Then please join us for three nonpartisan conversations Sundays at 11:30 in the library on October 14, 21 and November 4, led by Carol Smith and Margaret Irwin. We will introduce some of the "habits of the heart" from Parker Palmer's book, Healing the Heart of Democracy. These habits are useful not only in political discourse, but in any kind of human interaction.

The themes for the three sessions are:

1) Understanding that we're all in this together

2) Cultivating the ability to hold tension in life-giving ways

3) Strengthening our capacity to create community

Good news for busy people: It's not necessary to have read the book in order to profit from these sessions. If there is enough interest, six monthly evening sessions based on Palmer's book will be offered in the new year.

To sign up for the Sunday sessions, please email Lauren Cochran 

For further information, call or write Margaret Irwin, 833-0843    

Fri Sept 28th at 7:30 PM in Overture Hall

 Buy Tickets Now  

THE SAINT THOMAS CHOIR

Direct from New York City's famed Saint Thomas Church, the Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys is considered to be the premiere choral ensemble of the Anglican music tradition in the US and among the finest in the world. You'll hear works by Bach, Tallis, Byrd, Britten, Parry and others, accompanied by the Overture Concert Organ and directed by John Scott!  Besides offering a full concert series each year, the Choir sings at five weekly principal worship services at Saint Thomas Episcopal Church on Fifth Avenue in New York City, preparing an astonishing 400 pieces of sacred music a year. Don't miss this debut!

Bread:
Symbol and Sustenance

October 4, 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM | Room L140, Elvehjem Building

UW-Madison faculty will discuss the symbolism and role of bread.

Corrie Norman, Religious Studies (Christianity), moderator; Jordan Rosenblum, Hebrew and Semitic Studies (Judaism and food); Grazia Menechella (Italian, food history); and Lee Palmer Wandel, History (the Reformation)

Presented in conjunction with the Chazen's Offering of the Angels: Paintings and Tapestries from the Uffizi Gallery.

Groundwork's 7-week Racial Justice workshop
Sundays, 10/7-11/18  

Sundays, October 7 - November 18th 3:00-6:00pm
Downtown YWCA, 101 E. Mifflin St, Madison WI

Join us for this seven week racial justice workshop which will focus on institutional racism, white privilege and building more effective movements for social justice. Through interactive sessions rooted in participants' experiences, we will build skills, learn from history, strengthen community, have honest conversations, and develop strategies for taking action for justice. This workshop is open to all and focuses on white people.  We believe that education can lead to transformation, and we invite you to join us in this ongoing process. Rooting ourselves in our visions for another world that is possible, we will dig deep, opening our hearts and minds to explore how we are each connected to dynamics of white privilege and racial oppression, and therefore have the responsibility to work to transform them. Over seven workshop sessions we will examine how racism impacts our lives, families, communities, institutions, and movements for social justice, and develop strategies for prioritizing racial justice both individually and collectively. 

Here's what a past participant has to say about the workshop:

"The Groundwork Fall workshop was the first time I had an intentional space to talk with white people about racism. The workshop laid a solid "groundwork" for me in thinking about these issues and was a great mix of "heart stuff" and "head stuff".  While the focus was on racism, it did a great job of talking about Queer oppression, anti-Jewish oppression, and other issues as well.  The first four weeks were focused on building a Racial Justice analysis, understanding the history of racism in the United States, and reflecting on our personal experiences with racism and white privilege; while the last four weeks were more focused on organizational, social change stuff.  This mix worked really well! I'd recommend this workshop to anyone wanting to talk in depth about racism with white people, deepen their analysis of racism, and develop concrete strategies on how to work for racial justice as a white person."

-Tim Michael,  GSAFE Staff Member

Workshop Outline:

WEEK 1:  ORIENTATION & INTRODUCTION OF WORKSHOP
WEEK 2: HISTORY OF WHITE SUPREMACY: OPPRESSION & RESISTANCE
WEEK 3: STORIES OF RESISTANCE & LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
WEEK 4: WHITE PRIVILEGE AND ITS IMPACT ON WORK FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
WEEK 5:  IT TAKES COURAGE: TAKING ACTION (INSPIRED BY JERRY SMITH) &
ANTI-RACIST ORGANIZATIONAL TRANSFORMATION
WEEK 6:  INTERSECTIONS OF OPPRESSION AND LIBERATION
WEEK 7: ORGANIZING  FOR RACIAL JUSTICE AND NEXT STEPS