Volunteers build understanding and deep relationships through learning community events.
Volunteers get to know one another, learn from nationally renowned speakers, engage in interfaith dialogue, and develop strategies to engage others in the work of creating real, systemic change in Greater Saint Paul.
Coming Up Next
African-American Farmers: How Their Struggles Shed Light on Our Community’s Struggles
Date: Thursday, January 21, 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Presenters: Stephen Carpenter, Deputy Director of and Senior Staff Attorney at Farmers’ Legal Action Group, Inc. (read more about Stephen) and Shirley Sherrod, a leader in the African-American farmers movement, director of the Southwest Georgia Project (read more about Shirley)
Interfaith Text Study: Reverend Julie Neraas, Hamline University
As part of this year’s Learning Community racial justice series, we will take a deep dive into the experience of African-American farmers. Dr. Yohuru Williams will introduce the session and explain the connections between our work in Opportunity Saint Paul and a deeper understanding of African-American farmers’ struggles. Looking at the struggles of one community will help us understand the struggles of other communities. Much of the work in the African-American farmers’ historic national class action case, Pigford, happened in Minnesota, and our presenters have deep experience in and understanding of the issues.
Zoom link will be sent 24 hours in advance along with any resources provided by our presenters.
Additional 2021 Learning Community Events
February 11
March 18
April 15
May 20
June 17
July 17
Materials from 2020–2021 Learning Community Events
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 of discussion | PowerPoint | Interfaith Text Study Video | Interfaith text 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 of discussion
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 highlights of the history of racism in American education, history’s 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 of Discussion | School to Prison Pipeline video | Teaching Tolerance to Young Children video | Racism in Education PDF | Buddhist Texts on Anatman
September 17, 2020: Opportunity Saint Paul Program Year Kick-off
Webinar
2019–2020 Learning Community Events
August 20, 2020: Introduction to Restorative Justice and Restorative Practices
Dr. Raj Sethuraju, Metropolitan State University, discussed how to bring those harmed by offenses or conflict and those responsible for the harm into communication to repair harm. Webinar
July 23, 2020: Challenging Inequality: The Six Degrees of Segregation – Dr. Yohuru Williams, University of St. Thomas
Dr. Williams explored the history of racial inequality in America from the end of the Civil War through the murder of George Floyd. Webinar; PowerPoint; Suggested Reading List
May 21, 2020: Daniel Karpowitz – College in Prison
Assistant Commissioner MN Department of Corrections Daniel Karpowitz joined with Zelda Roland, Director of the Yale Prison Education Initiative at Dwight Hall. Webinar
January 16, 2020: Transportation History in Saint Paul
MN Rep. Frank Hornstein discussed how access to transportation is not equally distributed and how we can approach future projects with a greater sense of equity and justice. Video: Rep. Frank Hornstein; Video: Text Study
December 12, 2019: Immigrant Patterns in Saint Paul
Peter Rachleff, co-founder of the East Side Freedom Library, shared insights into immigrant patterns in Saint Paul. Video: Peter Rachleff; Video: Text Study
October 17, 2019: Housing
Margaret Kaplan, president of the Housing Justice Center, led a discussion about the history of redlining, racially restrictive covenants, and other deliberate policies that led to disparities in housing ownership by race. Video: Margaret Kaplan; Video: Text Study; Redlining PowerPoint
2018–2019 Learning Community Events
Learn more, download resources and watch videos from 2018-2019 here.
2017–18 Learning Community Events Archive
Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul
Contact Us
1671 Summit Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55105
info@interfaithaction.org
651/646-8805