Art: Norms for An Inclusive Workspace

As a veteran of the corporate workspace who worked to make it more diverse and understanding, retired State Farmer Art Taylor is now bringing what he calls his "norms for inclusive workspace" to the community dialogue.

One of his cardinal principles is to "accept others' perspectives as TRUE for them," even if they do not jibe with their own past experiences or views. That's important in comprehending the challenges and pain of racial, cultural, or religious bigotry and expanding dialogue aimed at reconciling differences.

That lesson came home to Taylor when as a teen he was forced to leave a Chicago college prep school for a Jackson, Ky., high school where a counselor argued that he, like other locally raised black students, should focus on ag classes. The young Chicagoan, who'd "never stepped foot on a farm," learned at that point how to deal with "someone trying NOT to understand."

"If people come in with an open mind, your experience can be accepted as truth," Taylor suggests. "Please recognize that someone else's reality is truth for them."

Taylor will help moderate a panel discussion on race and related issues following Normal First United Methodist Church's 7 p.m. Sept. 26 screening of Against All Odds, a documentary about the struggles of middle class blacks. The event is free and open to the public.

Taylor's offers several other norms to promote constructive social discussion:

* Use “ I rather than attempting to speak for the group -- “Speak for yourself," from your own experience. "Only YOU can tell your story," Taylor stresses.

* Be responsible for your own learning.

* Challenge yourself to be Inclusive.

* Take ownership for your learning and be honest with yourself.

* Be open to new realities.

* LISTEN, and be open to perspectives from others.

* Build trust.

* Say what needs to be said in the moment.

* Honor confidentiality.

* Give "grace" to yourself and others. In other words, Taylor says, respect a speaker's level of education, background, or other differences as they tell their truth.

* Focus on self-Improvement, not perfection.

* Make space for others to share and be who they are while withholding judgment.

* Work toward shared success.

Interfaith Rally to Show Unity, Promote Freedom

Lenore Sobota

The Pantagraph

Amid anti-Islamic rhetoric elsewhere in the country, the anti-discrimination group Not In Our Town hopes to bring people together Wednesday in an interfaith show of solidarity.

The event, at 6 p.m., is planned for the east side of the McLean County Museum of History downtown — the same side where the World War II memorial refers to the “four freedoms” outlined by former President Franklin Roosevelt, including “freedom of worship” and “freedom from fear.”

The Rev. Kelley Becker of First Christian Church, Bloomington, a co-sponsor of the event, said much of the reaction in the wake of attacks in Paris and California is based on fear.

“Fear is so powerful,” Becker said. “We believe love is more powerful than fear.”

The purpose of the event to show “our Islamic brothers and sisters” that “this community is a safe, welcoming place.”

In announcing the event, organizers encouraged people of all faiths or of no particular faith to stand together to show that stereotyping of groups is not acceptable in the Twin Cities.

Other co-sponsors include New Covenant Community, the Presbytery of Great Rivers interfaith group and the Moses Montefiore Temple, in collaboration with the Islamic Center of Bloomington-Normal and Masjid Ibrahim Mosque.

Mike Matejka, a member of Not In Our Town since it began 20 years ago in Bloomington-Normal, said, “Every movement, group, religion has extremists in it. That doesn't mean that every follower of that movement or religion is an extremist.”

He said Wednesday's event is an opportunity to take a stand and let the local Islamic community know “we're not going to fall into the trap of hatefulness.”

In the event of inclement weather, the event will take place at Major Hall, First Christian Church, 401 W. Jefferson St., Bloomington.

But Becker is hopeful the event can stay outside.

“The idea of coming together in full view of the entire community is a good thing,” she said.

In addition to representatives from various faiths saying a few words, those gathered will also light candles, said Becker, adding, "Lighting candles is so much a part of many faith traditions.”

Matejka acknowledged that some people think the efforts of Not In Our Town, such as posting anti-racism signs, are superficial.

But Matejka said, “It's important that publicly we reinforce those stances, that we're a community that works hard not to just tolerate, but to celebrate our diversity.”

NIOT Workshop Educates Students on Diversity, Respect

Julia Evelsizer

The Pantagraph

Nia Gilbert was the only University High School student who took a day off school Thursday for a unique field trip.

She didn’t visit a museum or tour a courthouse. She spent the day with more than 20 other local students, sharing experiences and opinions about bullying and diversity at the first local Not In Our School (NIOS) workshop.

“We have so many clubs and groups at U High, which is great, but I’d like to see them taking more action instead of just discussing the problems,” said Gilbert, a U High senior. “I think this sort of workshop will help bring those changes we need to schools.”

Gilbert was joined by students and faculty sponsors from Normal Community, Normal West and Bloomington high schools and Bloomington Junior High School at the YWCA in Bloomington.

“The goal of this workshop is to cultivate student leaders, create collaborations among students and schools and provide a forum for youth voices,” said Camille Taylor, co-chair of the Bloomington Normal Not In Our Town (NIOT) education committee.

Twin Cities students participated in a Not In Our School workshop this week focusing on stopping bullying and promoting diversity. They were joined by area teachers and Not In Our Town: Bloomington-Normal leaders Camille Taylor, front row right, and Mary Aplington, back row fifth from right.

With help from the Regional Office of Education and NIOT, the day-long workshop included speakers, activities and discussion.

“Most schools have Key Club and Student Council, but those groups' focus isn’t to create an inclusive climate for students,” said Taylor. “When someone commits suicide or brings a gun to school, we say, ‘How did we not see this coming?’ It’s because we need groups of students and faculty to discuss and address these issues.”

Jay Shannon, Project Oz liaison coordinator with BHS, shared a project called “I See You” created by the HYPE Leadership Group at BHS.

He passed around a poster board with photos of HYPE students sharing their biggest insecurities.

“We should not see our insecurities and differences as weaknesses, but strengths,” said Shannon. “If we share our insecurities we can support each other.”

Amari Funderburg attended the workshop with the plan to strengthen support groups at her high school for future students.

“I want to learn things here and take it back to school and plant seeds,” said Funderburg, NCHS senior. “After I graduate, I want this sort of group to continue to flourish.”

Along with several peers, Funderburg was joined at the workshop by Bryan Thomas, NCHS track and field coach and NIOS sponsor.

“If you see someone being bullied, don’t be a bystander, be an upstander,” Thomas said to students. “Talk to your teachers. It makes us aware of what’s going on with you guys and helps us understand how to help.”

Between teacher presentations, students were eager to participate and share experiences and solutions. The sponsors sat back, listened and took notes.

“I’ve found that students are more open to diversity than adults,” said John Bierbaum, NIOS club sponsor for West. “In the midst of such polarizing politics, kids need the space and opportunity in school to focus on these issues instead of just rhetoric.”

NIOT:BN Leaders Recognized For Life, Community Transformations

Twenty-six McLean County residents graduate from a program training them to be leaders, McLean County YWCA CEO D. Dontae Latson discuss his transformation from a 10-year-old boy with an arrest record, and Latson's Not In Our Town: Bloomington/Normal steering committee colleague, Bloomington Alderman Karen Schmidt was honored at Saturday's graduation ceremony for the Multicultural Leadership Program.

The "Celebrate Community"-themed event, at Illinois State University's Bone Student Center Brown Ballroom, featured Larson's keystone address and Schmidt's receiving MCLP's annual community service award.

MCLP began in 2009 with a goal of developing leaders who value diversity in decisionmaking at home, at work, and in the community.

Each year's participants are split into teams that assist a nonprofit group with a six-month project.

This year's nonprofits and projects included:

• Challenger Learning Center — enhance fundraising to support programs for area school children
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• Community Health Care Clinic — help with a dental care feasibility study and a five-year budget
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• Immanuel Health Center — increase name recognition
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• Meadows at Mercy Creek — recommend a staff development plan
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• Prairie Pride Coalition — redefine goals and outreach effort.

Latson grew up in a suburb of Washington, D.C., and watched the crack cocaine epidemic ramp up violence in his neighborhood.

In one year, he lost his brother and eight friends to violence.

Schmidt was recognized for her council service, local initiatives, and leadership. Below, listen to her acceptance speech.

Wanted: New Blood in the BPD

The Bloomington Police Department is hiring. In a recent interview on WTVP-PBS' At Issue, representatives of Not In Our Town: Bloomington-Normal urged young Twin Citians to explore a career in law enforcement as one strategy for fostering diversity within the force and thus improving police-community rapport.

Here are the requirements:

Application Process
1. Complete Employment Application a( high school diploma or its equivalent is required)
2. Written Examination (next new hire test March 2015)
3. Physical Agility Test...
4. Background Investigation
5. Oral Interview
6. Polygraph Examination
7. Medical/Psychological Examination

Physical Agility Task Standard
- 1.5 Mile Run (min/sec) 14:45
- 300 Meter Run (sec) 63.00
- 1 RM Bench Press (ratio) .80
- Maximum Push Ups (#) 25
- 1 Minute Sit Ups (#) 35
- Vertical Jump (inches) 18

For details, visit http://www.cityblm.org/police. And plan on attending tomorrow's Breaking Barriers community-police dialogue, at 6 p.m. at Bloomington's City of Refuge Church.
 

MCLP Fosters 'Diverse Leaders'; Fair Feb. 14

McLean County's Multicultural Leadership Program (MCLP) next month will showcase its Class of 2015 and its members' community aspirations as part of a program devoted to grooming "diverse leaders."

MCLP is inviting community organizations to apply to participate in its Networking Fair on Saturday, Feb. 14. The fair is an opportunity for groups to meet this year’s 26 MCLP class participants developing leaders are nearing completion of their eight-month leadership program.

"We believe your organization will appreciate the leadership qualities of these participants," MCLP suggests. "During the fair, you will speak one-on-one with up to 15 of the program participants. This creates an opportunity for you to consider extending board and committee openings to members of the MCLP class. Please note that this is not a volunteer recruitment event, but rather an opportunity for you to meet potential board members and committee leaders."

MCLP is "an intense professional development curriculum" that provides a framework to the "innumerable leaders amongst us of all ages, cultures, and walks of life" with an interest and potential to step into leadership roles within their communities." Each MCLP class is composed of  26 individuals who meet for bi-weekly sessions spread over eight months, August through March each year.

What is the impact of MCLP? Hear what community leaders are saying!

Class participants are chosen on the basis of their demonstrated commitment to community issues, desire to learn and intent to contribute to the community at large.

The program's mission is to prepare skilled, informed individuals for leadership positions in public, private, educational, political and non-profit sectors; to foster leadership diversity through community welfare and civic participation; and to promote inter-community unity. See the accompanying video on MCLP's impact, featuring Not In Our Town: Bloomington-Normal leader and MCLP board member Phani Aytam.

To apply for the program, visit http://bit.ly/1D4Kll9. If your organization is interested in attending the Networking Fair, please download and complete a profile form from the MCLP website and submit it by email to Pollyanna Spears at PollyannaS@bn-mclp.org, no later than Feb. 1, 2015. The MCLP Community Involvement Committee will review each group's profile sheet and inform applicants if a space is available at the fair.

If you have any questions, please contact Linda Bollivar or Pollyanna Spears at the MCLP offices, at 309-556-3589 or 309-556-3589. State Farm is a "visionary sponsor" for the program.