A Symposium
The Ongoing White Supremacy
of Our Everyday Lives
When: September 28-30th, 2018
Where: Rainbow Mennonite Church, 1444 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, KS 66103
Note about Registration:
The Symposium Planning Committee is thrilled that over 100 people are registered for this weekend’s activities. Registration is now closed. Walk-in registrations will be accepted,, however, space is limited for a few of the workshops and for meals, and preference will be given to those who have pre-registered. There is plenty of room in the sanctuary for all of the keynote presentations.
Please join us at Rainbow Mennonite Church for a symposium: “The Ongoing White Supremacy of Our Everyday Lives.” This symposium will provide time for fellowship, community building, and activities for the whole family. Overnight stays will not be included.
The topic of the symposium is informed by our congregational goal #2 to, “foster a relevant peace church tradition in the 21st century.” More specifically, this will be a time of considering, confronting, and changing White supremacy and doing so with an eye toward realizing God’s ideal of creating a more human tomorrow.
Our keynote speaker will be Dr Jalane Schmidt, an associate professor at The University of Virginia. Dr. Schmidt is a graduate of Bethel College and co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Chapter in Charlottesville.
In addition to Dr. Schmidt’s keynote addresses, there will be break out sessions and listening circles, as well as time for fellowship, activities for children, ways for youth to be involved, and childcare.
For those attending the Shawnee Indian Mission field trip on Saturday afternoon, the fee is $5 per adult and $1 per minor (17 and under) to be paid to them when you arrive.
To help offset costs for the Symposium, we’re suggesting a donation of $25 per adult and $10 per child (12 and under). Donations should indicate “symposium” in the memo line.
Symposium Schedule (Subject to Change)
Friday, September 28:
- 7:00 – 9:00 pm: Movie & Snacks: “Ruby Bridges” (click here for movie description)
- Please note childcare will not be provided this evening.
Saturday, September 29:
- 8:00 – 9:00 am: Check-in, continental breakfast
- 9:00 am: Welcome and Announcements
- 9:10 am: Keynote Address – Jalane Schmidt, BA, MA, MDiv, PhD. Associate Professor of Religious Studies, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, and co-founder of Black Lives Matter, Charlottesville
- 10:10 am: Transition to Workshops – Snacks in FH by kitchen
- 10:30: Workshops (For descriptions and presenter information click here.)
- Implicit Bias – Allison Unruh and Ky Stoltzfus
- Becoming Response-able Rosedale Remembearers: How White Settler Mennonites are processing intergenerational trauma and practicing restorative solidarity – Kimberly Hunter
- Tools for Talking to People about Racial Bias – Karen Goering Hostetler
- Sorting Out Race: An interactive learning experience with the Kauffman Museum’s award winning exhibit Sorting Out Race – Rachel Pannabecker
- 11:15 am: Transition to Listening Circles – Snacks in FH by kitchen
- 11:30 am: Listening Circles (based on groups assigned during check-in)
- 12:00 – 1:00 pm: Lunch
- 1:00 pm: Announcements
- 1:10 pm: Keynote Address – Dr. Jalane Schmidt
- 2:10 pm: Transition to Listening Circles – Snacks in FH by kitchen
- 2:30 pm: Listening Circles (based on groups assigned during check-in)
- 3:00 pm: Transition to Workshops
- 3:15 pm: Workshops (For descriptions and presenter information click here.)
- Children and Race – Amy Hansen-Malek
- History and Experience of Hispanic People in Wyandotte County – Daniel Serda
- Humor Me – Joshua Chittum
- Field Trip to Shawnee Indian Mission – Kimberly Hunter (The trip will include a 1/2 hour guided tour plus the option to look around on your own until the 5:00 pm closing time.)
- 5:30 – 7:00 pm Dr. Schmidt will meet informally with adults of Rainbow multiracial families and families with people of color over the evening meal in the fellowship hall. Childcare will be provided if requested.
Sunday, September 30:
- 9:30 am: Worship Service – Dr. Jalane Schmidt, guest speaker
- 10:40 am: Coffee and conversation
- 11:00 am: Q&A Dialogue with Dr. Jalane Schmidt – Prepared questions followed by questions from attendees
- 12:00 pm: Symposium concludes
Other Activities
An interactive learning experience with the Kauffman Museum’s award winning exhibit Sorting Out Race will be set up in the fellowship hall.
Children in Kindergarten through 5th grade will participate in activities focused on the theme: I am a Story; So Are You based on Let’s Talk About Race by Julius Lester. Children will think about the story of race, record their own stories, do crafts, and sing songs. Childcare will be available for children in preschool.
Specific Middle School youth activities are being developed and will be announced shortly. High School youth will have the opportunity to attend some adult sessions, with some breakout content exclusively for them.
List of Symposium Workshops
For a complete list of workshop descriptions and presenter bios, click here.
Morning Workshops:
- Implicit Bias – Allison Unruh and Ky Stoltzfus
- Becoming Response-able Rosedale Remembearers: How White Settler Mennonites are processing intergenerational trauma and practicing restorative solidarity – Kimberly Hunter
- Tools for Talking to People about Racial Bias – Karen Goering Hostetler
- Sorting Out Race: An interactive learning experience with the Kauffman Museum’s award winning exhibit Sorting Out Race – Rachel Pannabecker
Afternoon Workshops:
- Children and Race – Amy Hansen-Malek
- History and Experience of Hispanic People in Wyandotte County – Daniel Serda
- Humor Me – Joshua Chittum
- Field Trip to Shawnee Indian Mission – Kimberly Hunter (The trip will include a ½ hour guided tour plus the option to look around on your own until the 5:00 pm closing time.)