Steering Committee
Minutes
October 3-6, 2002
Wednesday, October 3, 2002
Present: Bethany, Tempa, Tony, Jessica, Chris, Jenny, Katie, Jesse, Ed, Sam, Ed, Megan, Nora enters late
Jenny requests for attention:
11:45 Opening: Megan crashes and burns at ad-libbing a spiritual opening
I. Jenny explains meeting roles:
-Steering Committee is versatile and the roles switch throughout the meetings
-Facilitatoràknow the meeting’s schedule and SC history on these issues
-Job JotàJotting Jobs
-Time KeeperàKeeps time
-Note-checkeràChecks the notes that have been taken
-Phone ChainàRecords items to be discussed on phone chain
-EnergyàAssess the group’s energy and acts as a leader in energy breaks
-Parking LotàRecords ideas that need to be discussed later
-Roles are divvied up
II. Check-in
-All in’s were checked
III. Covenant: (1 hour)
-Respect.
-Care for yourself.
-Don’t talk when other people are talking.
-Step up/step back.
-Speak from experience.
-Be Anti-Racist and Anti-Oppressive.
-Be aware of identities in room, power, and privilege.
-Be aware that we’re all at different places.
-Assume good will
-Stay accountable (doesn’t mean saying or doing anything is appropriate or okay).
-Be forgiving.
-Be responsible and know limits.
-Prepare.
-Follow through.
-COMMUNICATE.
Mimi enters (what a fox!)
-Jenny asks if group is okay with this covenant knowing we can add and take away throughout the meetings
-Group is and it gets hung up on the oppressively pink wall
Mimi checks in (still a fox)
IV. Ex officio roles (15 minutes)
-Explanation of Ex-officio:
-Jenny states that because of the Youth Office (Jesse, Megan, Ethan, Mimi)’s connections to the UUA and their employment, YO will not add to the conversation because this is Steering Committee and it is their job. Keep low profiles. YO will ask if he or she has something to input. Be aware of roles and power imbalances. YO can add point of information and history.
-A question is raised if SC will write a new ex-officio statement?
-Suggestion is made that SC looks over SC 01-02’s statement
We, as the Steering Committee, agreed that
the Youth Office is here to help, not to guide. A good analogy provided was that the Youth Office is a life
preserver, used to save lives, not as a crutch because you are tired of
swimming. In times of confusion, if the
Youth Office feels that they have a valuable opinion, then they can ask the
group if they can share it. We don’t
think that it’s acceptable for the Youth Office to share in ways that
manipulate our opinions to be theirs ant that they should not talk during
brainstorming because of power dynamics and their history with the UUA. Steering Committee should agree on Youth
Office participation on special sections in the agenda (ex. Working groups) as
they come up.
-Checking this out is a good example of continuing history
-Does anything need to be added?
-Concern is that last years SC treated YO poorly and never allowed them to speak
-Is the YO okay with this?
-Yesàthis is a good statement
-Is this complete?
-YesàGroup comes to consensus to use this same statement
V. Phone Chain (2 minutes). Not now. After lunch.
-There is some hand-signal wildness a-going on!
VI. SC Buddies. (5 minutes)
-A way to support and remind each other
Ø Bethany and Jenny
Ø Nora and Ed Irvin
Ø Katie and Chris
Ø Jessica and Tempa
Ø Sam and Tony
Break for lunch.
1:40 Chris centers the group with a communal statement
VII. Phone Chain reports
Nora:
-Nat: Youth Council was better than last year, AR work was more effective. Some reservations about bringing it back. More major business could be better.
-Maura: In London, hard to get in touch with. Any immediate concerns? No.
-Gary: Better than last year but still needs work, especially with the AR work. Was uncomfortable being the only male of color there
Jenny:
-Took on too many so will only keep Marissa and Garreth
-Marissa: Doing well. C*SAC is syked about getting everything well. Trying to figure out her role and relationship to WAM.
Jessica:
-Amy: Led a workshop in her district about YC and got feedback. Having a con in the last weekend of October. Liked the AR work at YC. YC needed more community building and worship.
-Tim: Liked location and schedule, and the AR work. Didn’t like the food. Liked being in an isolated location. AR needed more exercises.
Tony:
-Marissa: overwhelmed
-Grace Garner:
Tempa:
-Sachi: has been e-mailing with SWAT. Deadline for SAI is January. At YSJC wants to devote a whole day to write the SAI. Has had people apply for her positions. Liked YC and the time of year. It didn’t conflict with her year. Rather it was more urban.
-Laura Belzer: Working on Long Range Planning. Youth Council: Liked how it was organized, free time, wants more structure with outside organizations for AR, or outside social action
-Christine: Wants Bill Sinkford to come and chat at their fall con. Liked the Silly Puddy, wished Plenary would have been earlier
-Grace: Have the Green Party candidate come and talk. Doing the Canadian thing. Liked the date and location. Wish Plenary would have been longer.
Bethany:
-Needs to make the calls
-Bethany: got youth in her district interested in continental events. Talked about the Canadian tax—youth liked it, adults didn’t.
Ed:
-Angelica: Very excited. Wasn’t at Youth Council.
-Avalon: Disliked gender caucusing at SC, not welcoming for transgendered, starting a policy in her district to devote 2 hours to AR on Saturday morning at every con.
Sam:
-General Canada report: Con in Ottawa. Four youth on different boards for the CUC. And on the governing Board. Eastern regions meeting upcoming.
-Rachelle: Liked the business meetings. Disliked the community building, it needed to happen more before the AR work. Has good intentioned advisors, but are taking over.
Katie:
-Jodi: Gave reports and resolutions at YAC meeting. Liked AR
-Rhea: Unsure of what to do. Getting a jr. high list serve together. Want to get district AR training. Having a transitional-age con. Liked ID groups at Youth Council. There are two social action cons upcoming in her district.
Chris:
-Heartland Report: DYSC wants to do cons. Chris wants AR. Conflict results. Good advisor training just happened lead by Annie Abernethy and Chris Cayer, where they incorporated AR and AO. “Annie and Chris win”
IX: What does SC from last year have to say about what SC should do to grow?
-Jenny asks new SC to talk about any concerns or questions they have
-New SC just talks
-What’s a process?
-Different ways to do something or work
-How are we going to change what’s happening to work?
-Turning and Buzzing (turning and chatting with one’s neighbor) is a unique way process
-Should/Should Not Happen list
-Community Building
-consensual community building
-Turning and buzzing or writing as a way to process
-Don’t break important rules
-Be prepared
-Don’t abuse self-care
-Don’t over commit
-Working groups
-Reinventing the wheel—none of that
-Work on Youth Council structure soon
“It looked like everyone was spacing off into oblivion. I was afraid I was going to lead you there”—Jenny
X. SC Meeting Logistics
-Can switch date to first weekend in October so to be with the Young Adults
-Travel
-Get travel purchased early. Have dates (January 23-26, 2003: Chicago, IL; April 10-13, 2003: Boston, MA). Book travel right away (Kathy O’Brian at Centre Travel: 978-256-1964). Get travel expense reports in by a month after the event.
-use expense forms
-for phone bills photocopy the original bill and highlight the calls then send in to the office for reimbursement
-Buy travel $300 or under
-SC try to have meetings done around 11-12
-Fly in the day before to combat tiredness
XI. Free time
-Pro-active attempt to solve problems now
-Saturday night usually reserved for SC to go out
**Chris decides that this is the most mature SC ever
…Break…
XII. Discussion on the Code of Ethics
-Last year there was a situation with SC and the Code of Ethics but the ultimate decision was to all sign, and then follow YRUU’s Code of Ethics
-Chris explains that we as a SC need to decide on a Code of Ethics to be accountable
-SC needs to figure out how Code of Ethics applies to them while at the meeting
-UUA board? How is it done?
-Ed doesn’t know for sure, but there is probably not a Code of Ethics but the difference is they’re of age
-Concerns over YRUU Code of Ethics in being used at SC meetings
-We are trying to get to a point where we want to sign the Code of Ethics
-When we leave the room are we still going to be observing these?
-Concerns:
-Hiding addictions
-Outside this room/in casual settings
-What is the role of the advisor?
-Do nicotine and caffeine count as drugs in this context?
-Resolve:
-Role of an advisor in SC meetings:
-In this community on the same level
-An identity with being an advisor is being an adult and having power
-Keep what’s already leaving
-Nicotine and Caffeine will not be counted the same as other drugs
-2002-2003 Steering Committee will sign the Code of Ethics with the following revisions:
-Site is in reference to the greater Boston area
-Nicotine and caffeine do not count as drugs
-Consensus
3:46 Best Energy Break ever with Nora, the Tae Bo queen
XIII. Group Dynamic Fun Time
-Jenny describes interesting group dynamics
-Be aware of ID’s and remember how it plays out and in a group sense
-Keep your eyes open
-Feelings on a person’s faceàbring it to attention to help more (or even not) introverts express one self
-A question is raised of how does passion play in?
-Response: Still step back and try to empower others into being as passionate
XIV: A-R/Identity Handouts
-Tony hands out “Guidelines for European-Americans who talk about racism with People of Color” and “The Importance of People of Color Caucusing in an anti-racist context” and reviews it with the group:
Tony shares handouts regarding Guidelines for Euro-Americans discussing Racism with People of Color, AND the Robette Dias essay on The Importance of Caucusing for People of Color. The Robette Diaz essay includes a valuable summary of identity development for people of color. Identity development for white people is similar but different in important ways. Contact Tony at tbrumfie@juno.com or (619) 298-2282 for identity development references for either white or people of color.
Guidelines:
Don’t re-traumatize people of color by recounting racist incidents. Don’t try to cozy up to people of color attempting to convince them that you’re one of the “good guys”. Don’t try to distance yourself from racism. Own the fact that you’re white and that this society belongs to you. It’s your society. Therefore, the job of transforming this society (AND this faith community) is YOUR responsibility. Stop trying to control everything. Stop dominating the conversation and the resources. Be quiet and listen. Be generous. Believe what people of color have to say and do what they recommend.
-Identity Development: Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? By Beverly Tatem. A good book to read.
XV. Process and Check in
-“Clean up our clutter”
-POA notices dynamics and reports on them, encourages others to do it as well
-SC is nice to each other, “there’s not that hatred”
-“It’s really radical that we as a group can ask for clarification”
-Clutter is bad for meetings
4:35 Break
XVI. AR History
-Journey Towards Wholeness training was poor
-It was an internalized training
-Power dynamic issues
-Feel that YRUU should develop their own AR training
-Good for youth and adults to work together
XVII. What are we going to talk about with Bill Sinkford?
To discuss with
B. Sinkford tomorrow
-If the Wendell situation came up
again, how would you act differently?
-Make it known that we want to have
a say before the final decision is made next time.
-We want our opinion to be
considered next time.
-At least make it more clear next
time that SC’s stand will have nothing to do with the decision.
-In a spiritual community,
violations should not be handled the way they would be in a corporation. The
break in covenant should be addressed, the community should be healed.
-Wendell will not be able to “come
back” to apologize or address the issue to the community.
-Please justify why it was said that
there was “no choice” in the matter.
-Do we have a “zero tolerance”
policy or not? This makes it seem that we do.
-In your opinion, does this decision
reflect the spirit of the UU principles?
Parking Lot:
We could come up with a detailed process for how to address code of ethics violations on the part of a YPS and recommend that it be followed.
Jesse would like to create a process for how SC could be brought in on such decisions more actively.
SC / YO Relationship- Brainstorming how YO can be a resource to SC and how SC can be accountable to YRUU.
Call the YO when you’re supposed to.
Be a communication link.
Be open and honest w/ YO.
What does it mean to be accountable?
-Megan follows through with requests that come into YO.
-Let your SC buddy know what you’ve committed to so they can help you follow through.
-Buddies will take turns calling YO and telling them what they’re up to.
-Call if emails are not answered.
-Don’t email EVERYBODY to respond to one person on SC-L.
-Use SC-L ONLY for confidential things. Everything else should go to YC-L.
-Have a conference call between meetings to check in? Once a month?
-Have your own job jot. YO will send one out but keep your own at the meeting.
-Get notes up online quickly
-Put up a report on YRUU-L in between meetings.
Role of SC at GA-
Nora reads the list of suggestions created at GA by the YC staff.
JD reports back about SC at GA this year & how it went.
SC met every day and decided when to have meetings that day. SC did not go to plenary. SC decided not to invite the BOT observers to Youth Council. SC was not really a clear link between Youth Council and SC as the resolution that mandated that SC go to GA dictated.
Tabled until we get a copy of the original 1999 resolution to see the original intention of SC going to GA.
What do we do with all of SC’s ideas that they never followed through on?
Tabled until we all look over the ideas from last year.
Emergent items for tomorrow:
Friday Morning-
-Talked to Bill Sinkford and Judith Frediani. We asked four questions:
(Tony’s note to Jesse: You
probably want to run our summary of this discussion by Judith to make sure that
I haven’t misstated anybody.)
-Bill’s answers:
-Public Witness
-Pressuring Fidelity Investments which manages the UUA retirement accounts to negotiate a living wage and benefits for UNICCO janitors in Boston.
-Responding to the threat of war in Iraq with other anti-war faith groups and the National Council of Churches (of Christ)
-There is a community that is all about peace, justice, and liberty for all.
-Judith’s answers
-Now Lifespan Faith Development, formally the Religious Education department.
-The entire LFD department is now on the same floor, they have not been together for a long time
-“Religious Education and Social Justice—Two Branches from the Same Tree”—essay by ajdlakjdlf;kjaldkfja;ljf
-Creating lifespan religious education which is developed with an AR and AO lens.
-Sinkford talked about the new Identity Based Ministries
Department headed by Tequiena Boston but added that people of color and
Identity Based Ministries will have a role in the AR accountability structure
of the UUA and to focus and address the most marginalized communities.
-UUs welcome gay, lesbian, and bisexual people pretty well,
still working on transgendered, but we have done a terrible job with people of
color.
-This year the UUA is taking a pause in activities to think
things through, and process what is going on.
-At the congregational level the training activities weren’t
effective. More congregations need to
be in the dialogue.
-Trainings will be back, but revamped “I want to be candid
with you on that, because I know how important this issue is to you,” Bill states.
In the LFD area…
-In resource creating PoC are there to include and critique,
without burdening them to teach whites
-Create lifespan church schools to nurture diversity and
multi-culturalism
-Tony adds that making UUism more youth oriented will make
UUism more diverse, because youth are naturally more diverse
-Bill cautions that youth being more diverse isn’t a whole
solution, because they were in LRY but it still hasn’t been solved
-These oppressions weren’t created overnight and won’t go
away overnight
-Bill encourages youth to participate more in “adult” activities
3. If the situation that occurred with Wendell
happened again, how would they handle it differently?
-Judith stated and Bill affirmed that there is nothing they
would do differently. They stated that there are just some things that require
dismissal.
-It was an administrative decision, contacting SC was an
honest one to not pretend that SC has the power
-What was learned from this experienceàwe need to talk even more
with the YPS’s about rules and consequences
-This situation was attempted to be perused with integrity
-Discussion about behavior, clarity. There is a higher bar
-A question was asked if they felt the decision reflected our
UU principles?
-Judith and Bill both reply with yes.
-A big area of freedom and leadership is accountability, and
not abusing our freedom. Responsibility
needs to happen with this. Handled his
feelings and future.
-The individuals worth and dignity are not just the YRUU
community that was affected. Had to
bring in other individuals worth and we need to remember them in addition to
Wendell. In particular the youth’s
parents
-There was a question about accountability
-The response is that we use accountability loosely, and we
need to define it more.
-Still remember we’re all human and fallible, but this still
contradicts with our goal
-Judith adds that the Board is ultimately responsible, thus
more democratic, thus more accountable
-We all have responsibility
-Judith reviews the situation again (being an internal
training, issues, etc.) and states that it is being reevaluated
-Sinkford stated AR has moved ahead within YRUU but not at the congregational level. He stated that the Crossroads trainings haven’t been well received. He said that they are too didactic, too leader centered, and their effectiveness has mostly been limited to changing the mindset of the participants. He said that you need both: education but also justice work in the community.
-Bill says that we have learned things from trainings, for
example, that we have seen the individual’s consciousness change as the goal,
but that is not the goal. It is to
change the faith
-Engagement with the world and a spiritual effort
4. SC asks if they have any questions. They do. Status of LRP?
-Katie says the applications for facilitators have been sent
out and waiting for responses
-Bill adds that this meeting is very timely
-Judith says even with historic, will be bringing in a whole
new leadership batch
General discussion area:
-Tony adds that if we can make AR/AO part of our culture that can go a longer way than fighting it
-Judith affirms
-A question is raised of how are PoC included in curriculum development?
-Judith answers with all forms in all curricula
-Talked with the President’s Council about youth
-went very
well, a convo about youth and young adult’s.
-major
support (endorse and financial) for Mind the Gap
Tempa asks about debriefing:
-Megan suggests social situation skills
-Tony says that he thought SC would jump all over them but SC was more quiet
-Chris observes
-Ed W. says he was surprised that they replied no to the question of if they would change anything
-That response made some members mad
-More preparation for next time, concern that SC is so strong in the meeting, but when we get into a tough situation we fall apart
-Reply: Didn’t think we fell apart
**Nora’s celly goes off during the debriefing: “someone’s popular…”
-Upset over non-consultation of youth
-A comment that we still need to remember it was their decision
-A contradiction by saying they had no options but then they thought a lot about the situation as well
-A response was that he answered by saying they didn’t have any options that they could pursue with integrity
-It is mentioned that this wasn’t your only chance to communicate with these two people. Write them a letter, set up a meeting. There’s more opportunities.
11:20 am Fun with Dharma Consulting time
—“Elements of Personality” test
“It’s like Seventeen!”—Nora exclaims
(See post-packet for descriptions of personality types.)
We talk about the new structure of the UUA.
JD explains the President’s Council. Get to know your adult leadership in your district and let the YC people that you talk to know who the leadership in their district are.
Meeting with Joey Lyons
We get the multi-racial resource packet (in post packet)
There’s a UU World Article on Liberal Campus Ministry- read it.
Campus Ministry Advisory Committee Handbook (in post –packet)
Meeting in the same place as CUUYAN steering committee ’03 (1st Oct. weekend, P&E)
DRUUMM
History of DRUUMM- still organizing, basically still a mission and a vision, some events
YRUU has been in relationship with DRUUMM from the beginning as an ally organization. We must continue that tradition by supporting DRUUMM and being in relationship with them.
UUA is not ready for the large population of youth of color growing into YRUU/young adulthood. What can we do to prepare them?
DRUUMM is about ministering to youth of all kinds, especially youth of color and bi-racial and adopted youth.
We have a goal to develop youth of color leadership training-type event, want to raise $20,000 to have some gathering.
Anti-Racism
Explanation of the first Tampa meeting- youth and young adults strategizing for a-r organizing and resource development. Result was a prioritized list of objectives for the year to be re-visited (hopefully) this year at a second round. Does SC approve them?
Crossroads might want to have an inter-faith youth anti-racism leader training this year!!!
CUUYAN
CUUYAN starting to have more overnights for young adults that we can invite older YRUUers to in their districts.
1st weekend in March, coinciding with mid-size church conference is a campus ministry group training. (info in post-packet)
June YPS Review and Report
Megan reviews her skill set and jobs and gives an update.
<INSERT MEGAN’S REPORT HERE>
Review-
Megan should be confident, share and delegate work, say when she has too much work, not be too sensitive, and rock on.
…Dinner…
Mimi’s Report (See pre-packet)
Additional:
*Mimi would like to create a resource on building an agenda and managing pre and post-packets for SC members with the help of someone. Idea voided due to lack of interest.
*We should keep in contact with DRUUMM and communicate new YoC leadership contact info to them.
*Brainstormed possible workshops for GA and leaders
Consensus
Youth empowerment
Uses of light and dark in imagery
Vegan food and alternatives
Puppetistas (Chris has a good song)
District YAC leaders training
District leadership get to know you
Getting to know your BOT member
Hot Urban Trends of ‘03
Music and spirituality
Make-up party
Build a cell (JD knows someone who can lead)
Letter writing campaigns for social justice
Starting a GSA
power sing
Chanting
Radical cheerleading
Re-visited the purpose of SC role at GA from ’00 resolution (**indicates addition to resolution)
Address a lack of continuity in youth programs
Not enough time for SC to meet during the year
Connect YC and SC
***SC should make a report to Youth Council on Youth Caucus
Be an example to YRUU leadership to go to GA and have a voice in UU business
Be accessible executive body
SC a resource for Youth Caucus
****SC needs to make a GOOD report to GA on SC
SC schmoozes and lobbies for youth initiatives
Communication between UUA and YRUU
****Youth Caucus should EVALUATE SC
Improve youth-adult relations
Unity of youth voice
SC goes to biz meetings and plenary
*****Be visible and meet people
*****Support GA staff
*****Have meetings at GA
*****Have an informal-ish meeting with the BOT (dinner maybe?)
<INSERT JESSE’S REPORT HERE>
Feedback-
Can we send a copy of Synapse to every youth group?
Yes, we will do that.
Review of Jesse-
Needs to be a youth advocate when youth are being shut out of decision-making process
Good that he wants to go down to local level
Seems like he knows more about what he should be doing than previously
Come along way in understanding of youth empowerment
Working well on white male power stuff
Been good about institutionalizing anti-racism
He says he’s trying to cultivate the identity of being an ally- please help him, he’s approachable and he wants to work on it
YPS Selection
Criteria Chosen to evaluate on:
Computer skills (specifically web design)
Ability to plan large cons
Organizational skills
Multi-tasking
Ability to do office work
Accessible
People skills
Communication skills
Good a-r analysis/ a-r lens, effort to develop analysis, “will” to change
Self-knowledge
Good visioning skills
Selection Process Details:
-We will not raise points about candidates that we know from personal interaction unless it is a “red flag” type concern
“if you don’t like my fire then don’t come around ‘cause I’m going to burn one down… ‘cause I’m gonna burn one down” Word, Ed.
Bryan Beck is chosen as the new January YPS
Nora- We bonded well. Glad we’re sticking to the schedule well.
Chris- We could be more focused
Ed- Starting to see power dynamics more
Katie- Don’t leave her behind when we go out anymore! She feels treated. Sorry, Katie. You’re a beautiful, intelligent princess and you were sorely missed at the protest.
Ed- Wants to start meetings on time and be more focused
Jesse- Wants to process attending the Justice for Janitor’s protest
Tempa- Has seen boys always walking in front of girls, not calling it when she sees it but she’ll try.
JD- Same people have been talking a lot. Her expectations are lower than they could be because of slacking last year. Wants to make sure that the things we are advocating will help our constituencies and that social justice causes we take on will have the impact we hope they will.
Sam- Thinks she talks too much and isn’t going to sit at the head of table anymore.
Bethany- Has seen boys walking in front of girls and boys sitting together a lot.
Megan- Thinks people are doing well with process.
Tony- Is impressed at how institutionalized a-r is becoming, how we take it into consideration in everything we do.
Jessica- Wants to work on being less passive and saying more. Doesn’t feel like she has things to add.
Mimi- Hopes to see us think outside the box more, call each other out in a more affirming way, be more grassroots and anti-oppressive in everything we do.
The next day….
Chris did not write a report analyzing youth council- will write it for the next meeting
Wants to make an a-r version of Deep Fun or How to Be a Con Artist
Working on a-r con in Cincinnati
Self-educating
Wants to address the concern raised last year that Asian peoples are not included in Yruu a-r analysis
Group would like brief presentations on Asian people to bring the identity into the room, possibly some role plays to explore identity differences
Proposes that the POA job description would include revising the handbook and passing on relevant information from the minutes from year to year (i.e. brainstormed criteria for YPS selection)
Chris asks for feedback:
-Tony suggests having a mini-lesson every day of AR/multi-cultural items
We split into 4 working groups:
Proposal:
-A small group is formed from SC to review a YPS and 1) a conference is held w/ the YPD. 2) The YPS’ co-workers have written an evaluation in advance 3)
Proposal:
- Send out a self-addressed card asking people to re-subscribe and read synapse on-line if possible, ask for voluntary subscription fee for adults and youth
- Get an email every time a new synapse is going on-line
- Mailings should go to districts and congregations
- Put a link to registration forms
- Intern idea is golden
- Make sure it goes to CUC regions
- Who do we send the limited print editions we can afford for the next year to??
- Call the phone tree and try to send a list of people to send Synapse to in every church in every district
- Have a GA workshop on how to hold an a-r workshop
- Local youth group kit
i. Youth office survey
ii. First time con attendee packet
iii. Contact info for YCR, YO, etc
iv. Fun things- tattoos, buttons, etc.
v. A-r Movie and discussion guide
vi. How to run a youth Sunday by Kate Kidder
vii. How to get money from YRUU
viii. Deep Fun (etc)
ix. How to be a con artist
x. YRUU poster
xi. Who the adult leadership is BOT, Dist. Exec’s, etc.
- Put together a committee of white allies organizing leaders to:
i. Organize white ally meetings
ii. Create white ID group resources
iii. Outreach to new white ally/ YOC leadership
iv. Publicize DRUUMM and help keep YOC leadership connected to them
v. Get YOC leadership acquainted w/DRUUMM and vice versa
- Who to send to TAMPA II
-Rep. from white allies committee
-POC from SC
-DRUUMM youth and young adults of color committee rep.
-Someone from the YO
- Feedback from last Tampa
-Getting YOC to YRUU events
-Recruiting adult advisors of color
-a-r training for advisors (possibly in conjunction w/ Cont’l Advisor Training)
Lunch
LRP Update:
-Trying to get as diverse a group as possible
-January 9-13, 2003. 25 Beacon St. Home stay.
-SC applies just like everyone else?
-Who do we want to represent from SC?
-It’s LRP group’s decision to pick the SC member, someone who applies!
Liaisons:
Mimi makes a radical liaison proposal and which also proposes that “world trade is crappy.”
-Mimi draws a chart
-old structureànot so hot
-Mimi draws a chart
-new proposal
-anybody in YRUU can be a liaison
-SC more coordinates it
Proposal for Liaison Process
Who do we want?
Who wants us?
-Robette Dias (Crossroads), DRUUMM, UUA Anti-racism trainers - Tony
CUC- Sam
People’s Institute and Freedom School- Nora and Katie
UUSC- Jenny Dunmore
Food Not Bombs- Nora
UUJEC-
CUUYAN- Jennifer
DRUUMM- Gary Pierre
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice- Morgan Fanning
LINC- Tempa
AGM- Sam
UUDPR- Greg DuBow
Diversity of Rockford- Jessica
Chris helps Mimi revise
Take surveys (at YSJC?) about who’s involved with what
During the break, Mimi decides that she’s a human blanket and crushes Katie and then falls off of the couch.
(p.s. she’s totally wasted. JK. wasted= thriving for ever-greater standards of excellence and professionalism.)
AR Training:
Ways to get everyone to MA a-r training
-Get travel paid for or donated
-Do a SC meeting in CMWD
-Do a meeting at a church
-Get cheap flights
-Bethany and Nora get a ride with YO to Massive
-Order Bill Gardiner flowers and give him chocolates. Mimi and Jesse ask him for $1000 on Tuesday for travel and food.
Mimi scores a basket. Look out WNBA, you’ve met your match.
Youth Council
Keep Improve
Food/cooks Meeting Space
Location Treatment Levels
*Gorgeous Site Community Building
*Lots of things to do Larger Meeting Space
Linked Oppression work More A teams and community stuff
Evening Activities More diverse food choice
More cooperative games
Give resources on AR workshops
More intensive AR work
*more AR work about RACE!!!
*more real life AR movies
Keep con’t Improve con’t
Improve gender caucusing(not accepting to transgender)
How to communicate your new AR education to other aspects of your life(i.e. school, friends and family…)
Constructive partnerships to work towards anti-oppression
Make anti-oppression work less formulated
More programming
Acknowledge things we leave behind
Plenary-more time?
Larger, better support system for new people
Better AR work for people new and used to AR work
More adult privacy
More Youth of Color
More adults of color
Work on A-teams
More visibility of chaplains
Youth Council- WHAT IS THA POINT?!
-Give (more) support and processing time in AR work- make sure people know where to go after youth council
-Physical networking with governance structures
-Learn about AR work
-Forming a community/get to know each other on a deeper level
-Acknowledge the newness of the AR work
-IMPROVE YRUU
-Understand YCR’s role
Chris gives his ideas on changing the way that we are planning for next years youth council-working groups
*Jenny suggests a timeline as a resource to assist future steering committees in planning their youth councils
Youth Council 2003 Working Groups-
Plenary
Anti-Racism-outside trainers
Schedule
Worship
A-Teams
Special Events-safe sex Olympics
ID groups
Special Events Working Group:
-safe sex Olympics
-Carnival
-Chocolate covered what? Fondue party
-Skinny Dinner
-High Class/Middle Class/ Low Class Dinner (Oxfam)
-Bonfire avec marshmallows and hotdogs (vegan)
-mud wrestling
-water balloons
-hair party
-slumber party
-capture the flag.
-prank calls: restaurants, movie stores, family members.
Notes on Anti-Racism at Youth Council working group (Chris Weber, Mimi LaValley, Katie Whitworth, Jennifer Dunmore, Tony Brumfield ):
-Speakers: more educational instead of stretching
-Resistance history: educational lesson everyday. Not a Black/White issue. Add stuff about Indians, Asians, Pacific Islanders, Arabs, Latino/Latinas, and multiracial people.
-Outside Trainers (People’s Institute)
-Tony: Think of racism as a game (like Monopoly) that is oppressive. The people playing the game are not bad people. AR is not about white people versus people of color. It’s the game that needs to be changed. Unlike Monopoly, we just can’t stop playing the game. Games (social structures) are played in family, work, school, and church. They have rules. People have roles that they play. There are power structures in the game. Our challenge is to change the power relationships in the game, and to make them accountable to the people that they are meant to serve. All the different games that we play have a lot in common. The games reflect the larger culture. We have a cultural belief that a handful of people ought to control the game, and that these people get all of the rewards. This is seen in all of the social structures.
-Everyday or every-other-day have a stretching. As many days as we can have outside education. Teach something that we got somewhere else.
-Could we create a version of the game of LIFE so that players experience oppression.
-Mimi conflicted about playing a game where people experience oppression. It can traumatize people. People act out their pretend-privilege too far and make people cry.
- JD says the irony of the Monopoly game creation as an anti-capitalism game turning into this hellhole-teaching tool. Applies to society.
-We take an oppressive game at youth council and our challenge is to make it into a good game. We give participants an oppressive LIFE game and they have to change it.
-Give all A-teams a game.
-Give A-teams different games. Give A-teams different medias- i.e.: board game, TV shows.
-We talked about the TV show Weakest Link and the oppression within the game.
-the dot game should be brought back.
-the Foot ID activity that draws a poor community and the institutions (feet) that kick it. Do we want to do it? JD: No!
-Tony: gatekeepers- lets do something about that. Gatekeepers are the people who the public has direct access to. They are store cashiers, bank tellers, law enforcement officers, teachers, and receptionists. They are NOT store/bank/corporate executives, police chiefs, and school principles. At YC 2002 an activity was done for this, but the point was missed and not explained. A lot of gatekeepers are people of color. This gives the appearance that the institutions are not racist. However the gatekeepers are not accountable to communities of color. This is not the gatekeepers’ fault.
-Mimi: Gatekeepers are caught between serving their community and following the rules.
-Tony: They’re players in an oppressive game.
-Katie: The gatekeeper is a pawn.
-Tony: we need to create ways to get the point across.
-in past, YC brainstormed gate keepers and pulled one out of a hat. Had partners (bank teller, person using bank) and they showed/brainstormed power held and “in the antiracist world, if it existed, what would this look like.”
-Katie: give people two pieces of paper, someone has a stapler but would only staple a couple people’s papers but the trick is that people HAVE to get them stapled.
-or give people a shopping list and they go to a bunch of different stations. They have a budget and restrictions and when they go around to the stations, people who they have to get their things from have a separate list of rules. Point is: how the system isn’t about meeting people’s needs. It is about keeping power dynamics the way they are.
-Tony: another game:. The game is with two groups where one can succeed quickly the other is held back and success is really hard. (another example of this is the scavenger hunt adaptation.) The point is to illustrate that some youth with “successful” parents are groomed their whole life. Their parents know what is needed and what to do. Those youth are supported and mentored by a whole network of adults. The child of farm workers doesn’t have that support. Their parents don’t know what their children need to do. It’s not impossible but it takes longer and it’s more difficult for those children.
-We talked about the game where people are paired off. One says “You’re hurting me”. The other says, “It’s OK. Don’t worry about it”. Repeat for a minute. Change roles.
-Mimi did it differently: what is racism, answer, thank you, thank you for listening: repeat
-Tony: There are lots of misconceptions about privilege. We need activities to clear up the misconceptions. For example: a person who is in a privileged social category can feel oppressed, but that doesn’t mean they are. We could do an exercise where we have a man who refuses to hire a womyn because she is a womyn, and we have a womyn who refuses to hire a man because he is a man. Discuss about how these scenarios are the same (both are sex discrimination). Discuss on how they are different (the man is in a privileged group). The man is in a privileged group. He is being discriminated against in this particular case, but he is not oppressed because the whole society is dominated by men, male-identified, and male-centered. He is blocked in this one case, but he can just go somewhere else and get admitted/hired/promoted. So discrimination happens to people who are in privileged groups, but that is NOT oppression. Oppression means that can entire class of people are SYSTEMATICALLY (through the entire society) discriminated against in order to keep systemic institutional power in the hands of privileged groups.
-difference between personal prejudice and racism.
-lets spend a whole day on that. It takes a while to get out of the mind set of society.
-Tony: Privilege and oppression is not an either/or situation. It is a continuum. Because every individual has many identities, some of which are privileged and some of which are oppressed, most people are privileged in some ways and oppressed in others. Some parts of their selves are supported by society and other parts of their selves are denied/destroyed/repressed. Our challenge is to transform institutions so that they support the whole development of every individual: thus “Journey Toward Wholeness”. The challenge is also to transform institutions so that they support the inclusion of oppressed groups in decision-making so that they can participate in the development of the institution into a “whole” institution. This is especially important in a spiritual community.
-[this was added by Tony later] Whether I’m oppressed or not in a given situation depends on how I am perceived by others, not on how I perceive myself. If somebody with power over me perceives me as being in an oppressed category and acts on that perception, then I’m oppressed. The extent of my oppression depends on how others perceive me. For example, in a fancy American hotel, I’m perceived as being in an oppressed category (they don’t think I have any money), whereas when I’m visiting Mexico, I’m perceived as being in a privileged category (an American with money).
-what are things we can do about power, activities:
-how do you take power away from the person in front of the crowd. What is power, who has power. [reference Pnutt] could have been improved on if we took the meaning deeper.
We need to know who’s contacting who for outside trainers, budget issues and dates: Mimi
Remind Chris to help Mimi: Mimi
TENATIVE SCHEDULE WORKING GROUP:
Sam is typing up the tentative schedule for YC and sending it to the YO.
Sunday Parking Lot Bonanza:
Chris exited early in the dawn
Our response will include the points:
-Same-sex sleeping arrangements are made at continental events
-At GA, youth sponsors are responsible to know where youth are sleeping and youth under 18 are required to stay with their sponsor. Parents should discuss sleeping arrangements with the person who is sponsoring their youth before GA.
-Youth leaders seek to deter sexual activity with enforcing the code of ethics and creating a community that discourages it at events. Any report made to staff that the policy on sexuality has been broken is taken very seriously and addressed by the staff accordingly. There is a process for rule infractions.
*Sam will write a draft response and send it out by 10/16 to the SC-L.
Proposed alternatives:
-Try to get Crossroads to facilitate an interfaith, youth training
-Everyone go to the scheduled MA training in December
-We create our own training for youth and young adult leadership in YRUU and CUUYAN
-Some other idea we haven’t thought of yet
* We decide everyone is going to Massive Training in December. People will make their travel arrangements thru Centre and Jesse will talk to Tony about renting a van.
-Have a time at GA for the WAM to raise money for the year. It would have nothing to do with the budget.
-If we pay her out of T-shirt money, how do we raise more?
-We decide we will reimburse her for her expenses thus far and ask her to create a budget for next year so we can look into a budget line for next year’s WAM.
(Jesse said “ill will”. Wendell’s new name is Ill Will. We heart you Wendell. Go with God, friend.)
Job Jot
*Tony will have the youth make signs for when they go on food runs at cons- Dec. 31st
*Chris has a conference in Cincinnati he needs to work on March 14-16- report back in April
*Write an analysis of YC and talk to college professors regarding Asian/ Pacific islander issues- Chris, ongoing
*Put in expense reports- ASAP
*Call your SC buddy and choose one of you to call the YO and check in
*Arrange trave