Module 6: Hosting an Observance
Introduction to Module 6
[Video]: Hello, my name is Aubrey Murdock and I am a member of the 400 Years of Inequality National Organizing Committee. Welcome to the 6th and final module of our online course. In the prior modules we provided frameworks and activities that focused on the following elements of the plan: building an observance team, finding your observance story, and ensuring that it is place based. In this module, we focus on the final three elements of the guide: finding the best way to share your story with others, building collective recovery into your event, and determining when you want to tell your story. If you scroll down this screen or advance to the next screens of the module, you will find guides and suggestions for how to shape your observance and ensure that it contributes to the collective recovery of your community or neighborhood. You’ll want to consider a number of factors when determining how best to tell your observance story. I will speak briefly about three factors: the observance participants or audience, using active community traditions and including many voices. The observance is a collective event with the overarching aim of engaging participants with the present-day impacts of the 400 and more years of history marked by this anniversary. It is especially important, therefore, that you consider who will attend the observance and what experiences they bring with them.For example, if you invite family, your congregation, or members of established neighborhood groups, you can anticipate that people will feel comfortable and engaged from the very start. These groups already have shared stories that will help carry the observance forward.If, on the other hand, your observance is open to a wider group of participants, you may need to introduce yourself and other members of the organizing team and provide opportunities for participants to greet each other and share why they chose to attend the observance. This is important because when we share our stories and listen to others we become connected and develop shared commitments.One of the great advantages of place-based observances is that we can draw on the active traditions of the communities that call these places home. Faith communities have practices that can hold the solemnity of an observance while guiding us to commit to working together for an equitable future. Neighborhoods come together in many other ways, including block parties, open air film screenings, school events, and outings. You may want to hold your observance during one of these events or work with the organizers to have the entire event focus on the 400 Years of Inequality theme. In addition to using active community traditions to tell your observance story, you can draw on the talents and skills of your family, friends, and neighbors. Educators, singers, musicians, spoken-word poets, visual artists, dancers and many other talented folk can enhance the event. This is also a way to include many voices in your event and thereby confirm that we are all connected by the history of inequality and, therefore, have a role to play in shaping the future. We urge you to include many generations of voices in your event. The active participation of elders and youth will ensure that you present a powerful observance. On the screen below, you will find some suggestions for how to find the best way to share your story with others.
Find the Best Way to Share Your Story With Others
Take an assessment of the community you represent (family, community organization, institution, neighborhood, etc.).
Ideas and tips for your observance:
Take a moment to remember people that have been lost.
Have places for people to participate without speaking, like a place to draw or write or collage ideas.
Use questions or prompts to guide their input like:
Have a potluck, so everyone can contribute. You can select a theme such as ‘the taste of justice’ or ‘share family recipes.’
Make a practice of welcoming everyone who comes to your observance and making them feel included and well-oriented to the event.
Share photos of the past, of people having fun together, of places you love. Take time to make simple things sacred.
You may also wish to read aloud the “Statement of Observance” that specifies why we are observing this anniversary.
Click the button below to download this guide:
- What would be the most meaningful way to express your story of inequality and resistance?
- Who is your intended audience?
- What message would you like to relay to those you are sharing with?
Ideas and tips for your observance:
Take a moment to remember people that have been lost.
Have places for people to participate without speaking, like a place to draw or write or collage ideas.
Use questions or prompts to guide their input like:
- Where is a place you cherish?
- Who gives you strength?
- Draw your favorite song
- What does justice sound like?
- What is home?
- What are you grateful for?
- What is beautiful to you?
- Who do you want to be?
- What does forgiveness feel like?
- What does a just future sound like? Taste like? Feel like?
Have a potluck, so everyone can contribute. You can select a theme such as ‘the taste of justice’ or ‘share family recipes.’
Make a practice of welcoming everyone who comes to your observance and making them feel included and well-oriented to the event.
Share photos of the past, of people having fun together, of places you love. Take time to make simple things sacred.
You may also wish to read aloud the “Statement of Observance” that specifies why we are observing this anniversary.
Click the button below to download this guide:
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