Jun 21 C/YRE

Roots Class (pre-k to first grade) w/Marie:

We had another cozy gathering today in the Roots class, celebrating an almost birthday and a half birthday, hearing of a pet that was a little bit lost but then found. I checked in with the group more about our conversation last week about protests and wanting to keep thinking and learning about racism, especially because we decided last week it feels so important to ask what can we do? What can kids do? What can families to? As Unitarian Universalists, Wildflower is a place where people can come together to talk about racism, learn, and take action. 

One way we learn together in our Roots class is through reading stories. Today’s story is linked here: Why do people have different colors? Here is a book to think more about that: All the Colors We Are https://youtu.be/Neh3WNylUR0

We found comparing our skin color to a delicious food was pretty useful- we saw golden honey skin, peach skin, MAC and cheese colored skin (with white cheese, MAC and cheese with yellow cheese would match an even different color of skin), and chocolate chip cookie skin (yours truly, because freckles). 

Seedlings Class (2nd to 4th grade) w/Piaf:

This week we began by discussing what the problem is with the phrase “All Lives Matter” as a response to “Black Lives Matter.” We looked at two comic strips that clarified the problem with this phrase and watched a short video of Alicia Garza, a founder of the Black Lives Matter movement, explaining her perspective on it. Finally, we clarified the difference between one of our UU principles (We believe all people should be treated fairly) and “All Lives Matter.” The kids were able to explain that it is crucial to stand up for Black lives specifically because this country is not protecting and cherishing these lives as we should be. Finally, we created a collaborative digital poster for the Wildflower blog.

Wildflower Youth Group (5th grade & Middle School) w/Solveij:

This week the youth shared about how they identify racially and ethnically, introduced the Wildflower covenant for Beloved Community, and learned about why Juneteenth is called freedom day and black independence day. We also played games and brainstormed some questions the youth are curious about exploring in upcoming weeks, including restorative justice, how racial and environmental justice intersect, alternatives to police, and the hisotry of racism and anti-racism.