1. Nonviolent Witness Intervention Training ~ Saturday, February 4, 10:00 – 12:00
in the Church Dining Room ~ Led by Pat James and Karin McGowan

• This workshop is for anyone who wants to activate their values when they witness harassment. Intervention isn’t a matter of courage alone. It’s a matter of planning, practice, and commitment, and with those in hand, courage is much more accessible.
• The workshop focuses on nonviolent, non-physical strategies to witness, de-escalate, and reduce harm. Our goal is for each person to leave the workshop with a personal plan that they can develop and practice. Participants must pre-register by emailing Pat James, (MinnesotaPats@gmail.com) or by signing up at church.

2. Racial Justice Sunday ~ Sunday, February 12, 10:00 am
• The Peace and Justice Committee will join Pastor Chris Mereschuk in planning and participating in the worship service for the UCC’s designated Racial Justice Sunday. We will welcome Toyan (TJ) Harper, who is the Associate for Racial Justice Ministries for the Western – Massachusetts Conference United Church of Christ, to be our guest preacher.

3. “Isms” Workshop ~ March • This workshop will focus on the commonalities of oppressive systems and structures, and the “isms” of our times. Date and place to follow.

4. “The Black Lives Matter Movement and other Black Liberation Movements in History”
Professor Elizabeth Pryor, Assistant Professor of History, Smith College ~ Thursday, March 30, 5:30-7:30, Church Dining Room. A Soup, Salad and Social Change event.

More events to come in April, May and June including This Is Real performance in the community, the film 13th and an Ally Workshop.

BLM Series planners: Karen Browne-Courage, Lisa Hall, Doug Renick