How to Build Community - Mediate a Conflict - How to Tell Someone They Sound Racist

There have been a series of articles about talking about race on God's politics by Eugene Cho and others this week. (10 reasons, Nation of cowards, Let's Talk about Race and others).

I really like this quote from Barby Zúñiga Ward as she tries to answer the question "Why is racism wrong?"

Racism is wrong because it misrepresents God’s intentions for man. It alienates man from God, by telling him that the color of his skin is a factor that determines how much God values and loves him. It is a lie with a profoundly evil inspiration.

So, how do we stand up to this evil without driving a wedge and alienating people further. Eugene Cho posted this video that I thought was immensely helpful from illdoctrine. I think this is a good tactic for any kind of conflict, or confrontation over an injustice. It's short, just three minutes.

How to Build Community - Leave Your House

We've got a lot of homework to do this week, so here we are at the Bad Waitress, I'm taking a quick break to put up pictures ( I can't think about "Transformational Leadership" any more this hour).

Today, I decided that Leaving the House would be my "How to be Community" action item. I spent maybe 45 minutes outside shovelling today and talked to some neighbors, including a Togolese family who I had as students when I taught at Jefferson. It's so hard to connect with neighbors in the winter, I remember going for a walk last April on a really nice day and telling my roommates, "It's so much easier to be a Christian in the spring." Connecting and talking with neighbors just seems natural when it's beautiful. When there's a gazillion inches of snow on the ground, it's hard. Lord help us!

I'm not sure if I'm doing much "community building" as I sit here doing leadership workshops. It does heighten my awareness of how busy our neighborhood is. I did get a chance to talk to some neighbors out shovelling as I walked over here. If there's one thing that builds connections in MN it's small talk about weather.

Alright, happy community building blizzard!

How to Build Community - A Message

Rudy Carrasco - a Pastor from Pasadena and Harambee Ministries, a CCDA organization spoke at Mars Hill in MI this week.

His talk fits in really well with the "How to Build Community" poster/to do list. So here's a link where you can find the message. (February 22 - Rudy Carrasco - Unity)

http://www.marshill.org/teaching/

this is where i'm from

I left, 2 hours ago to go to the gym. When I got out of my class you could hardly see across the street, the snow is thick!!!!! Wanda's facebook status last week was: Wanda Classen is breaking up with winter. We've had it with winter.

So to remind us why we live here, here's a love song to MPLS. Thanks to Leah for showing this to me last year, I just heard it again on the current.



PS
Speaking of the current, I became a member of MN public radio today and got my name read on the air. I'm such a celebrity. ;o)

I'm going to make lunch and then go do round one of shoveling. Happy Thursday!

How to build community

We have a picture in our dining room called "How to build community"

This poster has been up since I moved in. I'm not sure if it's Wanda's or if it's from the previous regime. I've always liked it, but it's been a more of a "oh isn't that nice" list, than a "to do" list. I've been marvelling at how I get stuff done if I put it on a list this week, so, my February 21st resolution is to try to work through this list, and maybe make a habit of some of them. I'll keep you posted on how we do.

Paz y amor - Katie

Here's the list:

Turn off your TV.

Leave your house.

Know your neighbors,

Look up when you are walking;

Greet people;

Sit on your stoop;

Plant flowers;

Use your library;

Play together;

Buy from local merchants;

Share what you have;

Help a lost dog;

Take children to the park;

Garden together;

Support neighborhood schools;

Fix it even if you didn't break it;

Have pot lucks;

Honor elders;

Pick up litter;

Read stories aloud;

Dance in the street;

Talk to the mail carrier;

Listen to the birds;

Put up a swing;

Help carry something heavy;

Barter for your goods;

Start a tradition;

Ask a question;

Hire young people for odd jobs;

Organize a block party;

Bake extra and share;

Ask for help when you need it;

Open your shades;

Sing together;

Share your skills;

Take back the night;

Turn up the music;

Turn down the music;

Listen before you react to anger;

Mediate a conflict;

Seek to understand;

Learn from new and uncomfortable angles;

Know that no one is silent athough many are not heard. Work to change this

mark my words, mark her words

I just returned from a reading at the Loft. Emily (former roommate dear friend) was reading from her novel in process. Tentatively titled "The Violinist."

Emily writes in a really rich detailed wonderful language. She creates characters and situations that make you feel like you are there. I've never been to Venice, but the way that she described it tonight, it made me feel like I had got the little vacation my heart is aching for.

I just want to be the first on the blogosphere to say this, though maybe someone else already has.

THIS NOVEL IS GOING TO GET PUBLISHED (some day soon, like after she finishes writing it) AND THE SALES ARE GOING TO BLOW UP.

Emily is going to be a really really really big deal. Not just because I love her and am biased, but I would have bought this novel tonight if it was available for sale.

So look for a book by Emily K. Bright (emily krusack) sometime in 2012. It will be a very very good read.

After the reading we filled our plates with chocolate covered strawberries and zucchini with hummus, and then made the trek down the block to Wasabi. It was excellent.

We've had a lot of losses and stresses in our house lately so it was nice to have a fun night out to experience great literature and great sushi.

New In Town

There's a new Renee Zellweger movie, set in Minnesota, "New in Town." The lead was originally an African American woman but somehow morphed into Renee.

This was an interesting article about it:

http://www.theroot.com/views/flipping-script

Thanks to the reconcilliation blog for posting this.