RACIAL JUSTICE

The purpose of the ULC Racial Justice Team is to Educate the congregation to recognize racism and racial issues and to Equip, Lead and Support the congregation to be anti-racist agents with the people and institutions of our lives.

In October 2019, twenty ULC members participated in a 30-hour workshop called Embracing the Call to Racial Justice: A Workshop for White People, led by Melanie Morrison, PhD, founder and director of Allies for Change. The knowledge gained during this workshop led to the creation of the ULC Racial Justice Team.

We invite you to watch this short YouTube video to learn more about our team.

We invite the entire ULC community to join in this journey,  and will be updating this page to bring you links to resources and learning opportunities.  

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Our Racial Justice Team

Below are the current members of the team who will be providing materials and activities to support the above purpose.

Team Co-Leaders
Vicki Anderson
Thom McCurdy

Administrative 
Vicki Anderson, lead
Erin Frisch 

Church Presence & Worship 
Pastor Gary Bunge, lead
Gabriel Aichele 
Vicki Anderson

Communication & Information Technology 
Pastor Haley Vay Beaman, lead 
Amy Wagenknecht 
David Wiggert
Vicki Anderson

Community Advocacy & Outreach 
Miriam Bunge, lead
Michael Anderson 
Thom McCurdy
​Bill Frysinger
Jennifer Johnson
​
Education
Sue Kamens, lead 
Olga Holden
Thom McCurdy 
Cindy Ramsey
Connie Lenkowski
Jennifer Johnson

Speaking of Racial Justice

Learn More

Hidden Brain (NPR) Podcast: 
In the Air We Breathe
June 12, 2020

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Recommended Reading/Viewing

Courageous Conversations

​A bridge to undoing racism with Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Tonya Bailey, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Lansing Community College

Part II
Thursday, Dec. 10
1 – 3 pm 

Topic
Race Relations, Law Enforcement,
and Community Conversations 

Guest Panel
City of Lansing Police Chief Daryl Green, Sergeant Timothy Davis, Lieutenant Rodney Bahl, Tamara McDiarmid, James Campbell, and Mark Stevens.

Join Meeting

Explanation of the Declaration of the ELCA to People of African Descent

At the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in 2019, Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, ELCA Presiding Bishop and the ELCA Church Council formally delivered the introduction to, and a copy of, Explanation of the Declaration of the ELCA to People of African Descent. This document was accepted by Rev. Lamont Wells, President of the African Descent Lutheran Association. Watch video of the event.  

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The Sharon Bandlow Multicultural and Racial Justice Collection

Follow link to find a complete list of racial justice materials in the ULC Library.

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Understanding My Privilege
A Ted Talk

Susan E. Borrego, Chancellor of the University of Michigan-Flint, reflects on her life as an emancipated minor and dissects the emotionally charged conversation surrounding race relations in the United States. This raconteur uses her powerful first-person account of "White Privilege" and "Black Lives Matter" to underscore the responsibility each one of us has to bring about change. ​

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Podcasts

The 1619 Project

"1619” is a New York Times audio series, hosted by Nikole Hannah-Jones, that examines the long shadow of American slavery. Listen to this podcast series.

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Racial Justice Book Discussion

Weekly on Tuesdays, on hiatus until January 2021.

North/West Lower Michigan Synod event led by Rev. Rosanne Anderson, Assistant to the Bishop. The next ELCA Synod Book Discussion will be in January 2021

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Materials for Use with Children

Reading

NYTimes “Talking to Kids About Racism, Early and Often”

24 Children’s Books to Honor Black History

Listening

NPR Life Kit, “Talking Race with Young Children”
20 Minute Listen
​
NPR Life Kit, “'Raising White Kids' Author on How White Parents Can Talk About Race”
7 minute Listen

NPR Life Kit, “Why All Parents Should Talk with Their Kids About Social Identity”
​3 Minute Listen