Overview:
A vocal group shared personal and anecdotal stories of unity and disunity in our community, including an SIUE student perspective. An existing SIUE event was shared with the group and will be explored for Edwardsville Unity participation and future collaboration. Many other unity events were shared by the attendees.
Reflection
- Local family where both parents died and community responded to support them
- Community is here in crisis, regardless of race
- Vandalism at the cemetery
- 1 or a few people did the negative action, but a large community to clean it up with a quick response
- Our parks are a great way to service the community
- There was an accident at one park that was shared on fb, city immediately taking action to make safer
- Drivers sometimes stop to let people cross the road
- Other examples of aggressive drivers
- Maybe a result of the city getting larger
- Drivers not respectful of bicycles
- Many on-campus racial incidents
- Painting bad words on doors
- Yelling at hispanic students to go back to Mexico
- A feeling that events coincided with election results
- Attendees don’t blame the university, but not pleased with the speed of response
- Personal examples of racism discussed
- Everyone having cameras with them at all times may have impacted how society acknowledges it
Ideas to increase Unity
- Unity themed book club
- Partner with the library?
- “Small Great Things” By Jody Picolti
- “Hidden Figures”
- Unity themed movie series
- Black Klansman is a new movie
- Hidden figures
- Movie series may need permission from the studio or rights holder
- Maybe not if used for educational purposes?
- Unity walk
- Other examples shared of a program followed by a group walk to a park for prayers with candles
- Create a community/neighborhood garden
- Example of this happening on township property (with permission) so open to community
- Participate at the St John’s church garden
- Cooking class
- An inclusive way to share culture and get people together
- Make a greater attempt at empathy
- Try to understand others’ life experiences
- Make friends with people of different backgrounds
- Invite a student from SIUE to share a meal with your family
Unity Event Planning
- Share fliers around town or on SIUE campus, with permission
- Find out permission regarding chalk signs
- SIUE Diversity Day – Oct 16
- Bottom floor of MUC having booths on diversity
- Upcoming Saturdays at the Main Street Community Center available to hold an event
- Sept 22nd and 29th
- Oct 6th and 27th
- Nov 10th and 17th
Next Steps
- Help promote the group with your individual social circles
- Next meeting is Sunday, September 13 from 3-4
- Other events
- Potluck at LeClaire Park
- Main Street Community Center potluck tomorrow
- Festival of nations over the weekend
- Abdel having an event at to discuss Islam and Christianity
- Reach out to SIUE to partner/hold the unity event at the MUC
- Diversity and Inclusion Group
- Oct 16 is Diversity Day
