November 2020 Newsletter

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Psalm 118:1 

ARJ is Making Plans for 2021 
We Need You!

ARJ Leadership Teams are working on plans for next year’s programs and activities.  We’d like your input for program ideas and areas of interest in which you’d like to volunteer your time and talents. Recognizing that we will likely be “meeting” virtually in the foreseeable future, we’re anxious to put project teams in place to work on internet-based programs and special initiatives in order to lock down our 2021 calendar.

 

Information on our subcommittees is included here – follow up with the appropriate contacts and let us know how you’d like to get involved.

 

Small Groups
The ARJ Small Groups Sub-Committee is dedicated to building meaningful relationships between members of the two congregations through small group studies and social interaction. This team develops, pilots and provides appropriate curriculums and materials for use by new and existing ARJ small groups. They initiate the formation of new small groups, monitor and report program outcomes, and identify new opportunities to strengthen and sustain small groups.
Contact: Debra Jarvis, debraj@visioningvalues.com

 

Large Group Events
The ARJ Large Group Events Sub-Committee is involved in creating and executing major programs and events that support the ARJ mission.  Programs are especially designed to bring together members of the two churches, as well as local communities, to educate and inform participants about racial justice issues and establish open, faith-based dialogues. Past programs include special showings of films and documentaries and live presentations featuring leading racial justice educators, authors and advisors.  This group also helps develop and execute ARJ social events such as family days at the zoo, cookouts, art exhibits, sporting events and other activities.
Contact:  Pat Frye, pfrye247@gmail.com

 

Social Justice
The Social Justice Sub-Committee studies, promotes and helps to actualize racial justice initiatives in our communities.  This group is committed to eliminating mass incarceration. Recognizing that the greatest injustices are disproportionately inflicted upon communities of color, especially Black communities, this team is working on initiatives that can make a difference close to home. Statistics show that the greatest injustices are disproportionately inflicted upon communities of color, especially Black communities.  This team is working on initiatives that can make a difference in practical issues such as accessing freedom to maintain personal obligations pre-prosecution and gaining true freedom post time served.
Contact:  Stewart Curtright, stewart.curtright@cor.org

 

Marketing & Communications
The Marketing & Communications Sub-Committee members serve as promotion and communications advisors to the Leadership Team and Sub-Committees.  The group develops and implements marketing strategies, communication materials, and public relations programs to support the ARJ mission. The team helps build interest and awareness for ARJ events and activities through regular and special communications including the monthly newsletter and support in creating/managing ARJ’s website and social media presence.
Contact:  Susan Dimick, susan.dimick2@gmail.com

 

Driving While Black

Our Black brothers and sisters have shared their true stories.  We’ve seen the news reports.  Maybe you even caught the feature film, “Green Book”. Take some time this month to dig deeper into the history and understanding of the injustices encountered when driving while Black. Here are a few places to start:

The PBS documentary, “Driving While Black:  Race, Space and Mobility in America”, reveals how the advent of the automobile brought new mobility and freedoms for African Americans but also exposed them to discrimination and deadly violence, and how that history resonates today. The program is currently streaming on Kansas City PBS and will air on local PBS television channels on Sunday, November 29 at 2PM.

Stopped: Profiling the Police is a multi-week series you can follow now on Flatland. The Flatland news team carefully examines law enforcement traffic stops in the Kansas City region and explores both the patterns and complexities of enforcing the law in the heartland.  The series culminates in a town hall that will air Thursday, November 19 at 7:30PM on KCPBS.

 

Church of the Resurrection Online Class: 
Spiritual Tools for the Justice Journey

Wednesdays | 6:30-7:45 pm | Nov 4-18

We know the world can’t be changed overnight, and that the journey towards justice is long. In this class Rev. Cheryl Jefferson Bell, along with other Resurrection staff, will lead you in practices to help renew your soul and provide a solid foundation for the work ahead. Register here.

 

UMKC: Educate-Organize-Advocate Social Justice Conference

Thursday, November 12 |  12-5pm

This year’s UMKC Educate-Organize-Advocate Social Justice Conference will spotlight stimulating and educational conversations around accessibility, including access to housing, health care, and education exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well racism, and other intersecting social issues. All sessions are free, virtual, and open to the public.  Full conference schedule and registration is on the EOA Website.

 

A Community Conversation: Kansas City Public Library

Thursday, November 12 | 6pm

Noted educator, journalist, and scholar Andre Perry joins Emmet Pierson Jr. of the nonprofit Community Builders of Kansas City in this free online event. Together they examine the long and deliberate devaluation of African Americans and the communities in which they live and how much how much the entire country will gain by properly valuing Black homes and businesses, family structures, voters, and school districts. Register for this event co-presented by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the Kansas City Public Library.

Watch it live online at YouTube.com/kclibrary.

Black Stories Matter is a program created by TMI Project that uses true storytelling to speak truth to power and to help dismantle the white supremacist systems that hold racism in place. TMI Project is a nonprofit transmedia organization focused on bringing diverse audiences together and amplifying the voices of populations whose stories often go unheard. Check out their website for more information and to view programs, blog posts and other resources.