Calling for Action in Interracial Dialogue

In light of the shootings in Louisiana, Minnesota, and Dallas this week, race is once again the hot topic of the day. Some of us are called to go out on the street and protest.  Some of us are called to prayers.  Some of us are called to do the grieving and healing work.  Some of us are called to do the legal work as these cases will most likely go to trial.  

The people of the United States tend to have a short attention span; so I invite you to do something that will make a lasting impact in fostering wellness in your community before we move on to the next thing that caught our attention. 

I call upon all Kaleidoscope Institute Associates, Catalysts and trained facilitators to intentionally start interracial dialogue processes wherever you are.  In other words, invite people in your family, neighborhood, school, workplace, churches, community center, etc., to enter into a grace margin that you create, in which they can share the truth about their experiences and listen to other’s experiences in order to achieve understanding and possible reconciliation. It can be as extensive as a full community forum like the one that Peter Schell and Rondesia Jarrett facilitated after the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson. It can be as simple as gathering folks in a café to have a constructive dialogue on race like the one I suggested for Starbucks during their failed “Race Together” attempt to get their patrons to talk about race. 

Write back and let me know what you decide to do.  Share the resources that you have.  If you need resources, contact me.  Over the years, we have developed many tools and processes for interracial dialogue.  For example, I had designed a 5-session interracial dialogue process which was used after the 1992 riots in Los Angeles. The description of the process is in the appendix of my book, The Bush Was Blazing But Not Consumed. One of our Associates, Lucky Lynch, had extensive experience in create dialogue process for the law enforcement community.  We have tools like Photolanguage, which can be used to engage small in-depth dialogue on race and many more.

Eric H. F. Law
Kaleidoscope Institute
For competent leadership in a diverse changing world
www.kscopeinstitute.org                

Reflection Questions for Proper 10 (Year C) Amos 7:7-17   How do you discern the plumb line for yourself and your community? Psalm 82   What injustice are you complaining to God? Colossians 1:1-14   What does it mean for you to bear fruit of the Gospel? Luke 10:25-37   How does Jesus’ criterion of what is a neighbor challenge you?

Upcoming Opportunities to Study with The Sustainist and learn more about Holy Currencies and Gracious Leadership: July 18-22, 2016 Los Angeles, CA Holy Currencies: Incubating Sustainable Missional Ministries     Gracious Leadership: Racial Reconciliation KI Associates Conference (by Invitation only) August 4-6, 2016 West Linn Lutheran Church, West Linn, Oregon Holy Currencies: Stewardship 365 October 23-27, 2016 St Columba Center, Memphis, Tennessee Gracious Leadership: Racial Reconciliation Catalyst Training Register at www.kscopeinstitute.org