Inclusion of Diverse Voices                                                          Shelly and Jeanine

Divisive times provide ample space for unifying around our dedication to each other and lifting up the voices of those who are often overlooked. The more we challenge ourselves to receive new information with open and curious minds, the easier it will be to find common ground and build empathy.

Jeanine Emmons and Shelly La Mar participated in a six week training course called "Trans Inclusion in Congregations." While presenting an overview of this course you are invited to bring your curiosity and questions as we discover more about:

-  creating a welcome space by unlearning assumptions

-  discovering lived experiences and the many spiritual gifts of transgender people

-  identifying how mainstream culture works to exclude transgender people and the difference between invitation and inclusion

-  dismantling gender-based oppression: Mesabi UU's current successes and possible future challenges