Open

Chalice Lighting by Oberlin UU Fellowship

Check In inspired by Sara Ahmed

Print or display the chalice lighting words so participants can recite the words together.

Model the check-in process by stating that there’s a lot going on in the news, but something that’s really on your mind is [provide example]. Then state why it’s so important to you [in terms of your identity], and then what action was in your power to take. Give each willing participant a chance to share. Allow for feedback from peers.

Read

Speak Up by Janet S. Wong (PDF)

Discuss:

What would you have done in this situation, as speaker two? Speaker one in the poem clearly has a stereotypical view of speaker two. If you could introduce a third speaker, what would they say to support speaker two?

Print or display the poem and have students read it silently to themselves first. Ask for two volunteers to read the different parts. If no one feels comfortable, read it out loud yourself.

Watch

The Danger of a Single Story by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Use the “I notice, I wonder” strategy to process the video. Ask participants what they noticed. After everyone who wants to share has taken their turn, follow up with the prompt, “I wonder.” What are you wondering now?

Do

Collaborate to create a poster to share with your church community about identifying and disrupting bias. Workshop a few responses or strategies to disrupt biased language and include those on the poster.

Identify the procedure for having something posted to the church’s social media, newsletter, or website and submit the poster for publication.

This can be done in Canva, Google Docs, or the whiteboard function in Zoom.

The first step in countering bias and stereotyping is to first recognize it in our own attitudes and behavior. We can take this further by countering biased or stereotypical views when our loved ones demonstrate biased opinions by speaking up. We can hold each other accountable in the spirit of love. Instead of remaining silent, how can we address these instances when our family or friends say or do something that demonstrates their biased or stereotypical views?

Close

Check-Out question -

What are you wondering about? How can you explore your wondering this week?

Take Home

Print or email Street Calculus Comic (PDF) as a conversation starter to be used at home. Remind participants that they could use the “I notice, I wonder” strategy when exploring it with their families.