Guiding Questions & Principles; Purpose and Process

From the original proposal to MWB:

Guiding Question: What are the actions we, as a Meeting and as community members, are taking in aim of dismantling racism and white supremacy?

Purpose: Seek to address the dismantling of racist power structures, discern action plan, apply Meeting principles, and provide recommendations to Monthly Meeting

Process: Monthly Meeting approval of working group; group discerns short-term goals, Meeting community input and guiding principles; group makes specific short recommendations for action to Monthly Meeting; group discerns action plan for long-term goals and repeats process; group becomes standing committee? 

Queries for our committee’s consideration

1. What can we do as an institution to support people of color and combat racism? What can we do individually?
2. What suggestions/programs can we advise other Meetings to follow and support?
3. How do we make Quakerism and Meeting for Worship more accessible to people of color? What do our out-reach programs look like and how are we inviting people of color to this space?
4. What steps can we help white MFM members take to unlearn racism and decolonize their minds and hearts?
5. What are our political and legislative priorities as a Meeting? What actions can we accomplish to pursue them? 

Principles guiding our group

1. Black, Indigenous, People Of Color (BIPOC) are vital members of our world and community and the violence perpetrated against them through racism in all of its forms is an epidemic and tragedy.
2. The fight against racism is of the utmost importance at all times and the work must continue until there is racial equity and justice. 
3. Racism and colonialism are toxins that poison even the most well-meaning. To decolonize our minds and unlearn racist behaviors and ideology is a constant experience, and one that is often aided by the support of community.