Learning Practice Communities
Program Overview
Mosaic National Learning and Practice Gatherings support organizations and congregations’ long-term commitment to carry out Anti-Racism/Anti-Oppression/Multicultural (AR/AO/MC) transformation work in their contexts. These gatherings will include a mix of facilitated learning from trusted voices in the movement for AR/AO/MC transformation and opportunities to be in conversation with fellow UUs from across our movement. Whether you are a seasoned leader or just curious to learn more, you are welcome. National Learning and Practice Communities are approximately 90 minutes long. Participants may come to one, many, or all gatherings.
Mosaic Skill-up Learning and Practice Communities are facilitated small group experiences dedicated to helping leaders develop the skills and accountability they need to engage in effective AR/AO/MC transformation work in their context. These are virtual, time-limited (meeting approximately twice a month over 3 months,) and are led by trained facilitators.
How to Get Involved
Register for the National Gatherings
Have questions? To get more information, you can connect with Dr Melissa James, mjames@uua.org,, the creator of Mosaic Learning and Practice!
Program Vision
The Thoughts of Mosaic L&P Creator, Dr Melissa James
Shortly after I started working at the UUA I was asked to take on the task of making the Widening the Circle of Concern Learning and Practice Communities come to fruition. I dove deeply into the report gleaning the wisdom from the incredible research the Commission had done. I looked at models of how congregations were engaging the study guide. And I gathered data from lay and professional leaders across our movement about what they were doing, where they felt stuck, and what they needed to go deeper into Anti-racism transformation work. I mean, when you hand a Sociologist a task like this of course I went right to research. A few generous people joined me in a pilot Learning and Practice community and helped me learn more about what actually felt supportive, who different models served, and what got met with a resounding “meh.” (Official sociology term)
Here are a few of the things I learned that now shape how the Learning and Practice Communities are being formed:
Even when we feel the most isolated and alone there is someone whose experience is similar enough to understand. We just don’t always have the structures or mechanisms to find each other and offer support and shared wisdom. We need more of those structures and more of that time.
The religious educators in our movement are rockstars. They are often the ones given AR/AO/MC directives (like we want to do the WCC study guide–can you make it happen somehow?). They need support and partners to do this work in a way that is transformative, sustainable, and doesn’t come at the expense of their well being
Learning is fun and necessary (and sometimes hard). Practice is hard and necessary (and sometimes fun). UUs do love a good book study! There is always more to learn and explore. Where many of us (individually and institutionally) get stuck is in the move from learning to practice.
We’re better together. The strongest tools we have in AR/AO/MC transformation work are relational. Gathering together to connect, learn, experifail, and hold each other accountable is one of the greatest gifts we can give each other. What the groups look like (identity-based, role-based, wider-focused groups, etc) will vary but it's the together part that matters.