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Why I'm Grateful We Won't Be Sponsoring a Black Lives Matter Event This Weekend
April 11, 2018 November 5, 2018
It started the way that so many Unitarian Universalist actions start: with a question.
One of our members asked on a progressive social media site, why there had not been any response in Fort Collins to the most recent shooting death of a Black man by police officers – in this case, Stephon Clark in Sacramento.
Just a few days later, the event seemed to be well on its way. Conversations were happening across various communities, speakers were being booked, permits were being pulled, objectives were being outlined. Some of the organizing was messy – most of us didn't know each other. But we were figuring it out. The Facebook event went live. It was happening.
To be honest, I have been waiting for this moment. I knew it would come, hoped it would come. This moment when the right someone would ask the right question, at the right time, and movement would begin. We could show up, as allies, and supporters with our presence as a predominantly white faith community to support the voices and leadership of people of color.
When it comes to race and racism – we are not well practiced at these conversations in Fort Collins, at least, not in the white community. But in other spaces, amongst people of color, and sometimes across trusted friendships, it's generations-long. Before I lived in Fort Collins, I first heard about it from one of my favorite artists, Guillermo Gomez-Pena, who wrote a piece about a stay here in 2008. He described the city as "one of the most racist places" he'd been in the U.S., and went on to describe a series of harassing anti-Mexican racist interactions he and his friend had while in town.
It's long past time for all of us to be having this conversation, and to do the work to make change.
As the team started to discern its plans, it reached out to a core group of leaders of color in the city, hoping to invite their participation and engagement. Instead of positive reception, however, this group expressed serious concerns and resistance. First, at the focus on Stephon Clark and national issues. They felt it perpetuated a myth that racism happens somewhere else, not here. And second, that a single rally or event might help white people feel they were doing something, but wouldn't necessarily make actual change for people of color in the community. They asked the group to put the event on hold so that greater conversation, relationship building, and strategizing could occur.
I already said that the early stages of this process were messy. But this was something else. This was – painful. Confusing. There was a plan in place, a lot of publicity. Already a group of volunteers being recruited. No one disagreed with the need to address race and racism – and yet it matters how, and with whom. As the Black Lives Matter organizers have said it, we need to move at the speed of trust. And these relationships, this partnership, it didn't have the trust yet. We realized, we needed to start there.
So the lead organizers put the event on hold. There have been hurt feelings as a result, and some angry words – especially coming from white activists invested in the event. It's been even messier than those first conversations.
And yet ultimately, I'm grateful that we aren't moving forward with the event. Because an event is not the end we're after. The event was just a means towards the bigger end, which is racial justice – and a Fort Collins where all people, including people of color feel welcome, and included, seen, and heard, and valued – for who they are. That end is going to take a lot of messy conversations and a broad coalition of partners. And it's going to take a willingness to put things on hold when key leaders of color in the community ask for a pause, to slow down to build that trust. It's going to mean listening, and re-assessing, and learning together, and privileging relationship over publicity, or facebook events – even when they have gotten many likes, and many people indicating their desire to attend.
With the event on hold this weekend, we are re-assessing our plans, and stepping back into that critical relationship-building work, and strategizing together in the way the group of leaders asked for. We're engaging some help from community leaders who have walked this path before, and we're taking a breath. We're committed to the long-haul work, and to doing our part to build the Beloved Community. Most of all, I am grateful to get to be a part, to listen and learn, and to be on this journey, together.
Justice Theology and Faithful Living Uncategorized
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We are located in the central west part of Fort Collins, off of Drake and just east of Taft Hill at:
1815 Yorktown Ave,
or by email at
hello@foothillsuu.org
While the church is bustling much of the time, our office is open Mon., Wed., and Thurs. 9 am to 4 pm. and Tues. 11 am to 4 pm. The office is closed Fridays.
Jennifer studied Social Communication and Journalism with a postgraduate program in Marketing at Universidad Santo Tomás in Bogota, Colombia. For two years, she did social service to help Transgender community of this city. Later, she worked as a journalist at Caracol Radio, which is one of the most important radio stations in her country. During the last 3 years, Jennifer has worked as an account executive in traditional marketing, digital marketing and public relations for different companies. Currently, she is visiting Fort Collins where she was looking for community service, meeting people and learning new things.
As a native New Yorker, Amy enjoys thinking big. She has a passion for community building and has previously worked for three local nonprofits as a database manager to help build systems that can assist with connecting people to their interests and to each other. You will often find her paddle-boarding at Horsetooth with her two kids, enjoying live music, or out walking her high-energy dog, Aspen.
About Kaley
Kaley is a sophomore Music Education Major at Colorado State University where she received a Music Scholarship for performance in Euphonium. Kaley has previously worked as a Nanny as well as being the older sister of a three-year-old sibling! Kaley hopes to be a middle school Band Director in the future.
About Betsy
Betsy is very excited to be the Family Ministry Assistant at Foothills Unitarian Church! Having grown up in Fort Collins, she knows the area and community well. Her background includes being a Youth Services Specialist at Platte Valley Juvenile Detention Center, where she supervised and provided support to incarcerated youth for the State of Colorado. She is also an avid volunteer for Partners Mentoring Youth and has worked with at-risk youth for many years. Prior to working for Platte Valley, Betsy worked at AT&T Mobility in sales. She is currently working towards getting a Master's Degree in Social Work so that she can become a counselor for at-risk youth. In her time off, Betsy enjoys reading non-fiction books and spending time with her pug mix, Igor. She also hikes on weekends and is very passionate about fitness. Betsy's always open to getting to know new people, so if you see her around please come say hi!
About Kara
Kara moved to Colorado in 2006 to study at Northern Colorado and Colorado State earning her Masters in Music Therapy. She works as a music therapist and music educator in the Fort Collins area. She joined Foothills in the Fall of 2017. While still new to Unitarian Universalism, the message of spreading courageous love is what resonated most with her. She enjoys furthering that message with families at Foothills through moving, playing instruments and singing. When not making music, she tries to spend time hiking, skiing, running or reading as many books as she can.
About Christopher
Nature, music and beloved community inform Christopher's budding ministry. A lifelong UU from Knoxville, Tennessee, he brings his experience in UU camps and conferences, hospital and university chaplaincy, and worship-crafting to serve Foothills. Christopher earned a Master's of Divinity from the Iliff School of Theology in 2017, and a BA in French from Middle Tennessee State University. He enjoys spending time outdoors and playing in his band Crispy Watkins and the Crack Willows.
About Dyane
Dyane Rogelstad is a Southern California native, but has adopted Colorado as her home. She grew up on an avocado ranch, loves the outdoors, and has three grown children and two grandchildren. Dyane's first love is music! She teaches music at her home studio and regularly performs as an accompanist-collaborator in the Northern Colorado area. She also serves as a Project Manager and Accountant at a locally-owned advertising firm in Fort Collins. Dyane is excited and grateful to be part of the Foothills community!
Lauren grew up in Maryland, DC, and Virginia, and moved to Colorado in 2014 with her husband Chris and their two children, Sylvia and Jack. She has worked as a consultant and educator in leadership and organizational development, communication, and diversity and inclusion. She loves bringing those skills together with her experience as a parent and partner to serve Unitarian Universalism and all the youth and families at Foothills. She believes in the power of our church to cast a wide circle of loving support around us as we navigate the tangled gorgeous chaos of our lives. Lauren likes to talk a lot, play word games, and dig in to great novels. She loves the Muppets. She is an ardent friend and focused parent; a gardener, yogurt maker, nature explorer, and dog lover; as passionately devoted to nurturing all those lives around her as she is to sometimes being blessedly alone. Lauren found her true home in Colorado but still feels the pull of the Atlantic Ocean, the Potomac River, and the Chesapeake Bay.