We had a pretty good turn out for an often unsettling topic like race. For something folks don’t often talk about, especially in mixed-race groups, leaguers handled it with ease and openness. Perhaps this is example of how the league tells a new story about people that sees them as generous, understanding, and helpful, and how people easily live into that story. Or maybe it’s because many of us are good friends by now. Whatever the case, it’s inspiring. Here’s a few of the lessons learned in discussion:
-Everyone’s experience with race is different and that can be about life history or it can be a thing that changes moment-to-moment.
-Our ideas about race are often subconscious. Sometimes we can do things that are embarrassing and harmful, even if we’re well intentioned.
-We should not become paralyzed by guild when this happens, but rather understand that we’re conditioned or trained by society and therefore can untrain ourselves.
-With increased awareness, we can avoid doing things that are harmful.
Big thanks goes out to Caren and Janet at UNtraining for facilitating a difficult topic and to SoMa Creativity Center for hosting us at their wonderful space. Thank you Pearl and Pam. You did a wonderful job of facilitating the overall meeting.
Our next meeting is Thursday, October 16th. Mark your calendars. We haven’t settled on a featured speaker, artist, or activity yet. Got an idea? Just let gorenflo [at] gmail dot com know.
We hope to see you then.
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MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS
Name:Pamela
Passions: arcane literature, politics, social process
Needs: good for now
Gifts: webstuff, research, connections
E-mail: palexb [at] stanford dot edu
Name: Michael Beutler
Passions: Sustainability, solving problems
Needs: funding for bio-tech start-up
Gifts: Business advice
E-mail: michael dot beutler [at] comcast dot net
Name: Kim Connector
Passions: san francisco culture, art, fashion and people
Needs: new local talent
Gifts: Great listener, brainstorming, organizing, cooking collaboration
Email: thebrainpoolconnector [at] gmail dot com
Name: ruth davis fyer
Passions: dreamwork, expressive arts
Needs: raise money to keep somacc open!
Gifts: artist, healer
E-mail: buddhamuse [at] gmail dot com
Name: Janet Carter
Passions: writing, sharing stories, anti-racism work, history
Needs: Check out our Untraining Racism work, publishing connections
Gifts: Communicating, (Listening, teaching, researching, writing, editing)
Email: info [at] untraining dot org; janetecarter [at] yahoo dot com
Name: Neal
Passions: people working together
Needs: inspiration, consulting gigs in research, strategy, business development, and project management for social enterprises
Gifts: hypermiling, google it on the web, way to drive that saves gas, that’s all I have today
E-mail: gorenflo [at] gmail dot com
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