Event:2015/08/23 Challenging Dominant Culture

Challenging Dominant Culture Working Group (CDC WG) 23 August 2015

Attendees
Paola*, Donna*, Jennie*, Dusty, Yar, Julio, Libbie, Alex*, Elizabeth*
 * first timers

Introductions
What brought us here and what do we want to talk about?
 * Yar - I'm here because Omni's fucked up. I wanna talk about that
 * Jennie - Have lived in teh Bay 8 monthns; lack a community of people that want to create; think about dominant culture; want to know how to be a good neighbor in this community. want to know what challenging dominant cultures looks like? Happy to listen to, if the focus is Omni.
 * Libbie - 3 things
 * Run a series of discussion circles based on racism and white supremacy and would like to invite people in this group to facilitate: one is for POC only, second for white people only, third is for everyone. Becoming Omni.
 * Cheryl Ward email... discussion. Liberation Ministries
 * Donna - traveling thru from Miami; interested in addressing issues of dominant culture
 * Dusty - excited to be here; Interested in Libbie's topics; interested in how becoming is going since I was out of town.
 * Paola - have been searching for community; sacred community; people don't know how to integrate/shadow of what's actually oppressing. Have found myself pretty lonely searching for community.  The community I wanted to visit in Portugal, just moved here (Tamera).  Likes smaller scale; how are we independent and sovereign? knows it's hard to stay motivated.
 * Julio - want to hear about everything others are
 * Alex - joining Donna and Elizabeth
 * Elizabeth - visiting from Florida (with Alex and Donna)
 * Elizabeth - visiting from Florida (with Alex and Donna)

Agenda

 * Welcoming new folks
 * Culture at the Omni
 * Cheryl Ward's church
 * Role of CDC in Visioning, "Becoming Omni"
 * Recurring Potlucks
 * Ziji Follow-Up?
 * Lynice Pinkard Follow-up/Report Back
 * Welcome Orientation Project
 * How does this interact with Becoming? Does this address the door/access situation?
 * SEEDS Report Back
 * RJC Training Follow-Up
 * Next meeting PP:Julio

Welcoming new folks

 * Dusty already introduced new folks
 * Jenny - Intention for this group?
 * Yar: groups got together to collectively run a building. was a sudoroom delegate.  We wanted to write down what our intention would be for the Omni? Realized that many people in the group were bringing some cultural baggage; decided to have a group to discuss these topics; many good things have come out (Statement of Solidarity; Conflict Resolution...), but its' not enough.

Culture at the Omni
S* Libbie - the Anti-Police Terror Project (APTP) group meets monthly and is volunteer driven, but they get shit done. Sometimes we get bogged down on the details or phrasing at th Omni. Cat Brooks, and other facilitators are strong.
 * Paola - interested in how people get involved; need to build relationships. How can I be supportive? has to do with women's work.

Liberation Ministries

 * Dusty feels strongly that we should support Cheryl's membership request.
 * What is the role of the CDC? should we write a statement?
 * Dusty will draft something, Libbie will add to it; we will send it as consensed by CDC.

Cirlces

 * First week of Sept
 * POC circle for the first Sunday night of september, from 5-7
 * White circle for the second Sunday night of september, from 5-7
 * All circle for the third Sunday night of september, from 5-7

Recurring Potlucks

 * Matt: schedule a trial "planning" meal? +++ (late August)
 * Sarah will talk with Phat Beets and FNB about their involvement
 * Sarah will schedule meeting with Ziji (late August)
 * Ziji Follow-Up?

Welcome Orientation Project

 * How does this interact with Becoming Omni? Does this address the door/access situation?

RJC Training Follow-Up
Previous meetings: (wiki minutes bug: right click "Open Link in New Tab") https://omnicommons.org/wiki/Event:2015/07/26_Challenging_Dominant_Culture