The 9/21 Sympoisum: A Day to Remember! 

http://www.antiracistalliance.com/symposiums-29-Sep-2009.html

WHAT AN AMAZING WEEK IN ANTI RACIST ORGANIZING.  You New Yorkers are rockin!!!!

Thank you all for your hard work and dedication to making the day happen.  I felt really inspired in hearing how,  SPECIFICALLY organizations were utilizing,  INSTITUTIONALIZING anti-racist principles in their work.  THAT WAS AMAZING.  It is the movement,  as Onaje you have said….the change from conceptualizing and internalizing (sitting down and taking it in) to implementation (standing up) to change that fires me up.  I was truly mesmerized and felt all of the passion of the organizers in the room.

GREAT WORK.
marie

Marie Romeo,  MSW
Social Worker
Common Ground Health Clinic
1400 Teche Street
New Orleans,  Louisiana  70114
Cell: 631-889-3817
Clinic phone: 504-361-9800

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Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. – Martin Luther King,  Jr.

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It was extraordinary, and all involved can feel proud.

Music, yes, and the occasional screech of tires or brakes.  One of the portions that keeps coming to mind is Greg Owens’ talking about moving forward on two prior occasions but calling a halt or a time out because circumstances weren’t right, or leadership wasn’t ready.  I would like to hear more about the details of that.  What it takes, the time, the effort, the timing of systems change.

Susan Baydur

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Coming Together was great.  Hearing people testify to their transformations was music.  (Concrete shifts in the data were pretty terrific too)

Kudos to All!!

Bonnie Cushing

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Who knew doing undoing racism work could feel so good, for the most part we have all experienced the hardship and struggle, Monday was a major, major celebration on what it is to be human and be joined with others assuming their humanity as well in the interest and work of undoing racism! A  powerful day in deed, Palanti- forward !

Onaje Muid, MSW, LMHC, CASAC, FDLC

Clinical Associate Director
Reality House, Inc.
34-51 Vernon Blvd
Long Island City, NY 11106
Tel.# (212) 281-6004 ext 351
Fax# (212) 281-7155
email:  omuid@realityhouseny.org
Website:  www.realityhouseny..org

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As I walked into the auditorium yesterday afternoon having dashed over from classes I had the most overwhelming sensation of seeing so many people.  The energy being created and gererated was one of heart, passion, commitment, relief, sadness, joy, revelation and fire!  A sea of emotions that have been the opening for all that’s been accomplished and all that is now possible in moving forward.

I thank Sandy, Mary, PISB and for all the panelists and the people who took the day to be there for reminding me of how blessed I am to be part of such a remarkable group of people and movement.

With love and gratitude

Tami Farber

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A FABULOUS DAY — AND A FULL HOUSE– THAT HAS MOVED OUR MOVEMENT FORWARD! CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL, WITH A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO SANDY….. for all that she did and always does!

Mimi Abramovitz, DSW

Bertha Capen Reynolds Professor
Hunter College School of Social Work
129 East 79th St
New York, New York, 10075

212-452-7106 (o)
212-866-2429 (h)
212-452-4150 Fax)
iabramov@hunter.cuny.edu

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Thank you so much for the conference on Sept. 21.  The conference was spectacular.  It was great to hear about the work and support.  I really feel that we are at some sort of crossroads in the struggle for racial equality and we really need to stick together and continue to knock on doors.  Both my guest were appreciative of the information.

The grandparent that accompanied me, whose grandchildren are in her care stated that not enough information was given about kinship care but nevertheless she was excited to hear about the issue being addressed.  She was so hopeful and truly got it!  She said she was saying the same things for years as a retiree  from the Correctional  Institution.  She took this information back to her support group and more of them are interested and she reported that they are deeply encouraged to know “a place like Texas can change”.

The other guest, a young and budding female pastor was flabergasted.  She is anxious to take the training and will be attending the “Working Together for….” meeting next week in Rockland.  She made an announcement in Church the following Sunday and many more can’t wait to hear her speak about racial equality.  We talked and she said that she thought one of most helpful things was to understand a common analysis was needed to move so many people.

I think some people from Rockland were expecting “how to information”.  I felt like we got it.  The key for me was that there is something we can do about racial equality.  First we must be on the same page.  Phyllis’s work of getting people to the workshop is phenomenal  The next step is to rally around the analysis to take action.  I think the problem in Rockland is that we are not consistent.  The people who attend the workshop  are not the people who can/will/ want to take on the depth of the work.  Those that have power to do something want to help but don’t take the training.  I think that a clear understanding that the work can’t be done without the workshop, or common analysis is a vital message.

Anyway thanks again.  Keep up the good work.  Thank you so much for including me.  If there is anything I can do at this end.  Please do not hesitate to contact me.

Dornzella

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“Strangely enough, I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be.  You can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be.” –  Martin Luther King Jr.

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