From Privilege to Promise
Mind & Soul Symposium
October 15 - 16, 2016
Limited space available, please register early
Scroll down for more detailed information
11:30- Red Feather Woman - Opening Ceremony & Blessing
12:30 pm - Keynote Address-Lee Mun Wah
2:30 pm - Workshop-Lee Mun Wah
4:15 pm - Community Sessions
4:30 - 5:45pm Community Dinner
6:00 pm - 9:00pm Documentary Film Showing, Last Chance for Eden & Diversity Dialogue
with Director, Lee Mun Wah
Ongoing - Throughout the weekend there will be a self-directed Oral History Exhibit presented by The UCC Longmont Ignite Youth Group using the StoryCorps App
11:30- Red Feather Woman - Opening Ceremony & Blessing
12:30 pm - Keynote Address-Lee Mun Wah
2:30 pm - Workshop-Lee Mun Wah
4:15 pm - Community Sessions
4:30 - 5:45pm Community Dinner
6:00 pm - 9:00pm Documentary Film Showing, Last Chance for Eden & Diversity Dialogue
with Director, Lee Mun Wah
Ongoing - Throughout the weekend there will be a self-directed Oral History Exhibit presented by The UCC Longmont Ignite Youth Group using the StoryCorps App
Sunday Schedule Here
Red Feather Woman (Lakota/Assiniboine) - Opening Ceremony & Blessing
11:30 am
As a storyteller/musician, blending tales of hope and spiritual survival, Red Feather Woman proved to be a true ambassador of peace and unity throughout eight cities in Turkey and four provinces of Pakistan, including the capital Islamabad.
Her most important mission is the preservation of her people’s ancient culture and art form. She entertains as well as teaches audiences the importance of Mother Earth and to reflect on their personal heritage.
The openening ceremony will be on the outside lawn of First Congregational United Church of Christ, feel free to bring a blanket, chairs and a picnic lunch.
Her most important mission is the preservation of her people’s ancient culture and art form. She entertains as well as teaches audiences the importance of Mother Earth and to reflect on their personal heritage.
The openening ceremony will be on the outside lawn of First Congregational United Church of Christ, feel free to bring a blanket, chairs and a picnic lunch.
Keynote Address - Lee Mun Wah
A Promise Still to Keep: What Stands Between Us
12:30pm - 2:00pm
Lee Mun Wah - Stirfry Seminars
A recent survey showed that 70% of EuroAmericans thought that race relations had improved, while in the same survey 68% of people of color thought that they had gotten worse. What is the disparity between these two groups? Is this the two Americas? As we move through the new millennium, is there a promise still to keep? Someone once said that westerners are very good at honoring diversity, but not very good at practicing it. If we are ever going to learn about someone who is different from ourselves, we are going to have to leave the comfort of our familiar world and begin a relationship, not just by talking about ourselves, but by truly wanting to make a connection. |
This will take honesty, curiosity and a willingness to be open to new ideas and perceptions. That kind of relationship will require sharing stories, listening with a desire to learn, a willingness to respond emotionally, and wanting to establish a friendship of mutual understanding and respect.
The world is not a plane flight away. It has always been close at hand. We can never become a global community until we have first learned about those who we work with, our next door neighbors, and those we have been taught to be afraid of. What we are talking about is breaking down the walls we have created out of fear and truly desiring to confront what stands between us.
The world is not a plane flight away. It has always been close at hand. We can never become a global community until we have first learned about those who we work with, our next door neighbors, and those we have been taught to be afraid of. What we are talking about is breaking down the walls we have created out of fear and truly desiring to confront what stands between us.
Afternoon Workshop - Lee Mun Wah
2:30p -4:00p
Lee Mun Wah
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A Cross-Gender Race Conversation, presented by
Lee Mun Wah - Stirfry Seminars & Consulting This workshop focuses on the challenges and opportunities present when diverse race and gender groups interact with each other. Though diversity offers tremendous potential for learning and enrichment, there are also moments of conflict and tension over differences in perspective and approach. During our time together, we will work on developing the skills necessary to foster and co-create spaces where everyone feels valued and acknowledged for their uniqueness and contributions. |
Community Breakout Sessions
4:15p - 5:15p
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The Belonging Revolution, presented by Longmont Public Safety Chief Mike Butler and Dan Benavidez, Longmont Public Servant and International Consultant Dan and Mike have been walking neighborhoods in Longmont since July of 2014. They’ve walked over 80 neighborhoods and met over 1600 people in our community. The vast majority of neighborhoods have been those which might be considered low income, demographically Latino, and possibly disenfranchised. Their mission has been two-fold – to encourage people to feel and believe they belong to our community and to make invitations to everyone to become part of building our community. What Dan and Mike discovered has been profound! Come and listen to their story and be inspired to become part of the ‘Belonging Revolution’ – an epochal approach to building the social fabric of our community!
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Dan Benavidez has been an International consultant worldwide for over 30 years, working primarily with South African and Mexican business interests. Also having worked for over 30 years in Mexico, he has used his experience to stress the importance of knowing the culture and customs of the Mexican people. Dan is also an author of “For All The Wrong Reasons” a compelling memoir of a Latino man struggling to make it in a white man’s world.
Dan also played a key role in the forming of Sister City Relationships for the Cities of Denver, Arvada and Longmont, with Cuernavaca, Colima and Ciudad Guzman, Mexico.
Dan also served as a member of Vice President Gore's Regional NAFTA team for Colorado. He was also a member of the Colorado Council on Mexico formed by Federico Pena who served as Secretary of Transportation in the Clinton Administration.
Dan was one of the founders of El Comite a community Latino activist group and was one two founders of the Hispanic Education Foundation (HEF) He is presently the Vice President and member of the Board of Directors of Eco -Cycle, one of the largest non profit recycling organizations in the United States, a member of the Board Directors of the Longmont Housing Development Corporation (LHDC), a member of the Board of Directors of Boulder County Care Connect (BCCC), and a current Volunteer for the Longmont Community Justice Partnership (LCJP). .
Dan is an Honorably Discharged Veteran of the U.S Army, a former City Councilman-at-large, Longmont, Colorado and also served as Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Longmont, Colorado the first Latino in the history of the City of Longmont to be elected at Large and be elected by his peers as Mayor Pro Tem of the City
Dan holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of Northern Colorado.
Dan also played a key role in the forming of Sister City Relationships for the Cities of Denver, Arvada and Longmont, with Cuernavaca, Colima and Ciudad Guzman, Mexico.
Dan also served as a member of Vice President Gore's Regional NAFTA team for Colorado. He was also a member of the Colorado Council on Mexico formed by Federico Pena who served as Secretary of Transportation in the Clinton Administration.
Dan was one of the founders of El Comite a community Latino activist group and was one two founders of the Hispanic Education Foundation (HEF) He is presently the Vice President and member of the Board of Directors of Eco -Cycle, one of the largest non profit recycling organizations in the United States, a member of the Board Directors of the Longmont Housing Development Corporation (LHDC), a member of the Board of Directors of Boulder County Care Connect (BCCC), and a current Volunteer for the Longmont Community Justice Partnership (LCJP). .
Dan is an Honorably Discharged Veteran of the U.S Army, a former City Councilman-at-large, Longmont, Colorado and also served as Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Longmont, Colorado the first Latino in the history of the City of Longmont to be elected at Large and be elected by his peers as Mayor Pro Tem of the City
Dan holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of Northern Colorado.
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Growing an Inclusive Community: Carmen Ramirez - City of Longmont Community Neighborhood Resources and Longmont Multicultural Action Committee. A city council initiated effort inspiring the Longmont community to take individual and collective action to promote cultural understanding, inclusion, involvement and create a community where everyone belongs. This work is accomplished by focusing on cultural events, community learning and community leadership. Together we can explore, learn and lead an inclusive community.
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Healing Prejudice: Next Steps- Breakout session presented by Bill Ellis and Les Smith
What is the source of prejudice? Where do we learn tolerance and acceptance of others? Bill and Les will lead an interactive discussion of these questions. Come to lend your voice to develop answers for taking the next steps to eliminating prejudice. Learn how everyone can use their privileges, skills and abilities to heal prejudice. Bill Ellis is a local author and frequent contributor to the Longmont Daily Times-Call. You can read one of his recent opinion pieces here. He is an advocate for human rights and an ally to those targeted for prejudice. Bill has spoken to over 1,200 local students on the importance of writing. Bill was an AmeriCorps writing mentor, past president of the Longmont Writers Club and was awarded grants as Writer-in-Residence at Sunset Middle School 2007 & 2008. Bill is currently contributing his writing classes to the City of Longmont University, and recently taught a class on Plain English Writing at the Longmont Senior Center. |
Leslie A. (Les) Smith was born in 1942 in Memphis, TN. He lived there until he was 11 years old when he and his family moved to New Jersey. He lived there until he graduated from high school and went to Colorado to attend the University of Colorado at Boulder.
He worked for the University and attended classes. Upon his graduation he taught in the public schools of both Denver and Boulder. He resigned after several years and went to work for Public Service Company of Colorado which is now Xcel Energy.
Les held a variety of positions with the company until he retired after 30 year’s service as a planner in the gas and electric Design Department.
He resides in Longmont, Colorado and has lived there for 40 years.
He worked for the University and attended classes. Upon his graduation he taught in the public schools of both Denver and Boulder. He resigned after several years and went to work for Public Service Company of Colorado which is now Xcel Energy.
Les held a variety of positions with the company until he retired after 30 year’s service as a planner in the gas and electric Design Department.
He resides in Longmont, Colorado and has lived there for 40 years.
Community Restorative Justice with Jessica Goldberg and Adilene Taboada - Learn about Restorative Justice, a transformative approach to crime and conflict that has brought thousands of people in Longmont together over the past 20 years through programs at Longmont Community Justice Partnership.The field of Restorative Practices emphasize building, maintaining, and repairing relationships when harm occurrs, and Restorative Justice provides that opportunity as an alternative to the criminal justice system. You'll hear about Restorative Practices, Restorative Justice, and participate in an activity that simulates a Restorative Justice process.
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Jessica Goldberg began volunteering with the Longmont Community Justice Partnership in April 2014 and joined the staff in 2015 as the Volunteer and Training Coordinator. At LCJP, Jessica recruits and trains new volunteers to participate in Restorative Justice Processes. Jessica has a Master of Arts in Conflict Transformation from the SIT Graduate Institute (2010). She previously worked for the New York Peace Institute, one of the largest community mediation programs in the US, where she mediated over 300 disputes. She has presented on Games for Learning Restorative Practices at the 2016 Colorado Restorative Justice Practices Conference, and on Transformative Mediation and Restorative Justice in Criminal Matters with the Association for Conflict Resolution of Greater New York and for the American Bar Association Section on Alternative Dispute Resolution. Jessica grew up in Longmont and is happy to see the use of Restorative Practices growing in the community.
Complimentary Community Supper
4:30pm-5:45pm
Documentary Film Showing & Diversity Dialogue
with Director, Lee Mun Wah
6:00p-9:00p
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Contact Us:
First Congregational United Church of Christ, Longmont 1500 9th Ave Longmont CO 80501 Email us at [email protected] |