2020-2021 Learning Community Events

January 21, 2021: African-American Farmers: How Their Struggles Shed Light on Our Community’s Struggles
Stephen Carpenter, Deputy Director of and Senior Staff Attorney at Farmers’ Legal Action Group, Inc., and Shirley Sherrod, a leader in the African-American farmers movement, director of the Southwest Georgia Project; Interfaith Text Study by Reverend Julie Neraas, Hamline University

WebinarText Study

December 17, 2020: Mass Incarceration & Restorative Justice
Professor Jessica Siegel, University of Saint Thomas, and Brenda Burnside, Restorative Justice Trainer & Practitioner, discussed mass incarceration, racial injustice in the criminal justice system, and the way faith community volunteers can help through restorative justice circles.

Webinar | PowerPointText Study  | Interfaith PDF

November 12, 2020: Voting Rights with Dr. Yohuru Williams
Dr. Williams explored the history of voting, with particular attention to the historic restrictions placed on suffrage for Indigenous people, immigrants and Black Americans, as well as contemporary challenges to voter participation.

Webinar

October 13, 2020: Racism in Education – Looking back and forward
Gaye Adams Massey, CEO YWCA Saint Paul, and Deena Zubulake, Director of Programs, YWCA Saint Paul, discussed the history of racism in American education, its impact on today’s racial disparities in Minnesota (and the nation), and strategies and tools for effective engagement with young learners affected by this history. Interfaith text study leader was Mark Berkson, Hamline University.

Webinar | School to Prison Pipeline video  |  Teaching Tolerance video  |  Racism in Education PDF  |  Buddhist Texts on Anatman

September 17, 2020: Opportunity Saint Paul Program Year Kick-off

Webinar