Southern Vermont Undoing Racism
Mission:
Create systemic change and understanding throughout the state of Vermont by developing a common analysis of what race and racism is. To formulate a common language to continue the process of actively undoing racism.
Vision:
Pilot the Undoing Racism workshop in Brattleboro, Vermont and continue to host the workshop annually. To establish regional teams in Central and Northern Vermont for Undoing Racism, who will continue the movement and host the People’s Institute annually in their region of the state.
Purpose:
Act as an agent of change for undoing racism by providing opportunities of growth and development through follow up discussions and community organizing for Southern Vermonters and their friends.
Goal:
Gather diverse interests from around Southern Vermont for individuals and entities to participate in the Undoing Racism workshop and to gain support of these Southern Vermonters and friends to pledge with the community initiative by monetary or other in-kind support.
Objectives:
Host as a community initiative, the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond Undoing Racism workshop, for Southern Vermont in Brattleboro. To include all logistics of workshop registration; location, transportation, lodging, childcare and food.
Organize followup with periodic gatherings of participants in PISAB training to discuss issues around undoing racism, and to help organize and support work they are doing in their communities.
Norms:
We will always remain as volunteers
A commitment to show up at meetings is essential. We should show up on time, within 5 minutes of start, and end on time to respect members commitments in other areas of life.
If someone has another commitment the same night, and still wants to come in late, that is fine, but they will need to catch up with someone after the meeting /be brought up to speed rather than stop the meeting to update at the moment.
We will bring food both for practical reason, that the meetings are a dinner time, and because it's a connector as something to share and sustain. We know that all members can't always bring food, but majority will most of the time , and it will work out
We don't want to have " speaking " norms, but a conversational flow. We expect that members may interrupt, but can defer and take turns when that inadvertently happens. We would prefer not to formalize the flow of conversation.
We can make a decision when at least three are present using consensus, that is , we don't all have to agree, but we all have to be able to say " I can live with that". If someone knows they cannot come to a meeting but wants to give input, they can email the group/facilitator, so that we have that info for our discussion, but the consensus needs to be built among those present at the meeting. We can use email to express our voices ,if something is coming up and we can't come, and if something new comes up at a meeting, since it was not "warned" in advance, we should do follow up on line or in person, phone, etc, before we make any decisions for the group.
3/30/11
