Anti-Oppression Task Force Update: May 28, 2021

The Anti-Oppression Task Force Planning Group has assisted the UCE Board with entering into a contract with YWCA Evanston/North Shore’s Equity Institute. As consultants, the YWCA will assist with the formation of our anti-oppression task force. Thank you to everyone who submitted an interest form for this task force. You will be hearing from Rev. Eileen Wiviott or Rev. Susan Frances shortly. 

The Planning Group has officially dissolved after setting the foundation for the newly forming anti-oppression task force to begin its job of dismantling white supremacy culture in our congregation and working with community partners. Thank you to everyone who was involved with the Planning Group over the past year: 

Rev. Eileen Wiviott
Rev. Karen Gustafson
Rev. Susan Frances
Jessica Tomell-Presto, UCE Board Chair
Martha Holman
Shannon Lang
Linda LaPlante
Carolyn Laughlin
Beth McDonald
Sally Parsons
Joe Romeo
Donna Schiller
Steve Serikaku
Gail Smith
Sarah Vanderwicken  

The consultants from the YWCA Evanston/North Shore’s Equity Institute working with UCE will be Tiffany McDowell, Equity Institute Director, and Eileen Heineman, Manager of Equity Institute Community Outreach. Members of their staff will provide supporting roles as needed. 

The task force will be forming over the summer and the next communication about its work, including its formal name, will be from the task force itself. Among its first tasks will be team building, formation of an operating structure or leadership model, and creating a work plan. As efforts get underway, the task force will be calling on congregants to assist in various tasks. Working to dismantle oppressions is a life-long endeavor and you are encouraged to share your reflections, creativity, and vision with the task force.