© 2010
Building the World We Dream About is a Unitarian Universalist program that seeks to interrupt the workings of racism and transform how people from different racial/ethnic groups understand and relate to one another. It consists of 24 two-hour workshops, with Taking It Home activities, reflections, and readings to be done between workshops. The program creates opportunities for participants to practice dreaming our world otherwise, and then commit to new, intentional ways of being.
As Unitarian Universalists, we hope developing antiracist, antioppressive, and multicultural habits and skills will lead us to build the multicultural world of beloved community we dream about. Congregations and groups considering this program are encouraged to check out the support resources from the Multicultural Growth and Witness staff group, which offers tailored support for program facilitators and congregational/group leaders. You can also download a double-sided handout (PDF) that addresses common questions about the program. There is a separate Young Adult version of this program.
Contents
Preface
From Building the World We Dream About
How can we make our congregation more racially and culturally diverse? In an increasingly multicultural world, more and more Unitarian Universalist congregations are asking some version of that question. When Unitarian Universalists address that question, they often begin by focusing on how our...
Acknowledgments
From Building the World We Dream About
Dedication The Reverend Marjorie Bowens-Wheatley (1949-2006) Coworker for justice, mentor, and friend. The work you did spoke for you. Acknowledgments We gratefully acknowledge the use of the following material. "Mattering and Marginality" is adapted from an exercise developed by Dr. L. Lee...
Introduction
From Building the World We Dream About
The Program We need a place to dream together, to get into what has been kept unknown. Dreaming means flowing with the unknown river of community. — Arnold Mindell, American physicist, psychotherapist, writer, and founder of Process Oriented Psychology Scientists have recently confirmed what...
Program Structure
From Building the World We Dream About
Building the World We Dream About uses a transformative approach to reach its educational goals. A transformative approach asks specific questions in order to produce new outcomes to seemingly intractable problems—specifically, how we learn to negotiate and act on values, feelings, and meanings...
Leader Guidelines
From Building the World We Dream About
Leaders are urged to pay particular attention to their own spiritual preparation work ahead of leading the workshop. You may want to set aside time for personal study, prayer, meditation, and journaling. At times in the course of the workshops, participants are invited to explore what may be...
Implementation
From Building the World We Dream About
Every congregation has its own culture and way of scheduling adult programming. Building the World We Dream About workshops follow a particular pattern and are best done sequentially. Workshops 1-4 offer participants practice in understanding how perspectives are shaped by life experience and by...
Before You Start
From Building the World We Dream About
Determine the calendar schedule for workshops. Enter the information in the congregational calendar. Invite participants. It is best to personally invite individuals to participate. If appropriate, you can also use flyers, announcements, and your congregation's website to publicize the program....
Resources
From Building the World We Dream About
Print, online, and audio/video resources for further exploration of the themes, topics, and issues. The Multicultural Growth and Witness Staff Group at the UUA provides resources online for further exploration of issues raised in this program, including links to organizations and online resources...
Facilitator Feedback Form
From Building the World We Dream About
We welcome your critique of this program, as well as your suggestions. Thank you for your feedback! Your input improves programs for all of our congregations....
Participant Feedback Form
From Building the World We Dream About
We welcome your critique of this program, as well as your suggestions. Thank you for your feedback! Your input improves programs for all of our congregations....
Principles and Sources
From Building the World We Dream About
There are seven Principles which Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote. Unitarian Universalism draws from many Sources.
Download all of Building the World We Dream About (Word) (PDF ) to edit or print.