• Are you compelled by your faith to learn about anti-racism? 

• Would you like to engage with other people of faith in our community in dialogue and action? 

People of Faith for Anti-Racism gathers partners across faith communities to work together to support racial equity and healing. We believe you and your faith community can play a powerful role in disruption racism and racial harm. 

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The People of Faith (PoF) group experienced an impactful fall and is planning a meaningful winter. 

 

In September PoF hosted a gathering of people driven by their faith to learn about anti-racism, dialogue as a community and build connections.  Couple Leslie & Mark Swiggum of Edina Community Lutheran Church (ECLC) shared their racial justice journey and the Civil Rights Trips they lead.  We witnessed that ordinary people can do extraordinary things and make a difference!  We cannot wait for the “leaders”, we are the leaders.  There was significant dialogue, social time and singing led by Paul Andress, Music Leader, also from ECLC.  The afternoon offered a wonderful opportunity to engage with and build relationships with other individuals interested in anti-racism work. 

 

In October several PoF participants experienced the Sacred Sites Tour sponsored by the Minnesota Council of Churches (MCC).  We learned about Minnesota history through a Native perspective led by Reverend Jim Bear Jacobs (Mohican) a gifted storyteller and Co-Director for Racial Justice at MCC.  We visited historical sites around the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers, what the Dakota refer to as Bdote, or “meeting place of rivers”.  The sites included Fort Snelling State Park, the Dakota Internment Camp following The Dakota-U.S. War, and Pilot Knob Hill, a traditional burial ground.  Witnessing these sites and learning about the horrors forced upon our local natives, just miles from our homes, was so powerful and challenging.

 

Feedback from the September Gathering helped guide the development of PoF’s Winter Series program which will offer learning and engaging opportunities via Zoom.  There will be three sessions, one each month during January, February and March.  Below are the monthly dates, topics and details.  All sessions will be offered over Zoom from 7 to 8:30 PM CST for the convenience of our snowbirds.  You are welcome to register for one, two or all three sessions.

Registration is via this website or email Elena Brito Sifferlin at elenabritosifferlin@gmail.com .

 

We hope you will join us in thought provoking discussion, engagement and fellowship.