Educational Programs for White Church Members to Change Structural Racism

Dear Pastor, Adult Education Coordinator, or Chair of Social Concerns,

The Justice and Witness Ministry of the Chicago Metropolitan Association of the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ has put together educational programs plus other resources for White church members who want to learn about structural racism and how to help bring about change. The first three listings are educational programs which churches may consider using. Our criteria for inclusion are listed at the bottom of the first page. Following those three programs are a few pages of additional resources. We plan to add programs and other resources as we learn about additional materials.  At a time when many White people are interested in knowing more and in discovering actions that they can take to improve communities, churches should help. Please feel free to contact us with questions and suggestions.

Yours in Christ,
Rev. Harriet Dart
Chair, Justice and Witness Ministry
Chicago Metropolitan Association of the IL Conference of the UCC

Nancy Heil, M.D.
Vice Chair, Justice and Witness Ministry
Chicago Metropolitan Association of the IL Conference of the UCC
NancyJo336@gmail.com

Recommended Programs

  1. UCC White Privilege: Let’s Talk Curriculum
    sessions. Free

  2. “The Long Shadow” with a condensed 15-minute version of the film and a discussion and  action guide
    Free
    For screenings of the entire film “The Long Shadow” and other events and materials related to anti-racism visit, Together Is Better Alliance
    Cost is associated with this option.

  3. Crossroads Antiracism Organizing and Training, Dismantling Racism and Building Racial Justice in Institutions
    They cannot do in-person training for the foreseeable future. Courses are virtual. They offer three courses: Introduction to Systemic Racism, Critical Cultural Competency, and Introduction to ABAR (designed to teach people working with children and adolescents.) Each is offered as either all day (two 3.5-hour sessions, with an hour and a half off for lunch) or split into two days of 3.5 hours each. The all-day courses cost $2,000 for a cohort of 20 people. They cap the number at 20 because a larger number of people may limit the quality of participation. There may be some flexibility on this. Alternatively, individuals may sign up for their Saturday School sessions on these topics for $100 each. The most relevant topics might be the first two for us. The 2- and 1/2-day training is on hold for now.

Special note, criteria for menu inclusion were as follows:
1. Vetted by a trusted source
2. Developed by a diverse group
3. Discussion guide for leader
4. Leader training optimal
5. Cost considerations
6. Manageable length

Additional Resources
Showing Up For Racial Justice—a network and resources:
https://www.showingupforracialjustice.org/white-privilege.html
 
https://www.showingupforracialjustice.org/white-supremacy-culture-characteristics.html

Courageous Conversation—many resources: 
https://courageousconversation.com/what-is-white-privilege-really

Faith in Place Anti-racist Pledge (including some suggested actions): https://www.faithinplace.org/sites/www.faithinplace.org/files/assets/Faith%20in%20Place%20House%20of%20Worship%20Anti-Racist%20Pledge.pdf?emci=67e2c552-19d1-ea11-9b05-00155d03bda0&emdi=dc04da47-89d5-ea11-9b05-00155d03bda0&ceid=3843522

Church World Service’s Platform on Racial Justice with several resources at the end:  https://cwsglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/CWS-Platform-on-Racial-Justice-.pdf

Racial Justice and the United Methodist Church:
https://www.umc.org/en/how-we-serve/advocating-for-justice/racial-justice

Educators for Social Change: 
https://educators4sc.org/teaching-about-white-privilege

An Instructor’s Guide to Understanding Privilege from Inclusive Teaching at the University of Michigan (with a variety of resources at the end):
https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/inclusive-teaching/inclusive-classrooms/an-instructors-guide-to-understanding-privilege

Teaching Tolerance from the Southern Poverty Law Center: 
https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/confronting-the-weaponization-of-whiteness-in-classrooms
https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/fall-2018/what-is-white-privilege-really

From our sisters and brothers in the ELCA (includes a version of “Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack for ELCA congregations):
https://www.livinglutheran.org/2020/01/unpacking-white-privilege

White Privilege Study Guide from the ELCA (includes a link to curriculum):
https://www.exposingtheelca.com/exposed-blog/white-privilege-study-guide-from-the-elca 

Discussion guide for White Fragility from the Unitarian Universalists:
https://www.uua.org/sites/live-new.uua.org/files/white_fragility_disc_guide.pdf 

Project Implicit—from Harvard University—includes implicit bias test: 
https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html

Many organizations have policies, actions, and resources available.  Here is one example from the University of Florida: 
https://multicultural.ufl.edu/resources/action/

An amazing list of resources for a “21-day challenge” (click on “More” on the right side of each topic):
https://www.ywcaofcleveland.org/2020-21-day-racial-equity-and-social-justice-challenge

Just Faith (several programs, some with costs such as $175)
https://justfaith.org

From the United Methodist Church (cost $39.99)
https://www.gcorr.org/you-are-here-first-steps-for-white-christians-on-race-and-racism/

Facing History and Ourselves has several programs primarily designed for teachers:
https://www.facinghistory.org/about-us

UCC Webinar on the Doctrine of Discovery:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoVLKOY7qII&list=PL6VgfHt6zEy7yDgdSE-fLLYEVaNBM2943&index=4

For more rigorous leader training refer to Sacred Conversations to End Racism, UCC:
https://www.ucc.org/sacred_conversations_to_end_racism

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