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ST. JOHN'S ANTIRACISM ACTION PLAN 2023
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Action ItemDetailsConnection to the Continuum on Becoming an Antiracist Multicultural Organization (Level 4 Identity Change: An Affirming Insitution Level 5 Structural Change: A Transforming Insitution)Team LeadLatest Update from Team Minutes
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DISMANTLE
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1Support the 6 ministry 2023 commitments to St. John’s antiracism mission4. Develops intentional identity as an "antiracist" instution 4. Growing understanding of racism as a barrier to effective diversity 4. New consciousness of institutionalized white power and privilegeAnna(4/24) Anna has reached out to various constituents and is taking ground
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Ministry2023 Action/s to support Antiracism Mission - As members of St. John’s community, we work to identify, disrupt and dismantle racism within our church and our community.
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1-1VestryA) We committed to dismantling by trying the Circle Leadership Way for the running of vestry meetings.

B) We committed to disrupting by continuing to support the American Indian Association of Illinois, St. Martin’s, and Cristo Rey - our pledges are a form of reparations.

C) We committed to having a more diverse vestry, by actively seeking folks from varied backgrounds and not precluding anyone from serving based on their background, ethnicity, orientation, etc..
A - 5. Implements structures, policies and practices with inclusive decision making and other forms of power sharing on all levels of the insitution's life and work. B- 4. Begins to develop accountability to racially oppressed communities. C- 4. Actively recruits and promotes members of groups that have been historically denied access and opportunity.Mike/Jeanie
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1-2Youth Group leaders (grades 6-12)Luca with the adult volunteers and youth will explore ways for the St. John's youth groups to partner with other groups and organizations to address social justice issues in an effort to move beyond a going to serve and save model of action. This will contribute to St. John's working to redefine and rebuild its relationships and activities in society, based on anti-racist commitments. 4. Begins to develop accountability to racially oppressed communities. 5. Redefines and rebuilds all relationships and activities in society, based on antiracist commitments.Anna
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1-3Godly Play Leader (3-6 years)Godly Play- Anna Ware is completing a 7 week training entitled Tell Me the Truth About Racism" which is a program to help faith groups to faithfully dismantle racism with kids through storytelling. Anna will work to bring ideas from this training to enhance our St. John's childrens' education offerings. This will help St. John's to continue to increase its commitment to strengthen its institutional anti-racist multicultural identity as an affirming institution.
4. Develops intentional identity as an antiracist institution. 4. Sponsors programs (education) of antiracism training. Anna
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1-4Worship CommitteeThe Worship Commission will make a monetary payment to support music programs for artists of color when we use uncredited songs attributed to unnamed people of color. This will help St. John's to develop accountability to racially oppressed communities, The Worship Commission will also conduct an imagery analysis of art used at the church specifically looking at the Stations of the Cross and Christus Rex which will continue to raise St. John's consciousness of institutionalized racism and white supremacy. 4. Growing understanding of racism as a barrier to effective diversity. 4. New consciousness of institutionalized white power and privilege. 4. Begins to develop accountability to racially oppressed communities. Kara
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1-5Choir DirectorMusic is a universal language. When we listen to music of other cultures we can learn to relate to those cultures. Also newcomers of cultures different than St. John's culture may feel more welcome if they hear music from their culture. The choir will continue to sing songs from mutiple cultures. This will help St. John's to grow its understanding of racism as a barrier to effective diversity and begin to develop accountability to racially oppressed communities. 4. Growing understanding of racism as a barrier to effective diversity. 4. New consciousness of institutionalized white power and privilege. 4. Begins to develop accountability to racially oppressed communities.
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1-6Wed Bible StudyThe Wednesday morning Bible study group commits to disrupting racism at St John's Church. We will disrupt racism by always including this question in our discussion: what does the gospel story for this week teach us about disrupting racism? This will help St. John's to grow its understanding of racism as a barrier to effective diversity and raise our consciousness of institutionalized racism and white supremacy. 4. Growing understanding of racism as a barrier to effective diversity. 4. New consciousness of institutionalized white power and privilege. Kara
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2Build relationships with more St. John’s ministry/stakeholders leaders to increase St. John’s commitment to dismantle racism and eliminate inherent white advantage4. Develops intentional identity as an "antiracist" instution 4. Growing understanding of racism as a barrier to effective diversity 4. New consciousness of institutionalised white power and privilegeAnna
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3Promote members of groups that have been historically denied access and opportunity and work to share power and decision making.4. Actively recruits and promotes members of groups that have been historically denied access and opportunity.
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3-1Offer a POC caucus as a one time gathering or ongoing depending on desire.4. Actively recruits and promotes members of groups that have been historically denied access and opportunity.Jose(4/24) Jose has fully processed previous summary and is working on writing up thoughts on next steps
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3-2Review information collected from 2021 interviews of St. John's POC community and consider a follow up step or second interview to develop accountability to racially oppressed communities and to promote members of groups that have been historically denied access and opportunity.4. Actively recruits and promotes members of groups that have been historically denied access and opportunity.Jose(4/24) Jose to follow recommendation and text Luca. Jose to reach out to Laura for Luca’s number
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4Support the diocese in the implementation of 2022 Resolution F-185 Commitment to Antiracism Work in Congregations which requires all vestries to 1) Develop an antiracism program, 2) Form a team to execute the antiracism program 3) Allocate funds to support the antiracism program, 4) Deliver a report from the antiracism team at the congregation’s 2024 annual meeting and provide a copy to the bishop5. Commits to struggle to dismantle racism in the wider community, and builds clear lines of accountability to racially oppressed communities. Laura(4/24) Laura: we are going to do a zoom presentation on Saturday, May 13th, 10am (Laura and Mike to lead presentation) - Request for other AR Team members to join - Laura sent presentation to diocese; no meaningful feedback as of yet, but planning meeting may happen
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DISRUPT
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5Begin to develop accountability to racially oppressed communities.
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5-1Support youth groups’ efforts to develop partnerships with other groups and organizations to redefine and rebuild St. John’s relationships and activities in society based on antiracist commitments.4. Begin to develop accountability to racially oppressed communities. 5. Implements structures, policies and practices with inclusive decision making and other forms of power sharing on all levels of the institution's life and work.
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5-2Sacred Ground/Indigenous Peoples - what’s next after the Land Acknowledgement dedication?4. Begin to develop accountability to racially oppressed communities.
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5-3Engage with the Woodlawn community - existing residents and new migrantsCollect a Pence Collection for Home Away from Home Center4. Begin to develop accountability to racially oppressed communities.Paolo(4/24) Paolo to reach out to Khara (vestry warden) regarding collaboration
Paolo to write up a paragraph regarding the Vestry and AR Team “matching” the Pence collection
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Consider additional ways to engage with Woodlawn community4. Begin to develop accountability to racially oppressed communities.
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IDENTIFY
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6Host local discussion session/s of Resurrection Hope: A Future Where Black Lives Matter by Kelly Brown Douglas which the diocese is reading4. Sponsors programs of antiracism training. Kara(4/24) Jeannie: powerful read and recommended reading - however the books have still not been returned - Laura reminded team of the “sign out” sheet
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7Update St. John’s Timeline of History of Racism, White Supremacy and Resistance and share with St. John’s community in a meaningful way4. Growing understanding of racism as barrier to effective diversity. 4. New consciousness of institutionalized white power and privilege. Laura
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8Maintain Children’s and Adult Lending Libraries 4. Sponsors programs of antiracism training.
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9Connect new leaders and staff and general St. John’s members to antiracism trainings4. Sponsors program of antiracism training. 4. Growing understanding of racism as barrier to effective diversity. Laura
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10Other Ideas to support items in #4 An Affirming Institution or #5 A Transforming Institution? Keynote speaker/Event to bring some energy to our church and team! what’s the hot issue? We did CRT and Natalie Moore….4. Sponsors program of antiracism training. 4. Develops intentional identity as an "antiracist" institution.
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New Items
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ID -11Attend From The Mississippi Delta at the Lifeline Theatre - A compelling tale of tenacity and resilience, this Pulitzer Prize-nominated drama explores the incredible journey of a young woman from her hardscrabble Mississippi origins through the civil rights era and beyond. Group ticket price $36 for groups of 8 or more.April 27 – June 18, 2023
Fri at 7:30pm, Sat at 2:30pm & 7:30pm, Sun at 2:30pm. Reserve tickets through Christina Calvit		(4/24) New item: Attend “From the Mississippi Delta” performance at the Lifeline Theatre - Jeannie committed to run point on organizing an outing
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12Co-Sponosr diocesan Sacred Ground trainingWith Kathleen Murphy, St. Luke's Evanston4. Sponsors programs of antiracism training/resource for F-185 compliance
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