Workshop 17: Voices from the Local Community

Beautiful orange sunset over a deep blue ocean. — Tapestry is Sunsetting

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Building the World We Dream About

In This Section

Introduction
From Building the World We Dream About

The second kind of (multicultural) community consists of a time and place where these different monocultural communities can encounter each other in true dialogue. This requires the leaders of the communities to be intentional about drawing culturally diverse people together. — Eric H. F. Law, in…
Workshop-at-a-Glance
From Building the World We Dream About

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 10 Activity 1: Filling the Void of Missing Voices 75 Activity 2: Prepare for Workshop 18 Field Trip 5 Closing 30 Alternate Activity 1: Photographs from Missing Voices 75…
Spiritual Preparation
From Building the World We Dream About

Prepare yourself for the presence of guests in your workshop by reflecting on the relationship you have built with each guest. Prepare yourself for the possibility that participants may hear authentic feedback and opinions they are unaccustomed to hearing from People of Color and other people…
Welcoming and Entering
From Building the World We Dream About

Materials for Activity Sign-in sheet and pen or pencil Name tags for participants (durable or single-use) and bold markers Optional: Music and player Optional: Snacks and beverages Preparation for Activity Arrange chairs in a circle and set out name tags and markers on a table….
Opening
From Building the World We Dream About

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Worship table or designated space Chalice, candle and lighter or LED battery-operated candle Leader Resource 1, Kindness Participant evaluations from previous workshop List of this workshop’s Goals Covenant established in Workshop 1 Preparation for…
Activity 1: Filling the Void of Missing Voices
From Building the World We Dream About

Activity time: 75 minutes Materials for Activity Participant journals Lined paper and pens/pencils Handout 1, The State of Racial/Ethnic Relations at _____ [name of your congregation] Optional: Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity As explained in the program Introduction, build…
Activity 2: Prepare for Workshop 18 Field Trip
From Building the World We Dream About

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Workshop 18, Handout 1, Field Trip and Community Walk Handout Preparation for Activity Copy Workshop 18, Handout 1, Field Trip and Community Walk. Plan the field trip, using guidelines provided in the program Introduction….
Closing
From Building the World We Dream About

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Snacks and beverages Taking It Home Preparation for Activity Purchase refreshments or ask participants to bring them, taking food allergies and sensitivities into account. Download Taking It Home and copy for all participants….
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Building the World We Dream About

Take a few moments right after the workshop to ask each other: What went well? What didn’t? Why? What do you think was the best moment of the workshop? Why? Did anything surprise you? Do we need to make any changes in the way we work together?
Alternate Activity 1: Photographs from Missing Voices
From Building the World We Dream About

Activity time: 75 minutes Materials for Activity Single-use, disposable cameras Handout 1, The State of Racial/Ethnic Relations at _____ [name of your congregation] Preparation for Activity Identify individuals from racially or ethnically marginalized groups in your faith community, paying specia…
Taking It Home: Voices from the Local Community
From Building the World We Dream About

The second kind of (multicultural) community consists of a time and place where these different monocultural communities can encounter each other in true dialogue. This requires the leaders of the communities to be intentional about drawing culturally diverse people together. — Eric H. F. Law, in…
Handout 1: The State of Racial-Ethnic Relations at _____ [name of your congregation]
From Building the World We Dream About

Category Statement Policies and Practices Congregants in the dominant racial group are comfortable talking about issues of race with persons from non-dominant racial groups….
Leader Resource 1: Kindness

Naomi Shihab Nye

From Building the World We Dream About

“Kindness” by Naomi Shihab Nye from Words Under the Words: Selected Poems (Far Corner Books. Portland, OR, 1995). Before you know what kindness really is you must lose things, feel the future dissolve in a moment like salt in a weakened broth. What you held in your hand, What you counted and…
Find Out More
From Building the World We Dream About

The UUA Multicultural Growth & Witness staff group offers resources, curricula, trainings, and tools to help Unitarian Universalist congregations and leaders engage in the work of antiracism, antioppression, and multiculturalism. Visit…

Download all of Building the World We Dream About (Word) (PDF) to edit or print.

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Workshop 17: Voices from the Local Community

Tapestry is Sunsetting

Shop Books & Gifts

Let the Poets Govern A Declaration of Freedom

Get Inspired for Worship

Poem in a Time of Peril

Find Faith Development Tools

Authentic Selves