06/21/19 UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST GENERAL ASSEMBLY THEME PROGRAM & CONVERSATION ‑ 1:30 P.M. PT CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY: HEAR INK HTTP://WWW.HEARINK.COM **********DISCLAIMER********** THE FOLLOWING IS AN UNEDITED ROUGH DRAFT TRANSLATION FROM THE CART CAPTIONER'S OUTPUT FILE. THIS TRANSCRIPT IS NOT VERBATIM AND HAS NOT BEEN PROOFREAD. TO DO SO IS AN EXTRA FEE. THIS FILE MAY CONTAIN ERRORS. PLEASE CHECK WITH THE SPEAKER(S) FOR ANY CLARIFICATION. THIS TRANSCRIPT MAY NOT BE COPIED OR DISSEMINATED TO ANYONE UNLESS YOU OBTAIN WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE OFFICE OR SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT IS PROVIDING CART CAPTIONING TO YOU; FINALLY, THIS TRANSCRIPT MAY NOT BE USED IN A COURT OF LAW. **********DISCLAIMER********** KM >> GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. IT IS MY DISTINCT PLEASURE TO TURN THE STAGE OVER TO THE COMMISSION ON INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE WHO IS DOING INCREDIBLE WORK FOR AND WITH US. LESLIE TAKAHASHI IS OUR FEARLESS LEADER AND WILL LEAD THE REST OF THE SESSION. >> NICE TO BE UP HERE IN MY OFFICIAL CAPACITY. GOOD PEOPLE, WE WELCOME YOU ALL WITH AN APPRECIATION OF YOUR TIME, YOUR THOUGHTS, AND WILLINGNESS TO JOIN US AND EXPLORE THE PROMISES OF OUR TRADITION. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY. WE INVITE YOU TO SEE THIS MOMENT IN OUR HISTORY WHERE WE CAN FULFILL OUR NOBLEST VALUES, DEEPEN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHO WE ARE TOGETHER AND WITH OUR THEOLOGY FOR OUR FUTURE. MAY WE MOVE FORWARD WITH OPENNESS FOR THE DIVERSITY WE ARE BRINGING. [APPLAUSE] >> WE LIGHT OUR CHALICE WHERE THESE WORDS FROM REV. MANISH MISHRA. THE UNIVERSE SINGS NO LESS BECAUSE TIME AND SPACE WEAR US THIN. THE MUSIC CALLS US TO RECOGNIZE OUR LIMITATIONS, TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE SONG IS BEST SUNG WITH OTHERS. >> OUR FIRST COMMITMENT, WHEN APPOINTED AS YOUR COMMISSION ON INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE, WAS TO GROUND OUR WORK IN WHAT OUR FAITH CALLS US TO DO AND OUR WORK OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS HAS ALLOWED US TO DEEPEN OUR PERSONAL FAITH COMMITMENTS. AS A LIVING TRADITION, MAY WE MAKE THE CARES OF THIS WORLD OUR SACRED TEXT AND ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE TO CREATE DEEP AND BELOVED COMMUNITY AMONG US. MAY WE VALUE AND CENTER ALL GIFTS SO THAT TOGETHER WE CREATE THE NEW, VITAL, SUSTAINING AND TRANSFORMATIONAL. AS PEOPLE OF FAITH, MAY WE ASK HOW DO WE FULFILL THE UNIVERSALIST PROMISE AND AFFIRM THE WORTH AND DIGNITY NOT ONLY OF THOSE WITHIN OUR DOORS BUT THOSE WHO ARE OUR FELLOW CITIZENS OF THE WORLD? AND MAY OUR LIVED BELIEF BE THAT OUR FATES ARE INTERTWINED, AND OUR DESTINIES LINKED. OUR ABILITY TO COMMIT ANEW TO THESE CONNECTIONS WILL DETERMINE OUR ABILITY TO TRANSFORM OURSELVES AND TO BE COMMUNITIES OF SUSTENANCE AND STRENGTH IN OUR TROUBLED, PRECIOUS, SHRINKING, WARMING WORLD. >> WHAT DOES OUR FAITH DEMAND OF US? IT DEMANDS THAT WE RESPOND WITH FAITHFULNESS TO THE TASK WE HAVE COMMITTED OURSELVES TO WHEN WE DECLARE THAT UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM IS OUR FAITH HOME. WE BEAR WITNESS TO OUR FAITHFULNESS THROUGH HOW WE LIVE INTO OUR SHARED COMMITMENTS AND ASPIRATIONS, AND TO THE VISION, THEY ARTICULATE OF JUSTICE, EQUITY, CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY IN OUR SEARCH FOR TRUTH, COMPASSION IN OUR RELATIONS, AND THE PURSUIT OF COMMUNAL BELONGING. OUR FAITH CALLS US INTO RIGHT RELATION TO WHAT WE PROFESS AS A FAITH COMMUNITY IN SEARCH OF BELOVED COMMUNITY PARTICULARLY WHEN WE HAVE CENTERED PERSONAL WANTS AND COMFORT OVER ENGAGING THE WORK OF PERSONAL AND INSTITUTIONAL TRANSFORMATION THAT BRINGS US CLOSER TO PEACE, LIBERTY, AND JUSTICE. >> SO OFTEN WE TALK ABOUT CONGREGATIONAL POLITY AND COVENANT AS STRUCTURES OF ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT FOR OUR MOVEMENT ‑ AS IF THIS IS ONLY OUR BUSINESS MODEL. HOWEVER, OUR POLITY AND COVENANTAL AGREEMENTS ENABLE US TO COME TOGETHER IN WAYS THAT HONOR OUR COMMITMENTS TO THE SACREDNESS OF OUR GATHERED COMMUNITIES. THIS IS FOUNDATIONAL TO OUR FAITH. IT SPEAKS TO WHO WE ARE, AND HOW WE ARE TO BE, WHEN WE ARE TOGETHER. CONGREGATIONAL POLITY SAYS THAT EACH OF US, AS INDIVIDUALS, MAKES UP THE SHARED BODY WHICH IS OUR COMMUNITY OF FAITH. EACH OF US IS AN EQUAL AND NECESSARY PARTNER IN OUR LIVING TRADITION. EACH OF US IS RESPONSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS FAITH. OUR COVENANT DEFINES OUR RELATIONSHIPS ‑ EVER ENLARGING OUR CIRCLE OF CONCERN. OUR COVENANT CALLS US TO HOLD URGENT AND DEAR THE VISION OF UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM DEDICATED TO BUILDING THE BELOVED COMMUNITY OF DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, EQUITY AND JUSTICE, WITH COMPASSION AND LOVE FOR THE INFINITE VARIETY OF CREATION.WE HAVE BOUND OURSELVES TOGETHER IN FAITHFUL DISCERNMENT ‑ NOT JUST BY STRUCTURE BUT IN OUR LEARNING AND LIVING. OUR COMMON MINISTRY MUST LEAD US FORWARD TOWARDS TRANSFORMATION AND LIBERATION. WE ARE CALLED TO TRAVEL THIS PATH TOGETHER BECAUSE "TOGETHER WE ARE MORE". >> PLEASE RISE IN BODY OR IN SPIRIT AND JOIN IN A HYMN IDEALLY SUITED FOR THIS MOMENT. TOGETHER WE ARE MORE WITH COAUTHORED BY LESLIE TAKAHASHI AND ANGELA. I INVITE ALLISON TO PLAY THE CHORUS THROUGH ONCE AND I'LL TEACH IT TO YOU LINE BY LINE. >> REPEAT AFTER ME. I AM THE HOPE. I AM THE HOPE. YOU ARE THE COURAGE. YOU ARE THE COURAGE. TOGETHER WE ARE MORE TOGETHER WE ARE MORE. I AM THE HOPE. I AM THE HOPE. YOU ARE THE COVERAGE. YOU ARE THE CHURCH. TOGETHER WE ARE MORE. TOGETHER WE ARE MORE EXCELLENT. LET'S TRY ALL OF THAT TOGETHER AND WE'LL BE ON OUR WAY. READY? HERE WE GO. I AM THE HOPE. YOU ARE THE COURAGE. TOGETHER WE ARE MORE. I AM THE HOPE. YOU ARE THE COURAGE. TOGETHER WE ARE MORE. WE CAN FACE THE DAWN TOMORROW. WITH THE STRENGTH OF WHAT WE SEE. WE CAN GLIMPSE THE FAR HORIZON. SEE THE FOREST AND TREES. IF WE JOIN IN FAITH TOGETHER, IN BELOVED COMMUNITY. WE WILL KNOW THIS WORLD AS HEAVEN IN ITS UNITY. YOU ARE THE HOPE OF I AM THE COURAGE. TOGETHER WE ARE MORE. YOU ARE THE HOPE I AM THE COURAGE TOGETHER WE ARE MORE WE CAN HEAR ANOTHER STORY AND ITS FORCE WILL SHAPE OUR OWN WE CAN WITNESS TO LIFE'S WARNINGS AND WE NEED TO HEAR ALONE WE CAN LEARN NEW WAYS OF KNOWING 'TIL OUR DEEP HE FELT HOPES BE KNOWN WE CAN HONOR ALL THE JOURNEYS AND BRING ALL THE TRAVELERS HOME. WE ARE THE HOPE WE ARE THE COURAGE. TOGETHER WE ARE MORE. WE ARE THE HOPE WE ARE THE COURAGE TOGETHER WE ARE MORE WE CAN KEEP EACH OTHER MOVING ON THE PATH HOWEVER LONG WE CAN KEEP THE GOAL BEFORE US OF A WORLD WHERE ALL BELONG WE CAN KNOW THE EARTH BENEATH US REACH OUT TO RIGHT OUR WRONG AS WE JOURNEY ALL TOGETHER IN THE LOVE WHICH MAKES US STRONG WE ARE THE HOPE WE ARE THE COURAGE TOGETHER WE ARE MORE WE ARE THE HOPE WE ARE THE COURAGE TOGETHER WE ARE MORE TOGETHER WE ARE MORE >> GOOD AFTERNOON. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. >> I'M REVEREND LESLIE TAKAHASHI, SHE/HER/HERS AND I AM THE CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION ON INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE. WE WANT TO TAKE A LITTLE TIME AND OFFER AN UPDATE ON OUR WORK, ESPECIALLY OUR WORK SINCE WE REPORTED TO THIS ASSEMBLY LAST YEAR. THE COMMISSION ON INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE WAS CHARGED WITH IDENTIFYING THE LONG‑TERM CULTURAL AND INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE NEEDED TO REDEEM THE ESSENTIAL PROMISE AND IDEAL OF UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M MARY BYRON. WE WERE ‑‑ OH SHE/HER/HERS. WE WERE SPECIFICALLY CHARGED WITH ADDRESSING THE LONG‑FESTERING ISSUES OF RACE, RACISM AND WHITE SUPREMACY CULTURE WITHIN UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM AND AS PART OF OUR CHARGE WERE DIRECTED TO UNPACK THE CONTROVERSY IN THE SPRING OF 2017 AROUND THE SOUTHERN REGIONAL LEAD HIRING PROCESS. WE DID THIS IN OUR FIRST YEAR AND REPORTED EXTENSIVELY ON THIS AT LAST GENERAL ASSEMBLY, FINDING, IN SUMMARY THAT OUR ASSOCIATION HAD CREATED CONDITIONS IN WHICH RELIGIOUS PROFESSIONALS OF COLOR COULD NOT THRIVE OR, IN MANY CASES, EVEN SURVIVE. YOU CAN READ OUR REPORT ON OUR WEBSITE. MY NAME IS [INDISCERNIBLE] HE/HIM/HIS. WE MADE AUDIOLOGIC BASED ON OUR FIRST YEAR'S WORK, INCLUDING THAT EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION WAS POSSIBLE WITHIN OUR FAITH. THAT MULTIPLE TRUTHS COINCIDE WE MOVE BEST WHEN WE MOVE TOGETHER. THE OPPRESSIVE SYSTEMS WE HAVE MOVED IN HAVE WOUNDED PEOPLE. WE LACKED COMMON AGREEMENTS ON PAST INEQUITIES AND DETERMINED A NEW UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM THAT ADDRESSES THESE SYSTEMS WERE BETTER FOR EVERYBODY. WE IDENTIFIED WHAT THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A MORE DIVERSE, EQUITABLE, AND INCLUSIVE CONGREGATION WOULD LOOK LIKE. WHAT THE UU STAFF WOULD LOOK LIKE, WHAT PARTNER AND AFFILIATE ORGANIZATIONS WOULD LOOK LIKE, IN ITCH TO WHAT CREDENTIALING WOULD LOOK LIKE, AND WHAT WE FOUND WAS STRUCTURAL AND SYSTEMATIC CHANGE WERE NEEDED. >> I'M REVEREND NATALIE [INDISCERNIBLE] SHE/HER/HERS PRONOUNS. AS WE LOOKED AT INFORMATION WE REALIZED IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MAKE RECOMMENDATION ABOUT THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM WE WANT TO CREATE, BECAUSE WE SO OFTEN FOCUS ON THE DIFFICULTIES OF PEOPLE OF COLOR OUTSIDE THE WHITE REVERSE SIS GENDER STRAIGHT DOMINANT IDENTITY EXPERIENCE THAT IS SO OFTEN CENTRAL IN OUR STATE. SO WE FOCUSED ON CONVENING WHAT WE CALLED THE HAPPY VALLEY COLABORATORY WHICH GAVE US A CHANCE TO BRING TOGETHER PEOPLE TO CREATE A VISION FOR WHAT AN INCLUSIVE, DIVERSE AND MORE EQUITABLE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM COULD LOOK LIKE. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THOSE WHO CAME TOGETHER. PERHAPS THE MOST REFRESHING AND INSPIRING PART WAS WHEN WE DON'T HAVE TO SPEND OUR TIME ARGUING ABOUT WHETHER WE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH RACIAL BIAS, WE CAN GET A LOT DONE. [APPLAUSE] MANY, MANY IDEAS ARE OUT THERE, PENT UP AND AWAITING EXPRESSION AND THE SPIRIT OF CREATIVITY AND COOPERATION SHOULD GIVE US ALL HOPE. I AM ELIAS ORTEGA. HE/HIM PRONOUNS. THIS YEAR WE ASKED, WHAT BENCHMARKS, PROCESSES AND ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISMS ARE NEEDED TO TRANSFORM PERSISTENTLY INEQUITABLE MATERIAL OUTCOMES INTO FULL ACCESS, FULL INCLUSION AND FULL PARTICIPATION IN OUR COMMUNITIES, SEMINARIES, AFFILIATE ORGS, CREDENTIALING BODIES, AND THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS FOR UUS OF COLOR (RECOGNIZING THE MULTIPLE SOCIAL LOCATIONS PERSONS OF COLOR CAN HOLD RELATIVE TO GENDER VARIANCE, CLASS AND ABILITY)? WE KEPT CONCERN ABOUT RELIGIOUS PROFESSIONALS WORKED NOT SACRIFICE HEALTH AND WHOLENESS TO SERVE AMONG US AND ALSO TURNING OUR ATTENTION TO THE GREATER ISSUE OF HOW WE WELCOME, OR FAIL TO WELCOME, A DIVERSITY OF PEOPLE INTO THE CONGREGATIONS AND OTHER COMMUNITIES OF OUR FAITH TRADITION. IN PART WE DID THIS BY CONTINUING TO TAKE TESTIMONIALS OF THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM AND MANY RESPONDED TO THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TELL THE STORIES THEY HAVE HAD ON THEIR HEART AND LET THEIR VOICES BE WE ARE APPRECIATIVE OF THE MANY, MANY PEOPLE WE HAVE BEEN COLLECTING TESTIMONY AND DATA TO TRY TO LOOK FOR PATTERNS ACROSS THE DATA WHERE SO MUCH. CONVERSATION THUS FAR THAT HAS BEEN RESHAPING OUR SHAPE AROUND THE EVENTS WHICH WERE NAMED AND EXPLORED, OFTEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA. DATA COLLECTION THROUGH INTERVIEWS, FOCUS GROUPS AND DOCUMENT SUBMISSIONS HAVE PRODUCED 100 PLUS HOURS OF AUDIO AND VIDEO RECORDINGS, AND 450 PAGES OF DOCUMENTS FROM OVER 225 PARTICIPANTS.FROM THIS WE IDENTIFIED 10 CRITICAL AREAS OF INTERVENTION, WHICH WE HAVE REVISED MORE RECENTLY TO ENCOMPASS THE ANALYSIS OF THE DATA WE RECEIVED AND THE PATTERNS THAT IT REVEALED. THROUGH OUR WORK THIS YEAR, WE IDENTIFIED TEN CRITICAL AREAS FOR INTERVENTION. AND IF ADDRESSED, WE BELIEVE THESE AREAS CAN ALLOW US TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS TOWARDS CREATING A MORE INCLUSIVE, EQUITABLE, HOSPITABLE AND DIVERSE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM. WE WILL TOUCH BRIEFLY ON THESE AREAS TODAY AND YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT THEM ON OUR BLOG. >> TODAY YOU WILL HEAR US ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION ABOUT SOLUTIONS MORE THAN PROBLEMS, HOWEVER, THESE AREAS COME OUT OF OUR DEEP ENGAGEMENT WITH WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING AMONG US. WE BELIEVE THAT WE MUST ARTICULATE A THEOLOGY OF LIBERATION, EXPERIMENTATION, AND INNOVATION GROUNDED IN OUR UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST PRINCIPLES AND SOURCES OF INSPIRATION. WE NEED TO GROUND OUR COMMUNITIES IN A SHARED THEOLOGY THAT HELPS UNEARTH, MANIFEST, AND POINT THE WAY TOWARDS LIBERATION ALONG WITH EXPERIMENTATION THAT STRIVES FOR OUR COLLECTIVE FLOURISHING. THE DATA WE HAVE COLLECTED LED US TO CONCLUDE THAT WE NEED COMMUNITIES BASED ON COVENANT AND COMMITMENT RATHER THAN COMFORT AND CONFORMITY WITH SHARED LEARNING AND EXPLORATION AS A FOUNDATION. IT'S OKAY TO COLLABORATE. WE DON'T MIND THAT. [APPLAUSE] MOST INSTITUTIONAL FORMS OF UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM ARE CONGREGATIONAL AND DOMINATED BY THE PRACTICES FAMILIAR AND COMFORTABLE FOR THOSE WHO ARE WHITE MALE, STRAIGHT AND WELL‑OFF, CIS‑GENDERED AND ABLE‑BODIED. THESE CAN BE SEEN AS THE ONLY RIGHT WAY OF BEING TOGETHER AND DO NOT ALLOW SPACE FOR THOSE FROM OTHER EXPERIENCES TO LEND THEIR LEADERSHIP AND GIFTS. THOSE WHO WOULD CALL US TO MORE FULLY LIVE INTO A LIBERATORY FAITH ARE OFTEN CITED AS TROUBLED OR TROUBLESOME AND WE LACK PROCESSES TO ALLOW HEALTHY CONFLICT INSTEAD OF RESORTING TO SECRECY, BULLYING AND ISOLATION. THESE TIMES AND OUR LIVING TRADITION REQUIRES US TO ALWAYS BE LIVING INTO NEW WAYS OF BEING. [APPLAUSE] >> WE ALSO BELIEVE WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE LOSS OF THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN WELCOMED OR ACCEPTED INTO UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM AND DEEPEN OUR PRACTICE OF HOSPITALITY. PEOPLE OF COLOR, LBTGQ PEOPLE, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND POOR PEOPLE ARE NOT NEW WITHIN UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM AND MANY OF US HAVE BEEN HERE ALL OUR LIVES. [APPLAUSE] AND YET SO MANY HAVE COME, SERVED AND EVENTUALLY HAD TO LEAVE BECAUSE OF DISILLUSIONMENT, TRAUMA OR A CULTURE OF WHITE SUPREMACY. MANY OF THEM ARE PART OF THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO IDENTIFY IN CENSUS AND SURVEYS AS BEING UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST AND WHO HAVE NOT FOUND A WAY TO BE COMFORTABLE IN OUR CONGREGATIONS. THE GREATER UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST MOVEMENT SHOULD BE AWARE OF THESE PEOPLE AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS AND SHOULD ALSO RECOMMIT TO THE LEARNING AND GROWING THAT WOULD ALLOW OUR COMMUNITIES AND BODIES TO BE MORE HOSPITABLE. [APPLAUSE] WE ASSERT THAT WE MUST VALUE THE KNOWLEDGE OF PEOPLE OF COLOR AND OTHER GROUPS WE MARGINALIZE IN OUR COMMON LIFE AND ENSURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FULL INVOLVEMENT FOR UUS OF COLOR IN THE VARIOUS SETTINGS OF OUR FAITH. WE HAVE HEARD COUNTLESS STORIES OF HOW OUR CONGREGATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS DIMINISH PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO COME IN. MANY PEOPLE OF COLOR DO NOT END UP STAYING, SOME ARE REPELLED IMMEDIATELY, OTHERS ARE BURNED OUT. THOSE WHO OPT TO STAY LABOR TO NURTURE OUR FAITH AND ARE NOT ACKNOWLEDGED FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS. AND THIS YEAR WE SAW THAT THOSE WHO WOULD BE ALLIED ARE OFTEN FORCED OUT. WE ALSO NEED TO UNDERSTAND PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE MORE LIKELY TO COME INTO UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM BECAUSE THEY HOLD ANOTHER MARGINALIZED IDENTITY REJECTED IN THEIR BIRTHRIGHT RELIGIONS, ESPECIALLY LBGTQ. >> WE BELIEVE WE MUST PROVIDE TOOLS FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THE SYSTEMIC AND CULTURAL IMPACTS OF OPPRESSION AMONG US. WE ALSO DO NOT HAVE TRAUMA‑INFORMED MINISTRIES AND SO DO NOT UNDERSTAND‑‑AND OFTEN‑‑JUDGE SYSTEMIC EFFECTS OF RACISM AS INCOMPETENCE. WE DO NOT RECOGNIZE THE SYSTEMIC EFFECTS OF RACISM AND WHITE SUPREMACY CULTURE WHICH RESULTS IN MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR STRUGGLING ECONOMICALLY AND STILL DEPENDING ON SELF‑FUNDING TO PARTICIPATE IN MUCH OF OUR VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES. THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS INCREASINGLY OUT OF REACH FOR MOST. WE SHOULD CONSIDER THE COST OF LOSING WORK FOR THOSE YOUNGER IN THEIR CAREER OR IN MORE TENUOUS POSITIONS BECAUSE OF THEIR RACE OR OTHER MARGINALIZED IDENTITIES. WE NEED TOOLS FOR ASSESSING OUR CONGREGATIONAL PRACTICES TO UNDERSTAND HOW THEY UPHOLD A CULTURE WHICH PRIVILEGES WHITENESS AND WE NEED HEALTHY WAYS OF MANAGING THE CONTROVERSY AND BACKLASH DIRECTED AT THE LAY LEADERS AND RELIGIOUS PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE. LAST YEAR WE SPOKE EXTENSIVELY ABOUT THE NEED TO ENSURE QUALITY OF LIVELIHOOD FOR RELIGIOUS PROFESSIONALS OF COLOR, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH COMPLEX IDENTITIES FOR WHOM OUR CURRENT SYSTEMS ARE DESTRUCTIVE (OR WHO BEAR THE BRUNT OF THE DESTRUCTIVE POWER OF OUR CURRENT BROKEN SYSTEMS). WE WILL HEAR SOME OF THE RESPONSES TO OUR WORK IN A FEW MINUTES. >> THE DATA WE HAVE GATHERED ALSO MAKES IT CLEAR THAT WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE AND ENABLE LEADERSHIP FROM THOSE WHO ARE UNDERREPRESENTED IN OUR COMMUNITIES INCLUDING PEOPLE OF COLOR, YOUNG ADULTS, LBGTQ PEOPLE ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE TRANSGENDER OR GENDER NON‑BINARY, PEOPLE WITH LIMITED ECONOMIC RESOURCES, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AND WORKING AGE PEOPLE. INTERVENTION WITH THE 18‑60 AGE RANGES AND THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN LEADERSHIP (YOUNG ADULTS AND WORKING‑AGE PEOPLE) IS NEEDED. WHO HAS POWER? THE YOUNG FOLKS ALREADY LIVING INTO THE CULTURE THAT WE WANT AND SO THEY HAVE VALUABLE SKILLS. [APPLAUSE] WE NEED TO BE REMINDED THAT YOUTH ARE NOT THE FUTURE, THEY ARE THE PRESENT. [APPLAUSE] PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDERVALUED IN THE DOMINANT CULTURE ALSO HAVE MANY OF THE INTELLIGENCES NEEDED TO NAVIGATE A MORE DIVERSE WORLD. WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT WE MUST IDENTIFY, DEVELOP AND SPREAD EXAMPLES OF INNOVATION OF EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND DIVERSITY AND ESTABLISH CHANNELS OF INNOVATION AND RISK‑TAKING. PEOPLE AND CONGREGATIONS ARE TAKING RISKS TO BE INCLUSIVE AND WE HAVE MODELS WORTH CONSIDERING, NOT YET FOR WIDESPREAD REPLICATION, RATHER, TO INFORM AND INSPIRE. DEVELOPING A CULTURE OF EXPERIMENTATION WILL BE ESSENTIAL IN BRIDGING THE LARGE GAP BETWEEN WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE NEED TO BE. LEARNING TO BE COMFORTABLE WITH RISK, HEALTHY CONFLICT AND CHANGE IS ALSO CRITICAL. CULTURE CHANGE WILL NECESSITATE THAT WE STOP PUNISHING OUR TRUTH‑TELLERS AND RISK‑TAKERS AND INSTEAD CULTIVATE CULTURES OF CURIOSITY AND HUMILITY. >> AS WE HAVE HEARD THE STORIES OF HOW PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TREATED IN OUR COMMUNITIES, WE ALSO BELIEVE IT CRITICAL TO DEVELOP HEALTHY PROCESSES FOR REPAIR, RESTORATION AND REPARATIONS. WITHIN OUR LARGER ASSOCIATION AND WITHIN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES, WE NEED HEALTHY PROCESSES FOR REPAIRING RELATIONSHIPS WHICH HAVE BEEN DAMAGED AND UNDERSTANDING THE BOUNDARIES THAT COME WITH SUCH RESTORATION. WHEN WRONG IS DONE, OUR PRACTICE SHOULD BE TO NAME AND CONFRONT RATHER THAN IGNORE OR COVER UP. [APPLAUSE] UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM AS A WHOLE IS WOEFULLY BEHIND OTHER CIVIC AND RELIGIOUS GROUPS IN EXPLORING WHAT IT WOULD MEAN TO MAKE REAL REPARATIONS TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN WRONGED AS THE RESOURCES WHICH FUEL OUR FAITH HAVE BEEN BUILT ON THE UNCOMPENSATED PROPERTY OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND THE UNPAID WORK OF PEOPLE OF COLOR, ESPECIALLY AFRICAN AMERICANS DURING SLAVERY, AND OF WOMEN. [APPLAUSE] AND THE LAST AREA WE HAVE IDENTIFIED BASED ON INTERVIEWS, CONVERSATIONS AND SURVEYS IS THE NEED TO ENACT MECHANISMS OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND INTEGRITY TOWARDS SHARED GOALS OF EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND DIVERSITY WHICH TRANSCEND PARTICULAR LEADERSHIP. MECHANISMS OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND INTEGRITY THAT IDENTIFY THE CHAINS OF COMMAND, PLACE CHECKS AND BALANCES THROUGH THE SYSTEM, AND PROMOTE JUST RELATIONS ARE NEEDED. ACCOUNTABILITY IS TO THE PRINCIPLES, TO THE COMMITMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN AND WILL BE MADE; IT IS NOT ACCOUNTABILITY TO ANY ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE. >> AS WE LEAVE HERE, THE COMMISSION WILL BE FOCUSED ON COMPLETING OUR DATA COLLECTION ACTIVITIES AND OUR AUDIT OF SYSTEMIC RACISM. WE WILL CONTINUE TO ANALYZE THE INFORMATION WE HAVE COLLECTED TO DATE INCLUDING ALL THAT YOU WILL SHARE WITH US OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS. THE LAST AREA OR INQUIRY FROM OUR CHARGE WILL BE TO EXPLORE SYSTEMATIC WAYS TO REPAIR THE HARMS AND HEAL RELATIONSHIPS. WE WILL THEN TURN OUR ATTENTION TO WRITING OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CONTINUED WORK IN OUR ASSOCIATION AND CONGREGATIONS. WE'LL BE DELIVERING THOSE CULMINATING IN A FINAL REPORT AT NEXT YEAR'S GENERAL ASSEMBLY. WHEN WE STARTED THIS WORK, WE REFLECTED ON THE NECESSITY FOR OUR WORK NOT TO BE A REPORT THAT SITS ON A SHELF AND IS NOT ACTIONED. [APPLAUSE] OUR HISTORY HAS MANY STORIES OF STARTING ANTI‑RACISM EFFORTS, MOVING ON WITHOUT COMPLETING THE WORK AND REAPING THE CONSEQUENCES AND HARM OF THIS APPROACH. IN ONE OF THE FOCUS GROUPS THIS SPRING, A PARTICIPANT LIKENED THE CONTINUED FOCUS NEEDED TO CREATE REAL TRANSFORMATION TO MAKING MICROWAVE POPCORN. YOU NEED THE FULL‑ON, FULL TWO MINUTES WITHOUT STOPPING BECAUSE 12 10 SECOND INTERVALS ISN'T GOING TO GET YOU YOUR POPCORN. WE WANT TO INVITE ALL OF YOU TO CONTINUE IN THIS WORK WITH US AND STAY THE COURSE SO WE CAN ALL LIVE THE PROMISE OF OUR FAITH. WE STILL WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. WE INVITE YOU TO OUR SESSION ON CENTERING LIBERATIONS THROUGH UU THEOLOGIES WITH DR. ELIAS ORTEGA‑APONTE AND REV. SOFIA BETANCOURT AND WE INVITE YOU TO TAKE THE SURVEY WITHIN THIS PROGRAM'S GA APP CHANNEL AND AVAILABLE FROM THE USHERS IN PAPER COPY. >> HOW CAN YOU HELP? FIRST, BY PARTICIPATING IN THE CONVERSATIONS AND SURVEY. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY BY GETTING YOUR CONGREGATION TALKING ABOUT AND ENGAGED IN CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW TO BE MORE HOSPITABLE AND INCLUSIVE. WE HAVE RESOURCES ON OUR PAGE AND SUGGESTED PRACTICES. WE WILL MAKE AVAILABLE STUDY MATERIALS THROUGH OUR BLOG AND THE CONGREGATIONAL RESOURCES SECTION OF OUR WEBSITE. >> OUR WORK HAS CONVINCED US THAT ENGAGEMENT IN THIS WORK IS ESSENTIAL TO THE FUTURE OF OUR FAITH IN THIS ERA WHEN ORGANIZED RELIGION IS ON THE DECLINE. WE HAVE THE BELIEFS THAT MAKE SENSE AND A CULTURE THAT NEEDS TO BE RECENTERED. SO MANY IDENTIFY WITH WHO WE ARE AND YET CANNOT FIND A HOME AMONG US. TOO MANY HAVE BEEN INJURED BY OUR LACK OF AWARENESS. YOUNGER AND MORE ENGAGED PEOPLE EXPECT A PROGRESSIVE RELIGION TO BE HOSPITABLE AND WELCOMING. THOUGH THERE ARE MANY LEVELS OF ENGAGEMENT, FROM DIALOGUE TO LEARNING AND STUDYING, TO ADVOCACY AND SELF‑REFLECTION AND LEARNING, IF YOU CAN DO NOTHING ELSE, THE MOST BASIC SUPPORT IS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE NEED FOR CHANGE, TO LISTEN AND TO NOT BLOCK ACTION. [APPLAUSE] ULTIMATELY THIS WILL ALLOW US TO MOVE TO THE STRUCTURAL REFORM AND ADVOCACY WHICH WE NEED AND WHICH WE CAN DO IF WE STAY IN DIALOGUE. [APPLAUSE] SO WE ARE NOW GOING TO HEAR SOME RESPONSES TO THE COMMISSION'S WORK THAT WE PRESENTED TO YOU LAST YEAR. AS MARY MENTIONED, WE REPORTED LAST YEAR PARTICULARLY ON THE JOURNEY OF RELIGIOUS PROFESSIONALS OF COLOR. TODAY WE HAVE ASKED LEADERS AMID US TO REPORT ON SOME OF THE RESPONSES OF THEIR ORGANIZATIONS. THIS REPRESENTS ONLY SOME OF THE RESPONSES BUT GIVES US A CHANCE TO HEAR SOME OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN REAL TIME. WE WILL HEAR TODAY FROM A SAMPLING OF LEADERS FROM UU ORGANIZATIONS ABOUT REAL RESPONSES THEY ARE MAKING WITH THE HOPE THAT THESE CAN SUGGEST ACTIONS THAT CAN HAPPEN AT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND CONGREGATIONAL LEVEL AS WELL AS IN OTHER UU ORGANIZATIONS. >> TODAY WE WELCOME THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE: REV. SUSAN FREDERICK‑GRAY, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST ASSOCIATION CAREY MACDONALD, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST ASSOCIATION AISHA HAUSER, PRESIDENT‑ELECT OF THE CONTINENTAL LIBERAL RELIGIOUS EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION (LREDA) IDA HAUSER, PRESIDENT‑ELECT OF THE CONTINENTAL LIBERAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS EDUCATION. REV. CHERYL WALKER, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST MINISTERS ASSOCIATION (UUMA) AND REV. MELISSA CARVILL‑ZIEMER, DIRECTOR OF COLLEGIAL PRACTICES OF THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST MINISTERS ASSOCIATION (UUMA) [APPLAUSE] >> WE WANT TO ASK YOU EACH TO RESPOND BRIEFLY TO THIS QUESTION. WE KNOW THAT YOU AND YOUR ORGANIZATION HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD TO ADDRESS THE NEED TO BUILD A MORE HOSPITABLE AND INCLUSIVE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM. PLEASE SHARE ONE EXAMPLE OF THE CHANGES YOU HAVE IMPLEMENTED TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS RAISED ABOUT OPPRESSION AND WHITE DOMINATION WITHIN OUR FAITH? >> SO I SPOKE A LOT ABOUT THIS IN THE PRESIDENT'S REPORT, BUT ONE THING I'LL LIFT UP THAT I DIDN'T SPEAK TO THE FULL THINK PERHAPS IS THE WAY THAT WE ARE PRIORITIZING AND MAKING CLEAR COMMITMENTS AROUND FUNDING FOR IDENTITY‑BASED MINISTRIES AND LEADERSHIP GROUPS IN OUR FAITH AND THE IMPORTANT EACH AS WE, AT THE UUA, DEAL WITH DIMINISHING BUDGETS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT WE ARE MAKING A CLEAR COMMITMENT AND PRIORITY AROUND THE INVESTMENTS FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR HE, INVESTMENTS FOR TRANS AND NONBINARY UUS, THE WAY THAT PEOPLE CAN GATHER IN COHORTS, BECAUSE THAT INVESTMENT IS PRIORITIZING LEADERSHIP OF PEOPLE OF COLOR, TRANS AND NONBINARY UUS, A RELATIONSHIP WITH EQUAL ACCESS, WHICH IS A MINISTRY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN OUR FAITH. THESE ARE PRIORITIES THAT WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE CLEAR AND EXPLICIT AND LONG TERM AT THE UUAT. >> ONE THING WE TALKED ABOUT THIS MORNING IN OUR PRESIDENT'S REPORT IS THAT THE STAFF IS BECOMING MORE DIVERSE AND THAT'S NOT AN ACCIDENT OF THAT'S A RESULT OF CHANGES WE'VE MADE IN THE WAY WE DO HIRING AT THE UUA. AND REALLY, ANY ORGANIZATION CAN MAKE THESE KIND OF THINGS, INCLUDING YOUR CONGREGATION. I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT HOW A FEW OF THOSE THINGS WORK. THE FIRST IS THAT WE REALLY FOCUS ON RECRUITMENT AND THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE HIRING PROCESS HAPPENS BEFORE YOUR FIRST INTERVIEW. ARE YOU CONNECTED TO GROUPS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE ONLY THE FOLKS THAT ARE THERE THOUGH? OR ARE YOU REALLY REACH OUT AND BUILDING THOSE NETWORKS SO WHEN THERE'S AN OPEN YOU CAN TAP INTO THOSE? SECOND IS THAT WE HAVE CHANGED OUR JOB DESCRIPTIONS TO BE FAR MORE INCLUSIVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO SUPPORT AN ORGANIZATION THAT'S TALKING ABOUT DISMANTLING WHITE SUPREMACY CULTURE AND PATRIARCHY THAT'S IN THE JOB DESCRIPTION, AND WE KNOW ACROSS IT IS BOARD THAT WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE LESS LIKELY TO APPLY FOR A JOB IF THEY DON'T MEET 100% OF THE CONVERSATIONS. THAT'S WHAT WE KNOW FROM THE RESEARCH. AND SO WE ADD PIECES TO SAY, IF YOU HAVE MELT SOME OF THESE QUALIFICATIONS AND YOU'RE EXCITED, PLEASE STILL APPLY UNTIL WE NAME THAT EXPLICITLY. AND THIRD, WE HAVE MUCH BETTER HIRING PRACTICE. SO WE MADE THE PROFIT MUCH MORE CLEAR AND ‑‑ PROCESS MUCH CLEAR AND MORE DETAILED OVERALL. WE TRAIN HIRING MANAGERS. WE HAVE BETTER QUESTIONS AND WE ASK ABOUT PEOPLE'S UNDERSTANDING AND ANALYSIS OF POWER AND RACE AND IDENTITY. THAT'S ACTUALLY SOMETHING WE'RE LOOKING FOR IN OUR HIRING. WE UNDERSTAND THAT AS A QUALIFICATION FOR WORK. AND SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE PUT SOME OF THESE TOGETHER IN A TOOLKIT IN A SECTION OF OUR WEBSITE THAT SUPPORTS CONGREGATIONS AS EMPLOYERS. BUT FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, WE'VE REDONE OUR HIRING PROCESS WITH HER DIVERSE HIRING TEAMS, AND YOU CAN SEE THE RESULTS OF THAT. [APPLAUSE] BEGINNING IN THE FALL OF 2017, THE CULTURE OF THE LLRDA BOARD HAS BEEN FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGING BY EMBRACING A PRACTICE OF DISMANTLING WHITE SUPREMACIST CULTURE IN HOW WE ARE TOGETHER AND DO OUR WORK. IT TAKES REPETITION AND PERSISTENCE. IT IS GUIDED BY THE ARTICLE WHITE SUPREMACIST CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS, BY OKEN AND JONES, WHICH YOU CAN GOOGLE. IT'S EVERYWHERE. WE PRACTICE NOTICING AND NAMING PERFECTIONISM WHEN WE ARE CRITICAL OF OURSELVES, ONE ANOTHER, AND FOCUSING ON OUR MISTAKES. THEN WE 'EM BASE ANTIDOTE OF APPRECIATION BY LAUGHING AT MISSION TAKES AND ASKING, WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS? WE ARE ALSO NOTICING EITHER/OR THINKING, SEEING ONLY TWO CHOICES. WE INVITE OURSELVES TO TAKE THE TIME TO LET OTHER OPTIONS ARISE AND BUBBLE TO THE SURFACE. AND LASTLY, WE ARE NOTICING WHEN WE FEEL RUSHED TO MAKE DECISIONS WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY. INSTEAD, WE INVITE OURSELVES TO SHOWDOWN SO THAT EVERYONE HAS THE TIME THEY NEED TO THINK AND FEEL AND BE HEARD. AND WE REMIND OURSELVES OVER AND OVER TO BREATHE. [APPLAUSE] >> SO SHORTLY AFTER THE SPRING OF OUR ENLIGHTENMENT, MARCH OF 2017, THREE RELIGIOUS EDUCATORS APPROACHED THE THEN CO‑DIRECTOR OF MINISTRIES AND FAITH DEVELOPMENT, JESSICA YORK, AT A SUMMER CAMP AND SAID WE HAVE THESE TEACHING RESOURCE. HOWEVER, WE NEED A CONCRETE TOOL TO ASSESS WHERE WHITE SUPREMACY CULTURE IS SHOWING UP IN OUR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAMS. IT WAS THREE RELIGIOUS EDUCATORS. SO‑SO JESSICA CONVENED ANNIE SCOTT, MYSELF, AND A GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS, ALL RELIGIOUS EDUCATORS, TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN CREATE THIS TOOL. PAULA COLE JONES WAS HIRED AS THE LEAD. CONNIE GOOD BREAD, WHICH IS A UUA STAFF, SHEILA SHOE, EDUCATOR ROCHESTER, MYSELF, AND KAREEM WATSON, WHO IS NO LONGER WITH UUA, MET FOR MONTHS TO CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT TOOL, DISMANTLING WHITE SUPREMACY IN RELIGIOUS EDUCATION, AND WE WERE VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT CREATING A TOOL THAT EMBEDDED WITH IT THAT YOU HAVE A SUPPORT GROUP OF OTHER RELIGIOUS EDUCATORS. SO THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN PILOTED THIS PAST YEAR AND YOU CAN CONTACT LLRDA OR THE MINISTRIES AND FAITH DEVELOPMENT OFFICE TO GET THIS COMPREHENSIVE TOOL THAT WILL HOPEFULLY ‑‑ YOU CAN ENGAGE WITH IT IN GROUPS AND GROUPS IN YOUR CONGREGATION, SO YOU CAN HAVE RICH, IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT INTENTIONALLY DISMANTLING WHITE SUPREMACY CULTURE. [APPLAUSE] >> WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK, BUT ONE THING THAT WE DID ACTUALLY YOU DID. DID YOU IT THIS MORNING. YOU CHANGED THE WORD. YOU CHANGED FINAL TO FULL. YOU CHANGED LEARNED TO LEARNING. AND IT MAY SEEM LIKE IT'S JUST A WORD, BUT WORDS CHANGE THOUGHTS. THOUGHTS CHANGE ACTIONS. ACTIONS CHANGE CULTURES. [APPLAUSE] AND IF YOU DON'T THINK THAT'S TRUE, MY BIRTH CERTIFICATE SAYS THAT I'M COLORED. BUT WE CHANGED WORDS. AND WE CHANGED CULTURE. SO IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE THINK ARE JUST SO LITTLE, JUST SO TINY ARE ACTUALLY HUGE, AND IT SHIFTED AND IS SHIFTING OUR CULTURE TO ONE WHERE YOUR RELIGIOUS LEADERS DON'T THINK WE HAVE THE ANSWERS. WE THINK WITH YOU WE WILL LEARN THE ANSWERS. AND IN LEARNING TOGETHER, WE SHIFT THE WAY WE ARE TOGETHER AND WE SHIFT THE CULTURE. >> ANOTHER WAY THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST MINISTERS ASSOCIATION IS WORKING TO CHANGE THE CULTURE IS BY CHANGING THE CULTURE ABOUT HOW MINISTERS ARE WITH EACH OTHER. THE MINISTERS ASSOCIATION EXISTS TO EQUIP AND SUPPORT MINISTERS FOR A HEALTHY, TITLE MINISTRY THAT PRACTICES INTEGRITY, AND WE HAVE GUIDELINES THAT HELP US DO THAT. COVENANT, CODE OF ETHICAL CONDUCT, AND SUGGESTED PRACTICES. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS IS CHARGE GUIDELINE COMMITTEES TO REVIEW THOSE DOCUMENTS WITH THE EYE TOWARD DISMANTLING WHITE SUPREMACY CULTURE AND INCREASING OUR CAPACITY FOR PRACTICING EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION AMONG US AS MINISTERS, RECOGNIZING THAT THE MORE MINISTERS ARE ABLE TO DO THAT AMONGST OURSELVES, THE MORE WE'LL BE UNABLE TO BRING KILLS AND LEADERSHIP OUT INTO THE CONGREGATIONS AND COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE. SO TWO PIECES IN PARTICULAR THAT I'LL LEFT UP, WE VOTED JUST A FEW DAYS AGO TO STUDY PROPOSER VISION OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO AND INCLUDING MAKING HEALTH I CANAL CODE OF CONDUCT STRONGER SO WE RECOGNIZE THE WAYS IN WHICH WE HAVE TO CHANGE TO CREATE EQUITY COMMUNITY AMONGST OURSELVES AND STRENGTHEN OUR SKILLS, BUT ALSO CREATE PRACTICES FOR ACCOUNTABILITY THAT ARE ROOTED AND RESTORED IN PRACTICES SO THAT WE HELP EACH OTHER CONTINUE TO COME INTO THE COMMUNITY, EMBRACE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING AND GROWTH, AND TAKE THAT LEARNING BACK OUT INTO OUR MINISTRIES IN THE WORLD. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENCOURAGEMENTS TO OUR FAITH AND OUR OPENNESS TO USING OUR SHARED UNDERSTANDING. WE CARRY THAT OCCURRENCE AND COMMITMENT FORWARD AS WE BEGIN TO REFINE WHO WE ARE AND WHO WE CAN ALL BE TOGETHER. >> THANK YOU. >> I HOPE YOU GET THE IDEA THAT WE'VE BEEN BUSY, AND ALL OF THESE FOLKS HAVE BEEN VERY BUSY. ALL WORK NEEDS YOU. OVER THIS LAST YEAR, WE HAVE TRIED TO SHIFT OUR FOCUS, AS WE SAID, FROM A FOCUS ON OUR NATIONAL CONVERSATION TO THE WORK AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. TODAY REPRESENTS OUR BEST CHANCE TO HEAR FROM YOU, TO ENGAGE WITH YOU, TO DO THE CREATIVE WORK OF MIXING IDEAS AND COMING UP WITH NEW WAYS THAT ARE NOT CHARTED, AND WHEN WHICH WE NEED TO INVENT TOGETHER. WE HAVE TWO WAYS THAT WE NEED TO DO THIS AND WE'RE ASKING YOU TO PARTICIPATE. SO THE FIRST IS IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO, PLEASE TAKE THE BRIEF SURVEY WHICH YOU CAN ACCESS ON THE GA APP THROUGH THE NOTIFICATION YOU WILL RECEIVE SHORTLY OR BY ENTERING THE URL WHICH IS ON THIS SCREEN INTO YOUR SMARTPHONE BROWSER. THERE ARE ALSO PAPER COPIES AVAILABLE FROM THE USHERS WHICH, IF YOU WOULD LIKE A PAPER SURVEY, PLEASE NOTIFY AN USHER AND YOU CAN RETURN THE PAPER COPY TO THE USHERS THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF OUR GATHERING TOGETHER AT GENERAL ASSEMBLY. THE SECOND WAY WE INVITE YOU TO BE PART OF OUR WORK IS IN SMALL GROUP WORK. THOUGH YOU MAY BE WEARY AND THIS MAY SEEM LIKE A GREAT TIME TO TAKE A NAP OR GO SHOPPING OR WALK BY THE RIVER, WE ASK YOU TO STAY ENGAGED WITH US FOR JUST A LITTLE LONGER. WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SERVE AS YOUR COMMISSION ON INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE. I WANT YOU TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO THANK OUR PROJECT MANAGER, MARCUS FABLIANO. [APPLAUSE] AND I JUST WANT TO ALSO THANK THIS INCREDIBLY DEDICATED GROUP OF COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT. WAY NOW INVITE YOU TO HEAD OUT TO THE BREAKOUT ROOMS WHERE YOUR FACILITATOR WILL PROVIDE YOU MORE DETAIL ABOUT THE REST OF THIS PROCESS. YOU CAN FIND YOUR ROOM ASSIGNMENT IN THE GA APP OR BY VISITING THE URL. WELL, WHICH IS GOING TO SHOW UP ON THE SCREEN IN A MINUTE. BUT IT'S TINY URL.COM/GA2019. THERE WE GO. THERE WE GO. BREAKOUT. INTO YOUR SMARTPHONE BROWSER. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO ATTEND THE BREAKOUT GROUP THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO SHARE YOUR FULLEST TRUTH. BE AT THE ROOM YOU HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED BASED ON YOUR LAST NAME OR ONE OF THE IDENTITY‑BASED CAUCUS GROUPS. PLEASE HONOR THESE CAUCUS SPACES BY NOT ENTERING INTO ONE THAT IS NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF YOUR IDENTITY. AND THANK YOU FOR MOVING QUICKLY TO THESE SPACES. >> WE'RE GOING TO GET THE BREAKOUT SLIDES BACK UP ON THE SCREEN FOR YOU IN A MOMENT. AND I WANT YOU TO PLEASE ASK, PLEASE, PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF THE BREAKOUT SPACES YOU DECIDING TO. THESE IDENTITY SPACES ARE FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE FROM THE IDENTITY AND ARE FOR PEOPLE THAT SHARE A COMMON EXPERIENCE. THEY ARE NOT LEARNING SPACES FOR THOSE OF US THAT WANT TO LEARN HOW TO BE BETTER ALLIES AND AN COME POLICES. WE INVITE YOU TO ATTENDEE THEY ARE THE IDENTITY‑BASED SPACES OR THE SPACES LISTED BY YOUR LAST NAME. I PROMISE YOU THAT EACH CONVERSATION WILL BE HE KNOW LIGHTNING, A BIT CHALLENGING, AND BEAUTIFUL. AND OF COURSE, IF YOU END UP GOING TO A BREAKOUT SPACE THAT DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO SLIDE ON OVER TO ANOTHER ONE. I WOULD ASK THAT WE ALL TAKE A MOMENT OF BREATH AND INVITE THOSE IN SCOOTERS AND WITH MOBILITY ASSISTIVE DEVICES TO BEGIN TO MOVE OUT TO THEIR ROOMS AND THAT AS WE ALL MOVE, WE BE MINDFUL OF THOSE AROUND US. MARCUS IS LETTING ME KNOW THAT THE GROUPS WILL BEGIN AT 3:00, WHICH GIVES YOU 40 MINUTES TO GET FROM HERE TO THERE, WHICH ALLOWS FOR A GOOD BATHROOM BREAK. PLEASE HEAD ON OUT. **********DISCLAIMER********** THE FOLLOWING IS AN UNEDITED ROUGH DRAFT TRANSLATION FROM THE CART CAPTIONER'S OUTPUT FILE. THIS TRANSCRIPT IS NOT VERBATIM AND HAS NOT BEEN PROOFREAD. TO DO SO IS AN EXTRA FEE. THIS FILE MAY CONTAIN ERRORS. PLEASE CHECK WITH THE SPEAKER(S) FOR ANY CLARIFICATION. 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