Racial Justice Programs

 Racial Justice Programs Phase II

Perspectives & Reflections on Prison Ministry & Racial Justice in our Systems of Incarceration- Two Interactive Presentations

We will start this segment of Phase II with a zoom discussion of 13th a Netflix documentary available for free on Youtube.  “Combining archival footage with testimony from activists and scholars, director Ava DuVernay’s examination of the U.S. prison system looks at how the country’s history of racial inequality drives the high rate of incarceration in America.”

Preview YouTube video 13TH | FULL FEATURE | Netflix

In concert with this film, we also will be discussing a New Yorker article with Michelle Alexander, Ten Years After “The New Jim Crow”.

With the film and article as background, we are very excited to sponsor two programs in January featuring guest speakers who will share their experiences, tell their stories, and participate in interactive discussions with our congregation.

Tuesday, January 26, 2021 – 7:00 pm

Slide2

Rev. Russ Gates & Mr. Termaine Hicks

On January 26 we welcome Rev. Russ Gates, a UCC minister serving as a Chaplain at the Pennsylvania State Correctional Institution Graterford/ Phoenix, as well as Mr. Termaine Joseph Hicks. A former inmate, Termaine’s story hit national news on December 16 when he was released from prison after nineteen years of wrongful incarceration. Rev. Gates was at Termaine’s side as he walked back to his cell block for the last time, a free man.

In February we will look at present day issues of immigration, focusing on individual and family experiences both regionally and across the U.S. In March, we will explore racial injustice embedded in our current systems of education.

February 9 & 23 – 7:00 pm

Immigration: Public Policy to Local Advocacy

Tuesday, February 9, 2021 – 7:00 pm

The Well Health Center is a new service of the Nazarene Ministry Center in Cactus, TX.  Cactus is a town of 4,000 people, most of them immigrants and refugees.  The area consists of mainly farms, dairies, feed lots and a meat packing plant.  The plant requires no English, and no education or experience.  Not surprisingly, its workers represent 26 countries and 40 languages!

The Ministry Center supplies social support and community services such as a summer lunch program, after-school care, citizenship consultation and legal representation, and ESL services.  Realizing that distance and a lack of transportation, language and culture were keeping many Cactus residents from accessing health care, vaccinations, and prenatal and infant care, Doctor Stephanie Diehlmann founded The Well Health Center in Jan. 2019.

As part of our winter Racial Justice series of speakers, Dr. Stephanie Deihlmann of the The Well Health Center in Cactus, TX  will be joining us for a Zoom conversation on Feb. 9 to tell us about her clinic, and the immigrants and refugees she treats there!

Dr. Steph delivered the clinic’s first baby this past November, and expects to serve up to 60 new moms this year.

And reminder, please take time to sign-up for the exciting Shower of Love: Prenatal Supplies Collection to support Dr. Steph’s efforts!

********

March 9 & 23 – 7:00 pm   

Education: Systemic Perspectives & Spotlight on Youth

*********

  April 7 

Presentation: Partners in Racial Justice (TBD)

Becoming Allies: Shifting our Lens

 

Our Journey

Criminal Justice

Slide1

 


The Impact of Early African Americans on NH 

(recording soon to be available)

A Lecture by Rev. Renée Rouse

Wednesday, November 18  – 7:00 pm

Lecture providing listening, learning and growing as we learn how early African Americans impacted our State. There is so much we don’t know.  Be prepared to grow and be part of learning how to be an Anti-racist here in our beloved State of New Hampshire.

Rev. Renee Rouse cropped
About Rev. Renée Rouse:   Setting captives free from a life of racism and empowering all who will listen and learn with Divine tools to stay free is a lifelong goal of hers. She has been involved with the Haitian Community Center of Manchester, NH since 1998. She is a member of the NH Black women’s Health Project. She is currently serving as the Co-Chair of the Racial Justice Mission Group of the New Hampshire Conference of the UCC. She is the Pastor and Teacher of the Northwood Congregational Church, Northwood, NH.
Renee’ enjoys bringing healing to others through her preaching and her singing. She believes all of God’s children are called to a higher purpose and true freedom is a gift available for all God’s children. Just open your hands and receive it by the Holy Spirit, then use it to help free someone else.

Many Rivers to Cross

Discussions were held from Oct. 7 – Nov 4 on the Henry Louis Gates Mini-Series, The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross.  This enabled us to explore key aspects of African American history together.

The Series is available for free with Amazon Prime video and PBS, both links provided below, or for purchase on Amazon.com  One DVD set is available for sign out with Paul Currier.

https://www.amazon.com/African-Americans-Many-Rivers-Cross/dp/B00G9U4DDA

Note:  a watch party can be created through the above site

https://www.pbs.org/show/african-americans-many-rivers-cross/