3029/4005 JUUST Change Anti Oppression Consultancy

Sponsor: UUA Staff

Speakers: Paula Cole Jones, Susan Gore

Prepared for UUA.org by: Annette Marquis, Reporter; Jone Johnson Lewis, Editor

"The soul shapes the world that I live in. It grows by evolving new states of being." Ralph Waldo Emerson's words aptly describe the vision of a new service offered by the UUA, the JUUST Change Anti-Oppression Consultancy, according to Paula Cole Jones, one of the consultancy's coordinators. Susan Gore, also a coordinator, likened the JUUST Change name to the Nike ad, "Just Do It," but with our own unique UU twist, our commitment to work for justice.

Gore explained that JUUST Change is not a program but rather a service that meets congregations where they are in their anti-oppression work. By offering resources, people, and support, JUUST Change helps congregations make the most of the programs already offered, such as Jubilee World, Beyond Categorical Thinking, Welcoming Congregation, and the Social Justice Empowerment Program, to move congregations to a new state of being.

JUUST Change is a ministry by lay people and ministers who are committed to working against oppression of all types. In addition to anti-racism, JUUST Change consultants will work with congregations around BGLT issues, accessibility, and economic justice. A total of 12 consultants have been trained to work with congregations across the country. In addition, three districts, Metro New York, Mountain Desert, and Joseph Priestly, have incorporated the JUUST Change consultancy into the anti-oppression work they are already doing. Tracey Robinson-Harris, UUA Director of Congregational Services, indicated that the consultants were chosen because of their expertise in working on anti-racism/anti-oppression issues. Several JUUST Change consultants were present in the workshop and introduced themselves and why they are doing this work. Gore also read statements made by JUUST Change consultants about this work:

• "Doing this work is like breathing – natural (you just do it without thinking) and necessary for life."
• "This work feeds me. In and beyond congregations, there is an explosion of life."
• "I do this work because I must."
• "I have a responsibility to my ancestors. It's mandatory if you are living your faith."

To apply to the JUUST Change service, congregations need the signatures of the board president, the social justice leader, and the minister to demonstrate that all three are supportive of the work that might take place.

When a consultant begins to work with a congregation, Cole said, they will first conduct an assessment that includes the work the congregation has already done or is involved in, the challenges it faces, and the work they have not been able to do because of these challenges. According to Jones, "we don't get the tools we need to do anti-racism, anti-oppression work well. If we did, this Association would be different than it is now. That's the proof."

After assessing in what direction the congregation wants to go, the JUUST Change consultants will work with the congregation to build a plan for the year that will "help congregations know the resources that are available, be good users of them, and reach the potential that you can," Cole said. The consultant will work with the congregation throughout the year and at the end of the year conduct a second assessment of lessons learned. Although the consultancy is planned for one year, the consultants will help the congregations develop a congregational plan for the next year.

Cole suggested some steps that congregations can take on their own to get things moving in their congregations:

1. Start an Adult RE study group on the book Soul Work, Anti-racist Theologies in Dialogue by Marjorie Bowens-Wheatley and Nancy Palmer Jones, Editors.
2. Start an ongoing discussion on race and ethnicity. This starts to cultivate a group of people who are interested in the topic. "Racism gets it power from our silence," Cole said.
3. Connect leaders to peer groups outside of the congregation such as the district transformation team.
4. Start to engage with issues related to anti-racism/anti-oppression on a local level.

"How do we address the issue that we are UUs and are not racist?" asked an audience member. Cole responded that congregations need to use a model of building a constituency and work with these gatekeepers – take an accurate picture of the current climate before moving on to new work.

Robinson-Harris said that there is no hierarchy of oppression, that congregations don't need to argue about which oppression is harder. Congregations need to start talking about linked oppressions and looking at the similarities between them. Strengths that a congregation has developed in addressing one area of oppression can be used to help them in another.

Another participant asked, "How do we get other people involved?" Robinson-Harris replied that you can do it for the people who will, "for the people who are ready." They will begin to model that this is safe work and influence others.

Participants were encouraged to talk with their congregations about the JUUST Change consultancy and to contact Robinson-Harris if they are interested in becoming involved.

Unitarian Universalist Association
25 Beacon St. | Boston, MA 02108 | 617-742-2100