December 2022 | Baltimore, MD
Race and Power in America Summit 2022: The Fight for the Future of Democracy Summit Schedule
Wednesday, November 30, 2022
* Denotes workshops/sessions “By invitation only”
7:30 a.m. Breakfast (for Tuesday overnight guests) – Dining Hall
10:00 a.m. Registration Opens – Hallway outside Auditorium
12:00 p.m. Lunch – Dining Hall
2:00 p.m. *Organizing Staff Meeting – A100
3:00 p.m. *Religious Leaders’ Caucus – Bridge Room
4:00 p.m. *Organizers of Color Meeting – Assigned Salon in Dining Hall
5:30 p.m. *Gamaliel Board of Directors Meeting – Assigned Salon in Dining Hall
5:30 p.m. Dinner – Dining Hall
7:00 p.m. Plenary 1 – The Fight for the Future of Democracy – What are we fighting for? – Auditorium
Description: How we answer that question is key to how we engage with the world. For Gamaliel the short answer is “the beloved community,” the long answer is contained in the Gamaliel Transformational Narrative and our Four Pathways. This plenary session will introduce the delegation (roll call); begin with prayer; and a recognition of indigenous peoples and the events of 1619. This plenary will launch the Gamaliel Race and Power Institute with its unique position within the intersection of Race, Power and Organizing Methodology.
Presenters: Rev. Dr. John Welch, Gamaliel Board Chair; Angela James, Director, Gamaliel Race and Power Institute; Dr. Deborah Krause, President, Eden Theological Seminary; Dr. Dietra Wise-Baker, Director Contextual Education, Eden Theological Seminary; Sr. Janice Brown, OP, General Councilor for the Dominican Sisters of Adrian Michigan; Shalanda Baker, Director, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, U.S. Department of Energy
Session Chairs: Rev. Dr. John C. Welch, Chair, Gamaliel Board of Directors; Angela James, Director, Gamaliel Race and Power Institute
9:00 p.m. *Seminarian Session I – A306
9:00 p.m. Social for Race and Power Participants – TBD
Thursday, December 1, 2022
* Denotes workshops/sessions “By invitation only”
7:30 a.m. Breakfast – Dining Hall
8:00 a.m. Registration continues – Hallway outside Auditorium
9:00 a.m. Plenary 2 – A Vision for the Future of Democracy – Casting our nets into the Deep – Auditorium
Description: We’ve been fishing for over 35 years for the beloved community, yet the isolation of the pandemic, an on-going insurrection, the big lie, revisionist history and pushback on the rights of marginalized groups have left us feeling our nets are empty. This Plenary will help renew the vision and introduce the morning and afternoon breakouts as ways we can go into the deep in issue development and base-building that is transformational for the future.
Presenters: Rev. Adam Taylor, President, Sojourners, Rev. Dr. DeNeice Welch, Ntosake Consultant, Gamaliel
Session Chairs: Rev. Marian Boyle-Rohloff, President, WISDOM, Co-Chair Gamaliel National Religious Leaders’ Caucus; Rev. Dr. Bobby L. Love, Sr., Pastor, Second Baptist Church, Olathe, KS, Metro Organization for Racial and Economic Equity
10:30 a.m. Breakout Sessions 1 – 90 minutes (see RAP Breakouts and Workshops)
12:00 p.m. Lunch – Dining Hall
1:30 p.m. Breakout Sessions 2 – 120 minutes (see RAP Breakouts and Workshops)
3:30 p.m. Break
4:00 p.m. *Council of Presidents Meeting – A307
5:30 p.m. Dinner – Dining Hall
7:00 p.m. Plenary – Introduction to the Gamaliel Race and Power Institute Opportunities Catalogue Offerings – Auditorium
Presenters: Angela James and the Gamaliel Race and Power Institute Steering Team
7:30 p.m. Experiential Breakouts
Breakout 1: Sacred Conversations on Race +(ACTION) – A303
Description: This breakout will introduce the 6-8 week process which is the “Sacred Conversations on Race (+Action).” These structured conversations are a resource congregations and other institutions can use to ground community organizing work in a more sophisticated understanding of race and an approach to structural racism with the aim of creating an action plan for change. In this breakout participants will engage in some of the exercises that are part of the “Sacred Conversations on Race (+Action)” process.
Facilitator: David Gerth, Executive Director, Metropolitan Congregations United
Breakout 2: Cultural Competency – A304
Description: Cultural competence is defined as a set of values, behaviors, attitudes, and practices within a system, organization, program and among individuals and which enables them to work effectively cross culturally. Further, it refers to the ability to honor and respect the beliefs, language, interpersonal styles and behaviors of individuals and the constituencies we engage with as an organizing network. Striving to achieve cultural competence is a dynamic, ongoing, developmental process that requires a long-term commitment. In this breakout, participants will explore the difference between the concept of race, ethnicity and culture and engage in exercises to help us engage with one another more effectively.
Facilitator: Angela James, Director, Gamaliel Race and Power Institute
Breakout 3: An introduction to the Aspirational and Action Document – A306
Description: No matter how hard we try, bias and institutional racism creeps into our organizational structures. Rooting this out requires a process of: serious relationship building; the courage to engage in fierce conversations; values clarification; and a multi-dimensional analysis of the organizational structures. The process yields “aspirational statements” which will guide the annual strategic planning for maximum transformation. In this short workshop, Gamaliel Race and Power trainers will walk participants through the basic requirements and timeline for the creation of the organizational “Aspirational and Action document.”
Facilitator: Sr. Cheryl Liske, Training Coordinator, Gamaliel
Breakout 4: Identity Caucuses – A307
Description: Racial identity in the United States is not shaped in a neutral environment. The identities of People of Color form in response to racial oppression, and the identities of Whites form in response to racial superiority. These two identity dynamics manifest in a complex range of attitudes and behaviors that support and perpetuate the racist paradigm in this country. In order to work together to dismantle individual, institutional, and cultural racism, People of Color and Whites must understand how these identity dynamics operate in specific institutional settings, and devise strategies to overcome the barriers and oppression that are created by them.
Facilitator: Cynthia Jarrold, Sr. Advisor for Funding Strategies and External Affairs, Gamaliel
Friday, December 2, 2022
* Denotes workshops/sessions “By invitation only”
7:30 a.m. Breakfast – Dining Hall
9:00 a.m. Plenary 3 – The reality of the fight – Armoring up for the fight!
Description: Allies and partners in solidarity make for the best armor. Solidarity calls for the three loyalties
embodied in the “Attitudes, Arts, Disciplines and Spirituality” of Gamaliel organizing. The first loyalty is loyalty to
the movement toward the beloved community; The second is loyalty to the disciplines that create a culture of
mutual accountability; The last and most important loyalty is loyalty to relationship building and the dignity of all
individuals.
Presenters: Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers; Sr. Mary Novak, Director, Network; Madeline Janis, ED, Jobs to Move America
Moderator: Jeanné Lewis, Interim Executive Director, Faith in Public Life
Session Chairs: Rev. Edward Thompson, President, NOAH Nashville and Chair, Gamaliel Council of Presidents; Bob King, Retired President, UAW and Member of Gamaliel Board of Directors
10:30 a.m. Breakout Sessions 3 – 90 minutes (see RAP Breakouts and Workshops)
12:00 p.m. Lunch – Dining Hall
1:30 p.m. Breakout Sessions 4 – 120 minutes (see RAP Breakouts and Workshops)
*2:30 p.m. Religious Leaders’ Caucus with Jim Wallis, Founder, Sojourners: A Faithful Response to White Christian Nationalism – Auditorium
5:30 p.m. Dinner – Gamaliel@35 Celebration – Dining Hall
Saturday, December 3, 2022
* Denotes workshops/sessions “By invitation only”
7:30 a.m. Breakfast – Dining Hall
9:00 a.m. Plenary 4 – The fight for the future – Winning the win! – Auditorium
Description: Martin Luther King, Jr., reminded us that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward
justice.” Change takes a long time, but it does happen. Change most assuredly will happen if we keep our eyes on
the prize – the beloved community; structure ourselves for accountability, mentor and train leaders; are serious
about strategic equity campaigns and solidify partnerships for the long haul. This plenary will bring us back to the
beginning of our time together and introduce the breakouts for establishing our commitments for the next two
years.
Confirmed Speaker: Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson, President and CEO, Children’s Defense Fund
9:50 a.m. Breakouts by States
10:40 a.m. Closing Worship – Auditorium
11:00 a.m. Depart
Race and Power Workshops, Meetings and Breakouts by Date and Time!
