LREDA AntiRacism Initiative Time Line
October 21, 1996
The 1996 Fall Conference theme is on anti-racism and religious education. A motion passes at the LREDA Fall Conference business meeting for the Board to undertake an anti-racism assessment using materials from Journey Toward Wholeness. "The Board will develop a plan and process for moving to the next stage on the journey toward claiming an anti racist, anti oppressive multicultural identity and; the LREDA Board will enter into conversation with African American UU Ministries and/or its successor organization for the purpose of exploring an alliance between LREDA and AAUUM/successor."
The minutes of the meeting further note that the Board will take the assessment at its February 1997 meeting and encourage LREDA chapters to conduct their own assessments.
February 11-13, 1997
On the topic of AntiRacism the minutes note the following actions:
Put a statement in the LREDA brochure
Go through Faith in Action to connect with denominational groups in ally-ship
Call FIA to discuss making AntiRacism training available to religious educators
Article on follow up of the 1996 Fall Conference on AntiRacism Training for Religious Educators
Establish a contact person for LREDA with AAUUM/successor
Gather information about how other organizations are doing AntiRacism training
Continue to gather anti racist materials
October 18, 1997
T. Robinson-Harris submitted a report to the 1997 Fall Conference on behalf of the AntiRacism group gathered there. The group's report reminds us of our prior commitments and
suggests the creation of a transformation team to move this work within the organization,
suggests a review of the by-laws, guidelines, code of professional practice and the proposal of appropriate changes to reflect the organizations commitment;
asks for assurance that a report on this work is made to the membership annually at Fall Conference,
requests a report from the Board on action steps adopted in February 1997 (steps which the group affirmed)
October 20, 1997
LREDA members approve the creation of a transformation team that will work on a process to help LREDA become an anti racist and anti oppressive organization, asking that the Team report to the membership annually. Team members appointed at that time are Tracey Robinson-Harris, Lucy Klaus-Li, Chris Parker, Linda Olson Peebles, Judith Frediani and Lynn Bacon.
February 10-12, 1998
The Board agrees to send a letter to AAUUM proposing a meeting at GA. Additionally the minutes state that the Board completed the AntiRacism Assessment at the meeting. In the discussion that followed the Board agrees to work to change the by-laws to reflect an anti racist commitment, acknowledging that the membership brochure is explicit a bout this. The Board also notes it wishes to develop a grant proposal to recruit religious educators of color. Finally the minutes note that this charge will be given to the AntiRacism Task Force. Other action steps noted:
Review mission statement and rewrite as appropriate to make it explicitly anti racist
Fall Conference chair will address AntiRacism by including an evaluation question and assessment of how successful we are in our anti racist work
Hold interest groups on AntiRacism and Welcoming LREDA
Make programmatic decisions for speakers and worship that reflect the anti racist effort
Have books and curricula displays of anti racist materials
Hold suite talks
September 20, 1998
The AntiRacism Task Force reviews previous actions and decisions, and organizes to move ahead.
March 22-23, 1999
Members of the AntiRacism Task Force and LREDA Board participate in an AntiRacism training designed for LREDA and led by Judith Frediani and Tracey Robinson-Harris with Jacqui James also participating.
January 2000
The AntiRacism Task Force holds a retreat. We develop our vision, mission and plan. One element of the plan is to seek someone to do an institutional assessment of LREDA using an anti-racist analysis and lens.
June 2000
The AntiRacism Task Force meets with Taquiena Boston, FIA consultant. She will work with the Board and Task Force at Fall Conference 2000 and will do the institutional assessment at that time (part of the 1/00 plan).
Published AntiRacism Task Force Progress Report and Goal Statement, which was distributed at GA and to members.
October 2000
Assessment, consultation and follow up meeting (T. Boston, Task Force and Board members) at Fall Conference.
December 2000
Consultation report issued.
January 2001
A sub-group of the AntiRacism Task Force meets and develops a strategic plan using the assessment and the work of the follow-up meeting held immediately after Fall Conference (which included Task Force and Board members and T. Boston.) Goals of the plan were tied to the priorities of LREDA as an organization: building alliances, professional standards and education of congregations.
February 2001
The AntiRacism Task Force presents the strategic plan to Board for consideration with a request that it be brought to the membership for consideration. The Board puts forward for vote the addition of a nondiscrimination clause to the by-laws and requests a membership vote regarding the vision statement drafted by the Task Force.
April 2001
A mailing is sent to the membership including this TimeLine, an abridged version of T. Boston's report, the strategic plan, and questionnaires for membership response.
May 2001
Listserve conversation is held regarding the proposed by-law change, vision statement and materials presented in the AR Mailing.
June 2001
By-law change (non-discrimination clause) is affirmed by LREDA membership.
LREDA is an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, multicultural welcoming organization that supports and advocates for religious educators of every age, race/ethnicity, class, gender, gender identity, physical ability and sexual orientation.October 2001
Mission/Vision statement is affirmed by LREDA membership.
The Mission of LREDA's Anti-Racism Task Force is to articulate a compelling vision of an anti-racist LREDA, assist LREDA in living that vision as an organizational priority, and monitor LREDA's ongoing progress toward that vision.
Our vision of LREDA is an inclusive organization that is intentionally willing to struggle to dismantle racism, act with integrity and honor the many gifts we bring.
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