Friday, 4 August 2017 – Plenary One – It’s ALL about LOVE (Loving our Valuable Experiences)
Time/Location: 9:15 AM – 2nd Floor – Mississippi Ballroom
Keynote Speakers: Dr. Jamie Washington, Rev. Sam Offer, Evangeline Weiss
This plenary will set the tone for the day. As people of African descent, along with our friends and advocates, how do we through love embrace the experiences of people of African descent within MCC and beyond? This community building time will ground us in context, common language, and create a learning community environment. Participants will gain foundational, theoretical, and practical framing for engaging more effectively within and across race.
Friday, 4 August 2017 – Plenary Two – Positioning our Black Experiences in Love
Time/Location: 10:45 AM – 2nd Floor – Mississippi Ballroom
Keynote Speakers: Dr. Jamie Washington, Rev. Sam Offer, Evangeline Weiss
Ever been part of a community and felt forgotten or left out? Did you feel like that community was really designed with you in mind? Do the lives of people of African descent matter in gauging the success or effectiveness of MCC as a “love-grounded” organization? At MCC, we aim to value and recognize the lived experiences of people of African descent. This plenary will help us consider what focusing on the black experience means and looks like. How do people of African descent and people of European descent celebrate, affirm and bring to the forefront the cultural experiences of African descendants? All participants will develop a greater value for the experiences of people of African descent and participants of African descent will feel celebrated and affirmed.
Friday, 4 August 2017 – Plenary Three – Bringing it All Together
Time/Location: 4:30 PM – 2nd Floor – Mississippi Ballroom
Keynote Speakers: Dr. Jamie Washington, Rev. Sam Offer, Evangeline Weiss
All participants will come together as a full group to recap learnings from the day. Facilitators will provide a quick review of the day and what we can expect tomorrow. We will leave celebrating in love, as we prepare for evening worship.
Saturday, 5 August 2017 – Plenary Four – Challenging What Is: Engaging the Dynamics of Whiteness in MCC
Time/Location: 9:15 AM – 2nd Floor – Mississippi Ballroom
Keynote Speakers: Dr. Jamie Washington, Rev. Sam Offer, Evangeline Weiss
Focusing on the dynamics of blackness requires us to consider how privilege (the dynamics of whiteness) shows up in MCC. What does whiteness in MCC look like for people of African descent and for people of European descent? How do we challenge whiteness to create greater inclusion? How do people of African descent collude with white privilege and perpetuate whiteness so that it remains centered? Participants will have a greater understanding of privilege and power while gaining tools and skills to challenge privilege (whiteness) in order to advance equity of the black experience.