many flyers and brochures for seminars over the years. I, therefore, presumed I would whip one off for Difficult Conversations. I sent my draft to Lynnette and was surprised and irritated that she returned it to me with words crossed out, question marks in the margins, phrases substituted, and a note attached that said: "This flyer may speak to white women but if you want black women to attend, it has to be completely rewritten." Together we rewrote the flyer. It was hard, time consuming work to negotiate the wording and I thought to myself: "What have I gotten myself into? This is only the flyer!" Indeed, our full collaboration took an enormous amount of time. We met together regularly for a whole year before we launched the seminar and the processing we had to do once the seminar got started was strenuous. I have never felt so stretched and I have seldom learned so much. Both Lynnette and I had deep waters stirred which put us in an authentic sisterly relationship.
 The history of racism and its continuing prevalence in our lives and society can be overwhelming. Those of us who are white are taught to ignore its existence and rewarded for doing so. We cannot overcome racism alone. Each of us needs to belong to communities which will both care for us and hold us accountable for our actions or failure to act. White people cannot become effective anti-racist allies unless we are in authentic, truth-telling, ongoing relationships with people of color. Therefore, it is critically important that those of us who are white become engaged in grassroots anti-racist organizations led by people of color. Listening to people of color, learning about their experience of racism, and respecting the priorities they have developed as strategies for change, is critically important work for white people who want to be allies. By showing up consistently, listening, learning, and acting when needed, white people can develop relationships with people of color to whom they are accountable.
 If those of us who are white are serious about becoming anti-racist allies, we will need to commit ourselves to doing our own work, not waiting for people of color to confront or educate us, but holding each other accountable, educating ourselves about institutional racism, learning about the cultures and histories of people of color, doing a fearless inventory of how we maintain or challenge racism where we live and work and study. It means a willingness to have our ideas changed, our lives disrupted, and, yes, our feelings hurt from time to time. It will mean engaging in work that can help heal the church, the nation, and our very selves.
 Before we break into small groups, I want to bring these reflections to a close by quoting Tess Browne who reminds us:

 We are all the Creator’s children.
 We did not come out of the past unhurt,
 but together, individually and through our cultures,
 we can heal our world and bring each other home...
 And remember, we want to make sure
 that we all come home together.

Hello -
I will be out of the office until Monday, January 3rd. I will receive my e-mail messages when I return. If you require assistance in my absence please call Joanna Doyle(978)722-9999 ext 576 or Chris at ext.578.

Thanks,

Marlies

Dear WTC Partners,

I'd like to invite you - and all faith based organizations and activists - to participate in the Digital Divide Network.

http://www.digitaldivide.net/community/faithbased

If you are interested in how faith based communities can overcome the digital divide and use online technologies in pursuit of their social missions, then this is the place for you.

You can use can use the Digital Divide Network to build your own online communities: publish a blog, share documents and discussions with colleagues, announce news and events and submit an article or two. Connect with colleagues from around the world to share ideas, form partnerships and develop new strategies for bringing technology and educational resources to underserved communities. As always, DDN is free and open to the public.

Please feel free to pass along this invitation to anyone you think would be interested!

Many thanks and best regards from Deborah

Deborah Elizabeth Finn
Cyber-Yenta
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
www.deborah.elizabeth.finn.com
deborah_elizabeth_finn@post.harvard.edu
http://public.xdi.org/=deborah.elizabeth.finn

i thought these 2 postings would be of interest.


Message: 4
Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2005 19:41:11 -0800 (PST)
From: Incite National <incite_national@yahoo.com>
Subject: [colours] COLOR OF VIOLENCE III


INCITE! Women of Color of Violence Presents...

COLOR OF VIOLENCE III
Stopping the War on Women of Color

March 11-13, 2005
Historic Treme Community
New Orleans, LA

The many forms of violence experienced on a daily
basis by women of color around the world amount to
nothing less than a global war on Women of Color.
Color of Violence III will provide an opportunity for
women of color to develop and share organizing
strategies to address this global assault on women of
color. We will share strategies on how to stop this
war on all fronts, including: domestic violence;
sexual violence; denial of reproductive rights; police
brutality; the War on Terror; poverty; violence
against bisexual, lesbian, intersex, transgender, and
two-spirit women of color; attacks on immigrants
rights and Indian treaty rights; gentrification and
denial of affordable housing.

INCITE! is a national activist organization of radical
feminists of color advancing a movement to end
violence against women of color and their communities
through direct action critical dialogue and grassroots
organizing.

The Color of Violence is an international gathering
and action of women of color workers; organizers;
scholars; artists; students; and activists organizing
to stop the war on women of color. The goals of Color
of Violence III are to:

* Examine the various forms of violence committed
against women of color.

* Mobilize women of color from diverse walks of life,
throughout the country to organize around all forms of
violence in their lives.

* Share organizing models and build skills to
strengthen our grassroots organizing.

***************************************************
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Pre-Conference Organizing Institute
Friday March 11, 2005 9:00 - 5:00 p.m
This Organizing Institute is reserved for INCITE!
chapters, affiliates and grassroots women of color
organizations.

Women of Color Film & Art Festival
Friday March 11, 2005 12:00 - 5:00 p.m.
This event is open to the public.

Color of Violence III: Conference Schedule

Friday, March 11, 2005
6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Opening Plenary
9:30 p.m. Dance party

Saturday, March 12, 2005
9:00 - 10:45 a.m. Opening Plenary
11:30 - 1:30 p.m. Concurrent Workshops
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Lunch
2:30 - 4:30 p.m. Concurrent Workshops
5:00 - 7:30 p.m. March & Demonstration to Stop the
War on Women of Color followed by an Open-mic/Speak
Out
7:30 - 10:00 p.m. Concert
10:00 p.m. Dance party

Sunday, March 13, 2005
9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Breakfast
9:30 - 11:00 a.m. Caucusing/Concurrent Workshops
11:30 - 1:30 p.m. Plenary
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Closing-Second Line (a traditional
Jazz street procession and celebration)

Conference participants include:
* Rabab Abdulhadi, Union of Palestinian Women's
Associations
* Sung E Bai, CAAAV: Organizing Asian Communities
* Alma Bulawan, Buklod ng Kababaihan (Advocates for
survivors of sex work and trafficking; based in
Philippines)
* Angela Y. Davis, University of California, Santa
Cruz, History of Consciousness Department
* Debra Harry, Indigenous Peoples Council on
Biocolonialism
* Joo-Hyun Kang, Astraea Lesbian Foundation for
Justice
* Pamela Kingfisher, Former Coordinator, Native
Americans for a Clean Environment
* Barbara Major, The Peoples Institute for Survival
and Beyond & St. Thomas Health Services
* Marta Ojeda, Coalition for Justice in the
Maquiladoras
* Ella Shohat, New York University, Departments of Art
and Public Policy and Middle Eastern Studies
* Lateefah Simon, San Franciscos Center for Young
Women's Development
* Barbara Smith, Co-founder, Combahee River Collective
& Co-founder, Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press
* Mililani Trask, Indigenous Women's Network

***************************************************
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

Registration is limited so please register early.
The participation of women of color will be
prioritized. If space remains after all women of color
who wish to attend the conference have been
accommodated, our allies are most welcome to attend.
PLEASE NOTE THAT REGISTRATION FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.
 Please print.

Name
_____________________________________________________

Organization_________________________________________

Address______________________________________________

City, State, Zip_____________________________________

Phone________________________________________________

Email________________________________________________

Race/Ethnicity_______________________________________

Special Requests
Requests must be received by: January 31, 2005
___Translation
___Sign language interpretation
____Access
___Child care
(Number and age(s) of children______________________)

Other (please specifically describe the accommodation
requested):
_____________________________________________________


REGISTRATION FEE:
The cost of the conference is on a sliding scale from
$5 - $200, depending on how much you can pay. We are
asking legal, professional, and government agencies to
pay $200, and education institutions and non-profits
to pay $100. Allies are asked to pay $50 - $200.
Please make checks payable to NCHRE and send
registration forms and donations to:

Janelle White
University of New Orleans Womens Center
201 Earl K. Long Library
New Orleans, LA 70148

Registration Fee Enclosed: $________


PLEASE DO NOT PHONE, FAX OR EMAIL REGISTRATION. Thank
you.

Be A Conference Sponsor!
INCITE! needs your support to make this conference a
success. Donations are tax-deductible. Make checks
payable to NCHRE and send with your registration form.
 Donors will be recognized in the conference program
book as follows:

____$1000-full page
____$500-half page
____$250-1/4 page
____$125-1/8 page
____$50-Acknowledgement in conference program book

Donations for conference sponsorship must be received
by: JANUARY 31, 2005

How You Can Help!
__ Yes, I would like to help publicize the conference.
 Please send me conference flyers and materials.
__ Yes, I can volunteer during the conference. Please
contact me.

Conference Exhibitors:
Display tables will be made available for exhibitors.
Non-profit organizations that will not be selling
items will be provided these at no charge. Non-profit
groups selling items are asked to contribute 10% of
their earnings to Incite! National to cover conference
costs. Businesses will be charged $50 a day to
exhibit and sell items. Requests for exhibition
tables must be received by January 31, 2005.

____ Yes, I would like to display a table.

Name of Organization:_________________________
Check one:
___Non-profit not selling items
___Non-profit selling items (contributing 10% of
conference proceeds)
___For profit business ($50/day) Checks should be made
to NCHRE and sent to the same address as the
registration forms.

I am requesting a display table for:
___Friday, March 11th
___Saturday, March 12th
___Sunday, March 13th

*****************************************************
LOGISTICS

LOCATION:
Color of Violence III is our first conference held in
a local community setting, the Historic Treme
Community of New Orleans. Recognized as one of the
oldest and largest free people of color settlements in
the U.S., the Treme neighborhood embodies a history
and culture of resistance.

ACCOMODATIONS:
Conference participants are responsible for their own
lodging. Local hostels include:
Marquette House, Hostelling International-New Orleans
504-523-3014
$29 per night. 2.5 miles from conference site;
located 1 block from streetcar and bus line

Discounted room rates are available to conference
attendees at the following hotels:

Days Inn-Canal St. 504-586-0110
$59 per night. Deadline for reservation at this
rate-Feb. 10, 2005; Conference Code-COLO; 10 blocks
from conference site; located on streetcar and bus
line

Radisson Hotel New Orleans 504-522-4500
$89 per night. Deadline for reservation at this
rate-Jan. 26, 2005; 9 blocks from conference site;
located on streetcar and bus line

Hampton Inn Downtown 504-529-9990
$129 per night. Deadline for reservation at this
rate-Feb. 19, 2005; 10 blocks
from conference site; conveniently located to
streetcar and bus line

International House 800-633-5770
$139 - $179 per night. Four star hotel; 1 mile from
conference site; located on streetcar line and bus
line

TRANSPORTATION:
Louis Armstrong International Airport is located 21
miles NW of downtown New Orleans. A cab ride from the
airport to Treme/French Quarter is approximately $28.
Bus fare for the Airport-Downtown Express is $1.60.
Shuttle service is available from the airport to area
hotels for $13 (per person, one way). A number of
hotels are located in walking distance of the
conference site. The conference is also accessible to
nearby hotels via the bus line and Canal Streetcar
Line ($1.25 each way).

FOOD:
Conference participants are asked to be responsible
for their own meals.

*****************************************************
GET INVOLVED!

Organizing for the Color of Violence III is occurring
through the country. You can get involved too:

EDUCATE YOURSELF!
* Educate yourself on the various forms of violence
and oppression women of color experience here in the
U.S. and abroad.
* Analyze how violence committed against women of
color and poor communities of color is connected to
other social, political, environmental, and economic
issues you may work on.

ORGANIZE!
* Join a COV III Committee workgroup (e-mail us at
cov3_2005@yahoo.com to join).
* Organize a contingent of women of color in your area
to attend the conference.
* If youre not a women of color, help organize
transportation for people from your area, or
* Fund a scholarship, help with logistics, provide
childcare, or hold a fundraiser.

SPREAD THE WORD!
* Spread information about INCITE! & the Color of
Violence Conference at community events and meetings
you attend.
* Refer people to our website:
www.incite-national.org.
* Encourage women of color you know to register for
the Color of Violence III.
* Hand out fliers & share this brochure with others
you know.
* Donate ad space in your organizations newsletter
and send to your mailing list.

DONATE!
Your financial and in-kind assistance will support
women of color organizing and bring awareness to the
multiple forms of violence to which women of color are
subjected. Contributions are tax-deducible and no
contribution is too small.

Conference Contact:
Janelle White
University of New Orleans Womens Center
(504)280-7285
e-mail: cov3_2005@yahoo.com
web: www.incite-national.org

ONLY WITH YOUR SUPPORT CAN INCITE CONTINUE TO BUILD A
MOVEMENT TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR!

The Color of Violence III is brought to you by INCITE!
New Orleans and INCITE! National, with additional
local support provided by the University of New
Orleans Womens Center

****
INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence is a national
activist organization of radical feminists of color
advancing a movement to end violence against women of
color and their communities through direct action,
critical dialogue and grassroots organizing. For more
information, see our website at:
www.incite-national.org <www.incite-national.org>

To unsubscribe to this listserv, send a blank email
to:
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------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2005 19:43:57 -0800 (PST)
From: Incite National <incite_national@yahoo.com>
Subject: [colours] CDs Now Available From The Revolution Will Not Be
        Funded!
To: colours@lists.mutualaid.org
Message-ID: <20050107034357.95839.qmail@web52002.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE FUNDED:
BEYOND THE NON-PROFIT INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

CDs NOW AVAILABLE!!

"I want us all to be real creative about our tactics
and strategies to dismantle the empire."
- Joo-Hyun Kang, The Revolution Will Not Be Funded,
2004
 

In April 2004, INCITE! and the UC Santa Barbara
Women's Studies Department hosted the exciting
conference: The Revolution Will Not Be Funded: Beyond
The Non-Profit Industrial Complex. Featuring dynamic
speakers with a broad range of experience in
grassroots organizing, this conference addressed the
impact of the non-profit industrial complex on
revolutionary movement building.
 
We recorded the conference proceedings and are now
offering CDs featuring the critical presentations made
at this conference. Activists and organizers spoke to
the following issues at this important event:

* What is the history of how the non-profit model
developed, and what reasons did it develop? How did
it impact the direction of social justice organizing?
* How has funding from foundations impacted the course
of social justice movements?
* How does 501(c)3 status impact social justice
organizations' relationship to the state? How does
non-profit status allow the state to co-opt our
movements?
* Are there ways the non-profit model can be used
subversively to support more radical visions for
social change?
* What are the alternatives for building viable social
justice movements? How do we fund the movement
outside the non-profit structure?
* What models for organizing outside the
NGO/non-profit model exist outside the U.S. that may
help us?

Don't miss the insights and ideas presented by the
visionary speakers at this conference! Help fund the
revolution and get your conference CDs now!
There are five CDs from the conference. They are $12
each, but if you order all five, you can have the set
for $55. Below is a description of issues addressed
in each session and speakers featured on each CD. An
order form is also below.

==================================================

The Revolution Will Not Be Funded:
Beyond The Non-Profit Industrial Complex
April 30 - May 1, 2004
University of California-Santa Barbara

SESSION ONE
Social Justice Movements and Non-Profits - Historical
Context
These speakers will address the impact of the
non-profit/NGO model on social justice movements in
the U.S. and globally. What were some of the
organizing models of both anti-violence and other
social justice movements prior to the growth of the
non-profit model? Can these models inform our
organizing today? How has the non-profit model
shifted the focus of the anti-violence movement from
organizing to social service delivery? What has been
the impact of the NGO model on organizing in non-U.S.
countries? What can we learn from models that come
out of a non-U.S. context?

Disc One
Track 1: Ruthie Gilmore, Critical Resistance (21:37)
Track 2: Suzanne Pharr, Highlander Center (15:12)

Disc Two
Track 1: Madonna Thunder Hawk, Women of All Red
Nations (11:57)
Track 2: Adjoa Jones de Almeida, Sista II Sista
(17:06)
Track 3: Paula Rojas (Chile), Sista II Sista (16:15)
Tracks 4-9: Questions & Answers (30:15)


SESSION TWO
What is the Non-Profit Industrial Complex?
These speakers will address the relationship between
the non-profit system, capitalism, and the state. How
do foundations function as form of structural
adjustments which actually take money from the poor to
benefit the wealthy classes? How has the NGO model
served to promote U.S. imperialism abroad? How has
the non-profit system allowed the state to co-opt
social justice struggles? In particular, how has
reliance on foundation and state funding impacted the
anti-violence movement?

Disc Three
Track 1: Dylan Rodriguez, Critical Resistance (18:03)
Track 2: Christine Ahn, National Committee for
Responsive Philanthropy, and author of "Foundation
Trustee Fees: Use and Abuse" (20:14)
Track 3: Surina Kahn, former director of the
International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission
(16:46)
Track 4: Anannya Bhattacharjee, World Social
Forum-India (22:00)


SESSION THREE
Alternatives to the Non-Profit Model
These organizations will discuss their attempts to
struggle with the non-profit system. What are the
alternatives to foundation funding? Are there ways to
work within the non-profit model and use it
subversively for radial political goals? How have
movements in other countries reframed this issues that
might be informative to social justice organizations
within the U.S. How do anti-violence organizations
who do receive federal, state or foundation monies
struggle with doing anti-violence work within a
radical political framework?

Disc Four
Track 1: Sisters In Action For Power, Portland, OR
(16:33)
Track 2: CREA, India (14:08)
Track 3: Communities Against Rape & Abuse (CARA),
Seattle, WA (10:38)
Track 4: Communities Against Rape & Abuse (CARA),
Seattle, WA (4:53)
Track 5: Communities Against Rape & Abuse (CARA),
Seattle, WA (3:43)
Track 6: Project South, Atlanta, GA (6:16)
Track 7: Project South, Atlanta, GA (6:44)
Track 8: Sista II Sista, Brooklyn, NY (16:09)


SESSION FOUR
Closing Plenary: Next Steps

Disc Five
Track 1: Report Back From Work Groups: Ruthie Gilmore
(3:15)
Track 2: Closing Speaker: Joo-Hyun Kang, Astraea
Lesbian Foundation For Justice (7:47)
Track 3: Closing Speaker: Joo-Hyun Kang, Astraea
Lesbian Foundation For Justice (5:07)
Track 4: Closing Speaker: Joo-Hyun Kang, Astraea
Lesbian Foundation For Justice (7:53)

==================================================

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Happy new year everyone.

Thanks for your message, Alethia. Are you going to this conference? If so, do you want to do a LFS presentation there or take some materials? I really think we need to get a two and a three hour workshop together for thing like this a.s.a.p.! If anyone has ideas or has done a quick presentation let's talk about it.

Also, those of us working on the internal need to start meeting soon. Isn't it amazing how quickly things pick up after the holidays?!


Incidentally, Gladys, Paul Marcus (a newer partner who works at Community Change in Boston) and his co-worker Carol Rhinehart did an anti-racism workshop with the United Methodist Church this weekend that was largely grounded in spiritual leadership and it went really well. It may be something we want to explore doing more.

re Color of Violence conference march 11
Would absolutely love to go and present for WTC but I am unable to attend. My disseration is due March 14. If anyone else goes, please let us know. If a miracle happens and I can go, I will let you know.

Hey all,

Happy New Year to everyone!
Just wondering when the next planning meeting will be. I believe I signed up for interpersonal.
I'm pretty flexible this month in the mornings and then evenings after 7:00. Fridays are especially good because I get off work at 4:30.


Lisa

>From: QuickTopic daily digest <qtopic+27-yMYqZNNXb8t@quicktopic.com>
>To: lisatrinja@msn.com
>Subject: WTC Partners
>Date: 11 Jan 2005 05:16:49 -0000
>
< replied-to message removed by QT >

Hi everyone!

Finally, I've had time to pull together the notes from the last partners' meeting which happened December 22. There was the holiday week and then there was the catching up on things like grant-writing week and now there's catching up with you all week. That's been mine. Meanwhile, Donna's been extremely busy with consulting contracts. So, our apologies for not being more in touch. We honestly do our best.

I'm attaching the notes as an MS Word document and I'm pasting them in below in case anyone has trouble with attachments. I am also going to paste this note into the Partner's bulletin board so that you can access it whenever you want to and don't have to save everything somewhere else if you don't want to. That can be accessed at

Please pay attention to the tasks that you took on. Those of you who were not at the meeting are welcome to volunteer for things that make sense to you to volunteer for. We need to set up the next set of partners' meetings as well as set up times when committees will work on the 4 modules still to be created.

By the way, the training to be held this coming weekend (Jan 16 and 17) has been cancelled due to lack of enrollment. It seems that holding a training on a long weekend might not be the best choice. But then, our limited marketing may also account for it. We really need to create a marketing plan and get some professional help with that.

____________________________

NOTES FROM PARTNERS' MEETING HELD DECEMBER 22, 2004

These notes are generated from the boarded notes of the meeting. NOTE: tasks that people have signed up for are highlighted in red.

PRESENT: Marjorie Dove, Paul Marcus, Christopher Messinger, Judy Tso, Curdina Hill, Alethia Jones, Renae Gray, Claudia Castañeda, Katsuko Sugiyama, Emily Singer, Donna Bivens, Meck Groot

ANCESTOR CARDS DRAWN:
Prayer, Love, Connection (2x), Honor (2x), Surrender (2x), Ritual, Respect, Family, Vision/History/Generosity (Meck pulled 3 at once), Order

AGENDA:
1. Upcoming trainings
a. Schedule of upcoming trainings and trainer "assignments"
b. Ongoing marketing, including how to "sell" LFS to supervisors who might send their staff
2. Plan to create 4 additional modules – one each for Internal, Interpersonal, Institutional, and Cultural
3. What area or issue might WTC take on in which it can make an impact?

1. UPCOMING TRAININGS
 a. Schedule and trainers
§ January 16 (eve) and 17 (all day) – Meck and Christopher McMullen training
o with assistance from Christopher Messinger
§ January 27 (3 to 5 PM) and 28 (all day) (for people who work with girls – in collaboration with the Girls' Coalition) – need to decide who will train – one of the two people should be someone who works with Girls if possible – eg. Rose Henry
o Paul and Renae will assist
§ April 1(eve) and 2 (all day) –
§ May – dates to be selected – Alethia and Emily training

NOTE: partners are welcome to participate in upcoming trainings when there's room as a way to get more familiar with the material and assist as we go along.

b. Ongoing marketing
§ Scholarships are needed – since it's hard to market to people we know can't pay for it. Meck noted that there is a scholarship fund that currently has $225 that can go toward partial scholarships, based on need. Also, Donna announced that there is $1000 available in scholarship money for women of African descent to attend (NOTE: we have since this meeting learned that the money we received from this grant cannot be applied in this way.)
§ A prospect list needs to be developed. This list would include the names of people or organizations who have expressed interest but who have not yet signed up. It would also include people who have taken the training who can lead us to others in their circles who are likely to be interested. Can partners do follow up sales calls to these folks?
o Renae will talk to Jennifer Mathias about her organization offering LFS trainings
§ We need to see if it is possible to offer PDP's and/or CEU's – Christopher (which one?) will research this
§ We need to develop a marketing brochure that gives more information about the training than the postcards or flyers currently give. This brochure needs to answer managers' and supervisors' questions (what are those?) so they feel confident sending staff to trainings that will benefit their organizations. This brochure also needs to explain something about what WTC is/does. Meck and Claudia will work on this and will get input on text from Judy and input on "look" from Emily
§ We need to send out direct mailings to specific lists
§ We need to spread the word about LFS at strategic conferences. This would include bringing printed materials as well as offering presentations about spiritual leadership. Everyone who gets "calls for presenters" for conferences coming up where spiritual leadership might hold an interest should let Meck know. Meck will coordinate this
§ Donna will ask Kelley Chunn, a professional marketer, to help us with marketing
§ We need to try to get organizational contracts
§ We need to package the whole series

of interest...
SAVE THE DATE!

Meeting and regathering of the
Whose Boston? coalition
Thursday, 1/19
6:00 - 8:30 pm
USES/Harriet Tubman House
566 Columbus Avenue
Right on the corner of Mass and Columbus Avenues. It is 1 block from the Mass
Ave. T stop on the Orange Line, 3-4 blocks from the Symphony T stop on the
Green Line, and 4-5 blocks from the Silver Line. The building and room are
accessible.


Whose Boston? is a growing grassroots movement to reclaim Boston communities
for Boston people by working for an equitable and inclusive vision of a
community-centered city. We believe that land is not just a commodity for
speculation, and that growth and development should serve residents' needs for:
- truly affordable housing to stabilize our communities and prevent
displacement,
- safe, accessible streets, public facilities, and public transportation, and
- balance in public, non-profit and private land use and taxes.
We seek to create new systems for democratic, community-centered city
planning.

Proposed agenda for the meeting:
       1) Review Whose Boston? mission statement/call to action and goals
       2) Small group discussion about policy issue priorities and plans
       3) Proposal for spring action and set up next meeting(s)

More information will be coming to you by email shortly.

Youe message, Alethia, is reminding me of something I meant to share with partners: a description of a meeting last week held to give an overview of a report done through the Boston Foundation called Boston Unbound:

http://www.tbf.org/uploadedFiles/Citistates_final.pdf

Curdina, Judy, Deborah Finn and I were all at that meeting so partners were well represented and it was fascinating.It was about the future of Boston and it talked about the things that are standing in the way of this region's growth and prosperity. While the elephant in the room was systemic oppression-race and class particularly--which was alluded to but not explored in depth-- the report also talked about other things in this regions culture that are standing in the way transformation, most notably: inability to truly collaborate, complacency, sense of superiority and a belief that this region has nothing to learn from the rest of the country and world, and inability to address challenges systemically. The report was done with a lot of compassion by two men who obviously care about this region but it seemed like they had to scream some of their results because they were picking up that sense of complacency from so many powerbrokers in the region.

It was clear to them that the lack of a plan to (my words)draw out the gifts of huge numbers of people across diversity and to call forth and support the leadership of that diversity (especially from people of color, immigrants and those who cannot afford to live here because of the high cost of living) does not bode well for this region's future. The kind of meeting you're describing seems like just the kind of effort they were calling for. It also seems very connected to our work!

I'll try to come on the 19th. If anyone else has any information on the report I mention I'd love to hear your thoughts.

I think those of us who're meeting on the Internal and Interpersonal will get together soon, Lisa.

Great to hear from you Bonnie--hope we talk soon.

Read anything good lately (especially pertinent to spiritual leadership)? How about movies? Kinsey is fascinating. I hope to see Hotel Rwanda soon. Did anyone see it?

Love,
Donna

Hi Spirited Leaders. I just read the message board in total. My time has been really absorbed with issues at our neighborhood center, Peaslee, in Over-the-Rhine, Cincinnati. We have hired a new director so hopefully once orientation and training get accomplished I will have more time to digest how we here can plan a spiritual leadership workshop. Peaslee has collaborated with another organization in Over-the-Rhine, Contact Center (does Welfare Rights Organizing both on local and state level) and wrote for a grant from The Women's Fund (administered through Greater Cincinnati Foundation) for $20,000. We want to design a series of workshops using popular education methods (education for transformation) for women/girls who we work with. We are feeling a strong need to build spirit, support, connection. The theme would be "Our Voice Matters". I think it would be good if one or more of our workshops could use the spiritual leadership training. I spoke with Donna the other evening. It was so good to hear from you, Donna. I think I was only half there, still drowsy from the sleep I was in. I am excited for you all and the work you are getting done to strengthen the workshop. I'm anxious to see and read and review the training manual. I have the butterfly postcard on my refrigerator. To be separated by so many miles, I have to engage spirituality in order to feel connected with you. The postcard reminds me of you and the work. I enjoy when folks suggest good articles to read. The address by Melanie Morrison that you sent to us Donna was very good and a strong reminder to us who are white need to reflect on our white priviliege and how we approach our anti-racism work. I liked reading about WHOSE BOSTON? and the organizing around making sure Boston power doesn't totally wipe out marginalized people and communities from planning efforts. The question raised about Non-Profit organizations, how do we help/hinder social justice movements. Here in Over-the-Rhine, a social justice movement created our grassroots organizations, but over time, I think it's difficult to maintain the social justice energy when our non-profits are responding to so many social service gaps, finding money for the organizing has been difficult.

I just wanted to let you all know I'm spiritually rooting for this work to blossom, and I appreciate all the work you are doing individually and collectively to bring spiritual leadership to our world. Take good care.

Dear Friends:

When I took the training last fall I told my cohorts that I was about to do an interview with the Boston Globe Magazine on the topic of torture. Several people were very helpful with suggestions and encouragagement -- all of which was helpful and appreciated, and added to my confidence and sense of centeredness going into the interview.

I am very pleased to report that the "Two Voices" interview in the Boston Globe Magazine appeared on January 30th. This is a link to the text as it appeared in the Magazine: http://www.comw.org/pda/0501cronin.html

Again, thanks, and comments are welcome.

Charles

Hi everyone!

I am writing to update you about a few things related to our work together. Let me begin by apologizing for the amount of time it has taken to reconvene the group. I will present options for monthly meetings in my next email.

Welcome to baby Zara
Undoubtedly many, if not all of you, have heard that Judy Tso gave birth to a healthy baby girl. Her name is Zara and she is a beauty!!! Congratulations Judy! and big welcome Zara!

Spiritual Leadership Development Project - WTC's current work plan
Donna and I have begun naming the work we are doing together with our partners the "Spiritual Leadership Development Project." This has come out of our attempts to secure funding that can sustain us as we develop the trainings, create more structured partnerships with you, build this community of partners, and begin creating other "products" in spiritual leadership development. As we have conceived the project, we see that this process will take at least three years. I am attaching two documents that I hope will make clear to you how we conceive the project, what activities are involved, and what time line we are working with. Please let me know if you are unable to open these documents.

As you review the work plan document, please consider things that you might be interested in working on -- obviously, there is more than enough work to go around.

Writing curriculum for the Internal dimension
As you can see from the work plan, February is "Internal" month. We've had two meetings so far this month to do work on the curriculum for the Internal dimension of spiritual leadership. The team so far has included Lisa, Gladys, Katsuko, Donna and me. Conversations are rich! As we work on this dimension and see the complexity of it, I am reminded of something Malidoma Some once said, "The cosmos is as big as it is in order to reflect the vastness within us." The enormity of the terrain becomes increasingly clear. We have our work cut out for us, but at this point I feel confident of our capacity to create something powerful and useful. Since we said anyone wishing to join in the planning is welcome to attend meetings, let me tell you that the next two meetings for the Internal are
Feb 18 - 9 to 12 and
Feb 24 - 9 to 12

Writing curriculum for the Interpersonal dimension
March is "Interpersonal" month. The schedule for meetings to develop curriculum for this dimension is
March 1 3 to 6
March 9 - 9 to 6
March 15 - 3 to 6
March 24 - 9 to 12

Meeting with E.D. and Board President of SUNY's CWIG
Donna and I met with two wonderful women from the Center for Women in State University of New York (Albany) Center in Government and Civil Society yesterday. We were introduced to them through Alethia who will begin working at the Center in the Fall. Alethia told them about Leading from Spirit and other spiritual leadership development work and they got very excited about the possibilities of working together. Our two-hour meeting was very rich -- a deep exchange of ideas, vision, dreams, possibilities. The meeting laid the foundation for ongoing connecting. We shall see where the journey takes us. It is unfolding.

Advertising upcoming LFS trainings
I am attaching a brochure that we have developed to market the LFS overview training. It's in a PDF format. Please have a look at it. If you have ideas for strengthening it, please let us know ASAP. I am going to redesign it a bit in order for it to be a self-mailer. We have found another really good printing deal for four-color printing and I want to get this off to the printer soon.

Please note that there are two upcoming dates for trainings:
April 1 (7 to 9) and April 2 (9 to 5) and May 13 (7 to 9) and May 14 (9 to 5). Please spread the word to people you think would be interested. We have LOTS of time to fill these two up, so LET'S DO IT!!!

Scholarships
Marketing, of course, brings up issues of scholarships. Donna and I have decided to try a technique here that another organization we know uses. For every 8 people who pay full price, we can offer 1 scholarship. This might be applied to one person who can't afford anything or spread out over 2, 3 or more people who just afford a part of the cost. We would, therefore, have to keep a running list of who needs scholarship and how much they need, and then as people who pay full price register, we can register people on the scholarship list on a first-come, first-served basis.

Almost done
I have a feeling that there's more to add -- but I need to send this off before I leave today, so I will. If more comes to mind, I will send another note.

Please respond with and questions, comments, of concerns that you might have about anything I've presented. Looking forward to seeing each of you again soon.

Meck

FIRST ATTACHMENT FOR PREVIOUS MESSAGE FROM MECK

Pre-application to the Sisters of Charity Ministry Foundation – February 17, 2005

(Note: they give you ONE! page in which to describe your project – thus this is very contracted – but I thought it would be a quick way of giving the overview to you.)

1. Describe the opportunity, need, or problem you propose to address
We see the crises of global injustice mounting. The issues of the 20th century – the AIDS epidemic; global warming; corporate corruption; destructive conflicts over ideology and resources; ethnic cleansing; the wealth gap; system collapse – are increasing in this century. Individuals and organizations that work for a just society are increasingly at risk of losing the internal and external resources they need in order to carry on.


2. State briefly what you propose doing to address the opportunity, need, or problem
WTC addresses this need through the development of spiritual leadership – leadership that is "on Purpose, in Spirit, for Justice." Specifically, we have created our Spiritual Leadership Development Project, a multi-year project in which we are making our work replicable, accessible and more widely available. The activities of the project fall into five categories:
1. completion and delivery of curriculum in spiritual leadership
2. development of a community of 25 WTC partners who can develop and deliver programs in spiritual leadership development
3. development and implementation of marketing materials and strategies that ensure WTC is able to offer its programs as widely as possible to both individuals and organizations in diverse communities
4. development of structures to support the creation of ongoing Study/Action communities able to deepen the spiritual leadership of their members and through collective action make an impact within movements for social change
5. development of a monthly drop-in program for WTC members and the general public
Work on these activities is simultaneous and has already begun.


3. Indicate who will benefit from what you intend to achieve and how
WTC works with a population of individuals and organizations that is very diverse in terms of race, culture, class, gender, sexuality, nationality, religion, spirituality, age, and ideology. What those we serve have in common is their work for justice. Those who participate in this project will experience an increased capacity to effect justice within the four dimensions of spiritual leadership – the internal, interpersonal, institutional, and cultural. In fact, those who are already participating report ways in which this is happening for them as a result of their participation.

4. State what you intend to achieve during the funding period
Between July 1, 2005 and June 30, 2006, we intend to achieve the following:
* completion of a five-part training series in spiritual leadership development called Leading from Spirit, together with training materials and trainer manuals
* development and implementation of marketing plan that can support intended delivery of resources to individuals and organizations
* completion of a spiritual leadership anti-racism institute
* completion of training of 25 WTC partners as fully qualified trainers in spiritual leadership development
* completion of partnership agreements with individual partners
* development of WTC partners group as fully functioning Study/Action community
* delivery of services in spiritual leadership development through Leading from Spirit trainings, spiritual leadership anti-racism institute, and spiritual leadership consultations to 400 individuals and 23 organizations
* delivery of monthly drop-in program exploring aspects of spiritual leadership with and for WTC's membership and potential members

SECOND ATTACHMENT FOR PREVIOUS MESSAGE FROM MECK

WTC Spiritual Leadership Development Project: timeline and activities

RE: WTC PARTNERSHIPS

select partners - July and August 04

train partnersin WTC's Spiritual Leadership (SL) model -August 04 to June 06

build partner group as a Study/Action community - ongoing

establish agreements/contracts with individual partners that provide mutually beneficial outcomes for WTC and for each partner - June to September 05

RE: LEADING FROM SPIRIT OVERVIEW MODULE

develop curriculum - Spring 04

pilot curriculum with WTC partners - August 04

refine curriculum based on results of pilot - Fall 04

develop and distribute marketing materials for this training - ongoing

deliver to WTC membership, general public and organizations - 2 in Nov 04 and 1 each in Dec 04, Feb 05, April 05, May 05, Sept 05, Nov 05, Feb 06, May 06, Sept 06, Dec 06, Feb 07 and May 07

RE: LEADING FROM SPIRIT - INTERNAL MODULE

finish developing curriculum for this module building on what was already created in Spring of 2004 - February and March 04

pilot curriculum with WTC partners and participants who have already taken the overview module - April 05

refine curriculum - April and May 04

deliver to WTC membership, general public and organizations - 1 each in October 05, March 06, October 06 and March 07

RE: LEADING FROM SPIRIT - INTERPERSONAL MODULE

finish developing curriculum for this module building on what was already created in Spring of 2004 - March and April 05

pilot curriculum with WTC partners and participants who have already taken the overview module - May 05

refine curriculum - June 05 to September 05

deliver trainings to individuals and organizations - 1 each in Dec 05, April 06, Nov 06 and April 07

RE: LEADING FROM SPIRIT - INSTITUTIONAL MODULE

develop curriculum for this module - June, July and August 05

pilot curriculum with WTC partners and participants who have already taken the overview module - September 05

refine curriculum - October and November 05

deliver to WTC membership, general public and organizations - 1 each in Feb 06, May 06, Dec 06, and May 07

RE: LEADING FROM SPIRIT - CULTURAL MODULE

develop curriculum for this module - July, August, September 05

pilot curriculum with WTC partners and participants who have already taken the overview module - October 05

refine curriculum - November and December 05

deliver to WTC membership, general public and organizations - 1 each in April 06, June 06, Jan 07 and June 07

RE: SL AND ANTI-RACISM TRAINING/CONSULTING

develop a SL anti-racism training institute - March to Nov 05

deliver SL anti-racism training institute - 1 each in March 06, August 06 and March 07

ongoing SL anti-racism training/consulting with organizations - ongoing

RE: STUDY/ACTION COMMUNITIES

assess needs, desires and options for participants in such a community - March, April, May 05

develop structure to accommodate and support needs, desires and options for participants - June, July and August 05

begin first Study/Action community -- open to anyone who has participated in SL trainings - September 05 and ongoing

RE: MONTHLY DROP-IN PROGRAM FOR WTC MEMBERSHIP AND GENERAL PUBLIC

plan and develop program series - March to June of 05, 06 and 07

hold monthly drop-in program - 1 event a month from September to June each year

RE: CONTRACTS IN SL DEVELOPMENT WITH ORGANIZATIONS

ongoing prospecting and development of contracts as the work unfolds - ongoing

RE: MARKETING

Get help from marketing consultant - asap (as funds permit)

Market LFS - Introduction - Sept 04 and ongoing
Market LFS - Internal - May 05 and ongoing
Market LFS - Interpersonal - August 05 and ongoing
Market LFS - Institutional - November 05 and ongoing
Market LFS - Cultural - December 05 and ongoing
Market LFS - package - December 05 and ongoing
Market LFS for organizations - June 05 and ongoing
Market SL anti-racism for organizations March 05 and ongoing
Market SL anti-racism institute October 05 and ongoing
Market Drop-In Program July 05 and ongoing

Last evening I saw and heard the Kuumba Singers perform. What an inspiration! The Kuumba Singers are of the Harvard community and "celebrate black creativity and spirituality" in a wonderful and moving way.

The Kuumba Singers will be celebrating 35 years of song in a special Sanders Theater appearance on April 30th. Mark your calendars.

Hi, Everyone!

Just wanted you to know that I am going to be participating in a panel at 38 Cameron on this Saturday that will follow a talk on this Wednesday at 7:30 by an educator from Australia (The panel will be on April 2 from 1-5pm. Here is the link, for more backround and information: http://www.38cameron.com/events/2005/03/holt.htm). They said WTC people can come to the to the talk on Wednesday for a reduced fee of $12 and to the panel on Saturday for $25. If you're available it'd be great to have you there if you're interested. To come to for the reduced fee, call or email them and tell them that you're part of WTC and have the reduced fee. Don't register on line if you want the reduced fee.

Also, I went to a wonderful gathering a couple of weeks ago on "anti-racism and community building and met a man who did a great video on line. It's at www.when-will-we-learn.com .
I think it's very good. Let me know what you think.

Love,
Donna

Dear All,

I notice that many of you have not signed up to receive
mail from the new Yahoo listserv, wtc_partners@yahoo.com

I encourage you to sign up, because otherwise you will
not get all the information and discussion that is going
on for the partners community!

It's a 2-step process:

1. CREATE YOUR YAHOO ID
In order to sign up, you need to creat a Yahoo ID. This is NOT the same thing as an email adddress. It's just a way
for Yahoo to identify you. So you can use your Yahoo ID and link it to your regular email, so you are not having to check more than one email address.

To create your ID, go to http://my.yahoo.com and click on
"sign up" right at the top left of the page. You will then
see a page asking for your name, etc. If you do not want
to create a Yahoo email address and mail, UNCHECK the box
that asks if you want to do that. Otherwise, fill in all of the other info, and click on "I Agree" at the bottom of the page.

NOTE: Please include your real name. AND be sure to use your normal email address, so that all of your partners mail will go there. Yahoo does not send anything to you at that
address, only to your Yahoo address if you have one.

2. Become a member of the wtc_partners Yahoo group. The list is closed, so you ask to become a member, I approve you, and then you are in! You need your Yahoo ID and password in order to access the members page - where you can post a message, for example, or reply to one. All messages will be sent to you at the email address you used above - usually your normal email address, unless you decided to use
a Yahoo one.


Please let me know if you have any trouble, or questions.
I'm here to help! I can even set up an account for you
if you like, just send me a few options for your ID, as
many are already in use and they'll append a number to it
that can be hard to remember (at least it is for me!

OK - hope to hear from you soon either as you sign up for
the listserv, or directly.

Please email me at: castan2@fas.harvard.edu

Thanks!

Claudia

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please, send to one photo... See site www.midic.net