Bystander Intervention Training!
Saturday, Sept 18 1-2.30pm Online & Free
A free online webinar to help you address conflict and bigotry in person and online. We’ve had a number of testimonials to the quality of this training. From their description: This training will teach you the 5D’s of bystander intervention methodology. We’ll start by talking about the types of disrespect that many folks across all identities are facing right now — from microaggressions to violence — using a tool we call the “spectrum of disrespect.” You’ll learn what to look for and the positive impact that bystander intervention has on individuals and communities. We’ll talk through five strategies for intervention: distract, delegate, document, delay, and direct; and how to prioritize your own safety while intervening. Register HERE
OWOF Discussion Group to follow-up on Bystander Training Workshop
Join us on Zoom – Tues, Sept 21 at 7:00 pm LeAnn Seto (who has led these classes) and Jane Pacheco will lead a local discussion to help reinforce the concepts we learn. Email for link: owofchelsea@gmail.com
Policing Study Group – Special Guest Speaker
Wednesday, Sept 22 @ 7.30pm via Zoom
Special Guest Dwight Wilson will be talking about his experience setting up the Ann Arbor police oversight board, things to watch out for in the process and what the reform process might look like for a small jurisdiction like Chelsea. This is an opportunity to learn from experience as we begin our process.
Dwight Wilson co-chaired the task force in Ann Arbor that sent out the original proposal for an Independent Police Oversight Commission in 2018. Dwight has spent thousands of hours researching and advocating for police oversight efforts. He is the Chair of the Board for the Interfaith Round Table of Washtenaw County. He also has a lot of experience in anti-racism efforts as the former Chairman of the Human Rights Commission in Ann Arbor, as a Quaker, as a longtime educator, and as an author. Click HERE for zoom link.
Indigenous Peoples Land Acknowledgement Event & Guest Speaker
Sunday October 10, 2021
An OWOF Action group, led by Cathy Muha, is hosting a walk/run/bike ride on the Border-to-Border trail along M-52, ending at the new statue of a Native American woman looking out over Green Lake. There will be a gathering to read a formal Land Acknowledgement for the original people on the land we inhabit. More details coming.
Monday October 11, 2021 (Indigenous People’s Day) 6:30pm
Save the date now for this virtual program featuring Heather Bruegl, M.A. (Oneida tribe/Stockbridge Munsee, WI), Native American Historian and Director of Education, Forge Project Fellowship. She will speak about the history of Native American Activism. Register HERE for this zoom event.
Chamber of Commerce Volunteer Needed!
OWOF is now a member of the Chamber of Commerce thanks to a donation from a supporter! Let us know if anyone would like to be the OWOF representative at the regular Chamber meetings. We’d ask you to give a brief written summary of the meeting to share with our OWOF board.
School Board Book Controversy – Follow-up
There were over 30 speakers at the August 23 school board meeting and the large majority were in support of the DBEI program in the schools. The letters received and many positive statements made a big difference. Thank you to all who commented publicly (and privately in your conversations.) Even though a suggestion was made to ban (and even burn) the book, the School Board voted to keep The Bluest Eye on the high school bookshelves.
OWOF made two posts after the meeting. One was an excellent statement by English teacher Adam Schilt and the other was a powerful testimony by recent CHS grad Myranda Montoye. We encourage you to read them if you haven’t already! Link to OWOF Facebook page HERE.
The DBEI sub-committee continues to meet and evaluate the DBEI efforts of the School District. OWOF will continue to support their work and will share specific actions in the coming weeks.
An item to note to clear up any confusion: During the MLK Jr. Days of Service and Social Action, OWOF collected books from the CSD diversity reading list posted on their website. These books were donated by individuals. None were purchased with OWOF funds. One of the books, ironically, was The Bluest Eye. It was NOT donated to engender any controversy or reaction. It is an important work by an award-winning author. (Several community members are starting a community discussion of this book. Stay tuned for details.)
What is Restorative Justice?
Washtenaw County’s Office of the Prosecuting Attorney has announced a new survivor-driven restorative justice program that empowers crime survivors and ensures accountability. For more information, check out these two great opportunities:
- The Dispute Resolution Center has a couple information sessions on Restorative Justice open to the public coming up this week. For more information see link HERE . Virtual on Zoom, link HERE.
WHAT IS RESTORATIVE JUSTICE?
Thursday September 15 @ 12:00 PM
Tuesday November 16 @ 6:30 PM - Washtenaw Prosecuting Attorney Eli Savit’s public Facebook page shares a nice graphic that describes the main points of his new policy HERE . This post also includes a link to the actual policy directive.
HOW TO GET CONNECTED TO THE WORK OF OWOF
Currently, all OWOF Board of Director meetings and Action Group meetings are held via zoom and open to the public. The next Board meeting is Tuesday, September 21 at 10:00 am. OWOF attempts to send out an enewsletter a few times per month and you can also follow/like the OWOF Facebook page to stay up to date with meeting and program details. Email owofchelsea@gmail.com for more information or to be added to the email list.