LREDA's AntiRacism Task Force
Progress Report July 2000


Our Goals

  • Recommend the use of an anti-racism lens in Good Offices Training, setting of professional standards, Renaissance Modules, covenanting, and all aspects of professional religious education.

  • Continue to deepen our analysis and understanding of racism, anti- racism, and linked oppressions.

  • Dismantle racism as found in LREDA's structures, documents, and processes to transform the culture.

  • Encourage leadership to participate in ongoing anti-racism training.

  • Foster broad awareness of LREDA's commitment to anti-racism and our willingness to struggle with the issues.

  • Record and tell LREDA's history and progress toward becoming an anti-racist organization.

  • Facilitate the development of excellent resources for members (Lending Library, Good Offices, conflict management, etc.)

  • Create a culture where people of color will be welcomed, included and supported.

  • Encourage each LREDA member to be actively engaged in becoming anti-racist.

LREDA's Progress

  • The Anti-Racism Task Force was formed after the 1996 LREDA Fall Conference, Anti-Racism Training for Religious Educators. This conference raised our awareness of the importance of this issue to our field.

  • The task force has been funded by LREDA to continue the work of transforming our organizational culture. We meet regularly and report to the Board and membership.

  • A collection of books was purchased with funds from a grant from the Unitarian Sunday School Sunday and is available for loan to LREDA members. These materials are displayed at our conferences and General Assembly.

  • Our membership brochure includes the following statement: LREDA supports and advocates for a growing diversity of religious educators, leaders and programming to serve the expanding diversity of our congregations. We affirm this also within our membership, welcoming women and men of every age, race, physical ability and sexual orientation. We support the anti- oppressions initiatives of the UUA and our congregations.

  • The Task Force, along with several members of the LREDA Board, participated in anti-racism training with a focus on LREDA as an organization in 1999.

  • The LREDA Board has conducted an evaluation of LREDA's progress toward becoming an anti-racist organization.

  • Anti-racism issues have been reported in our documented history, Giving Birth to Ourselves, our newsletter, and past issues of the Liberal Religious Education Journal.

  • We share the commitment of the UUA and welcome the involvement of UUA staff toward our goals.

  • An anti-racism process observer will be present at our 2000 Fall Conference and Board meeting.

  • LREDA and the Task Force participated in Next Steps on the Journey Toward Wholeness, a 1999 gathering of UU stakeholders to evaluate our progress and plan for the future.

  • Task Force recommendations have been accepted by the UUA RE Department, the Good Offices leadership, the Professional Standards Task Force of LREDA, and the LREDA Board.

  • The LREDA Grant Committee (created to support congregations toward fair employment practices) evaluates applicant congregations based in part on their participation in anti-racism training and initiatives.

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