February 8th Monthly meeting
Indivisible Meeting Feb. 8, 2021 Wright County Zoom 6:30
33 people attended the meeting.
1. Lori Cocking (Solar Energy) and Lani Brown-Worley (In Support of Gov. Walz) had letters to the editor published this week. They are attached.
2. Becker/Big Lake has a vacant seat on the city council. Four white males and Rev. Donna Pouliot are running. Rev. Donna Pouliot spoke and asked for our support. We can contribute to her campaign to get a minority elected. Special election is April 13. Rev.Donna.P57@gmail.com
PO Box # 717
Big Lake, MN 55309
3. Monticello Diversity meets Feb. 11 at 7:00pm, Feb. 18 at 7:00pm, Feb. 17 at 11:00am, Feb. 24 at 11:00am to discuss Jason Reynold’s Stamped: A Remix a book outlining Ibrem Kenndy’s work.
4. Ron Harris, a Resiliency Officers in Minneapolis, will hold a Zoom meeting on Feb. 25 at 7:00. Contact Sue or Darlene for more details.
5. Indivisible is sponsoring Third Monday Opportunities to Get Involved, especially in Civic Engagement. On Feb. 15 Scott Icus a MN Indivisible rep will discuss on the Zoom meeting how to write letters to the editor. 7:00pm. You will receive an invitation. Please join us. Watch for other Third Monday opportunities each month.
6. Three members are heading committees to keep our elected officials accountable to all their constituents. Lani chairs the State officials, Glennda chairs the federal, and Lori chairs the County Commissioners.
7. CALL TO ACTION: Lani’s group asked that all members call or write to support safety measures taken by Gov. Walz since the Republicans are denying the dangers of the virus and condemning him for his actions. She and Shawne wrote support letters to him, and Lani had a positive letter published in the newspaper.
How do I contact the governor of Minnesota?
Governor: Tim Walz.
Phone Number: 1-651-201-3400.
Toll Free: 800-657-3717.
TTY: 1-800-627-3529.
75 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
130 State Capitol
St Paul, Minnesota 55155, US
8. Lori said her group is trying to figure out how things work in the county. She talks frequently with the new Commission Kaczmareck. Ann Bajari was appointed to the health and human services position in the county, so we will have opportunities to learn even more.
9. Glennda said her group is keeping the pressure on Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith. They encourage them to push for strong legislation with all our support. She reported that Tom Emmer missed 86 votes in the House in 2018, the year he took over as NRCC fundraiser chair. They conclude that his new position with the party has negatively affected his job performance for the citizens of Congressional District 6. They noted that he challenges people at townhalls on their data, so be ready with evidence.
Feb. 17 at 7:00pm Wed. Brahma Lee from Amy Klobuchar’s office will meet with them.
Congress will be in recess Feb. 12-22.
10. We discussed redistricting. We will probably lose a district according to Jonathan Heinrichs who is serving on the Redistricting Committee.
11. Renee explained about a dance opportunity with the Hispanic community. Contact Renee if you are interested in bridging the gap between our communities through dance, from children to adults.
12. Speaker Dr. Mary Clifford St. Cloud State Criminal Justice on Racism and White Supremacy Culture
How to interrupt practices that elevated whites above other races.
Characteristics of White Supremacy
1. Perfection – making a mistake is bad.
2. Sense of Urgency – no time to be inclusive, must win victory for the whites.
3. Defensiveness – people in power are defensive when white privilege is mentioned.
4. Quantity over Quality – discomfort with emotion and feelings, large number of people in attendance is more important than the relationship among the members.
5. Worship of Written Words – strong documentation over conversations.
6. Only one Right Way – “right way is the white way”.
7. Paternalism – decision-making is clear to those with power and unclear to those without it, people in power make the decisions for the people who do not have power.
8. Either Or Thinking – it is either good or bad, you are with us or against us, no sense that things can be both.
9. Power Hoarding – Little value around sharing power, power is seen as limited, only so much to go around.
10. Fear of Open Conflict – people in power are scared of conflict, they ignore ir or run from it.
11. Individualism – desire for individual recognition and credit, creates a lack of accountability as organized values, they value those who can get things done on their own without needing help.
12. Progress is Bigger, More Growth – Exploitation of others
13. Objectivity – emotions are inherently destructive.
14. Right To Comfort – if whites are uncomfortable, you must stop (white woman discomfort).
How can we do the work of antiracism?
Read Black authors
Study History of Racism
Find your Skill Set
Find a way to bring joy to the world.
To continue these discussions, contact Sue or Renee for more opportunities to learn.
Contact Wright County Coalition Against Racism.
Contact Well Spring in Annandale that works on Diversity (coming to Huddle soon).
13.Next meeting is March 8