Vale Social Justice Statement

Events:

Social Justice Task Force News

The Social Justice Task Force (SJTF) meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month to watch a short video and have discussion after. Our topics range from racial justice to implicit biases to LGBT community to whatever else is appropriate to caring for our community as God calls us to care for one another.

 

Our next meeting is Tuesday, July 13 at 7:00pm. The format is hybrid, so you can go to church and join us in the Resource Library or join us on Zoom.

We will also meet on Tuesday, August 10 at 7:00pm in the same way!

 

Topics are still being determined and will be announced shortly.

 

Book Studies, Books, Podcasts, and Movies to Educate:

These books, movies, and podcasts can crack open an understanding of what it means to be Black in America through the stories and research of people of color. We will highlight different media several times a month.

Book Studies:

Vale has several book studies currently. For more information about joining a book conversation around systemic racism, please contact Rev. Jeff Haugh.
The books we are reading together:
“America’s Original Sin” led by Rev. Jeff Haugh
“Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and Me” led by Rev. Joanna Dietz
“Warriors Don’t Cry” led by the Book Club

Books:

“Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates is a letter written by Ta-Nehisi to his son about what it means to be Black, his fears for his son, and what it was like growing up Black in the 60’s and 70’s.

For elementary children : “Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry” by Mildred D. Taylor

 

Documentaries and Webinars:

Documentary: Driving While Black (PBS 2 hour movie)
Jason Stanley Tuesday Talks: White Supremacy Is Sin (20 minute conversation)

“A Class Divided” is a film that can be found on YouTube by FRONTLINE. It follows a , Jane Elliott, and an experiment she did the day after the killing of Martin Luther King, Jr and how this launched a movement to teach about discrimination.

On Being with Krista Tippett: “Fortifying Imagination” with Jason Reynolds. Tippett interviews Reynolds, who co-authored a young reader’s edition of Ibram X. Kendi’s book, “Stamped from the Beginning”.

Ways to Engage:

Virginia Interfaith Center is an organization that is “engaging people of faith and goodwill to advocate for economic, racial, social and environmental justice in Virginia’s policies and practices through education, prayer and action.”
There are many ways to engage with Virginia Interfaith Center and we highly encourage you to check out their website and sign up for their newsletter. They will send weekly updates about what is happening in the Virginia General Assembly. They offer ways to get involved in being proactive. There are many ways to be engaged through their website, as well.