Anti-Oppression Task Force Invitation: April 30, 2021

As you may recall, the Board of Trustees commissioned an Anti-Oppression Task Force at UCE in response to a call from the congregation, Evanston Interfaith leaders, the UUA through the Commission on Institutional Change, and Black Lives of UU “to engage in the struggle to dismantle white supremacy as it collectively exists” and “to become more inclusive, equitable, and diverse while… work[ing]…to be accountable to those most affected by injustice.” The purpose of this task force is to determine the ways in which this congregation might answer this call, making justice a reality both in our congregation and beyond.

Accomplishing this mission while working within the system of white supremacy that pervades all our institutions has proven much more complicated than anticipated. We decided we needed the assistance of an outside consultant. For that reason, a dedicated group of UCE members interviewed three outside consultants and chose the YWCA Equity Institute to work with us. We chose the YWCA because of their depth of knowledge and experience, their track record in working with Evanston institutions, and their familiarity with our church and its history. The YWCA will be assisting us with creating the task force, training its members, and beginning the work at UCE.

We would like to invite you to contact us about joining the task force. All are welcome who feel called to help build the Beloved Community. We need your voice.

We are looking for task force members who are willing to commit to these goals:

1. To elevate consciousness and self-awareness, and to expand our shared desire and motivation to address oppression throughout UCE
2. To identify policies and practices throughout UCE which offend, marginalize, or oppress those from marginalized communities and dismantle those policies and practices
3. To develop and implement strategies, policies, and practices that reflect a commitment to equity and anti-oppression
4. To shine a light on the harm that has been caused to marginalized people in our congregation in the past without causing further harm
5. To commit to anti-racism and anti-oppression work within, among, and beyond our congregation
6. To be an open, welcoming, anti-racist, anti-oppressive beacon of faith

We want to form a group that will bring as many different perspectives as possible to this endeavor. We encourage UCE members who have connections to organizations within our larger Evanston and Chicago community, such as Interfaith Action, Community Renewal Society, and Connections for the Homeless. Our hope is that a spectrum of voices from within our congregation will make up the task force.

We will strive to make it possible for anyone to lend their abilities and experience to the work. In doing this work, we will endeavor to create, as Micky ScottBey Jones states, “brave space./Because there is no such thing as a ‘safe space’…we will not be perfect. This space will not be perfect…we will work on it side by side.” We need to be in this work together.

Please fill out the attached form if you are interested in joining the task force and send it to bot@ucevanston.org. Please fill out the form before May 14, 2021. If you know someone who would be an excellent addition to this task force, please encourage them to fill out a form. We will be meeting with the YWCA on May 18th, when we will be reviewing the response forms of those who indicated their interest.

If you have questions, please send an email to bot@ucevanston.org.