Weaving the Fabric of Diversity -- Curriculum
An Anti-Bias Program for Adults
Unitarian Universalist Association
This eight-session program devotes individual sessions to the
problems of ableism, racism, heterosexism, ageism, and classism. As J.
James and J. A. Frediani, the creators of the program, state -- Weaving
the Fabric of Diversity helps participants:
- Reflect on what it means to be faithful to our UU religious
principles, particularly the first and second: to affirm and promote
the inherent worth and dignity of every human being; and to promote
justice, equity, and compassion in human relations.
- Acquire the basic skills necessary to build bridges across racial,
ethnic, and cultural divisions, thereby building a deeper sense of
community.
- Understand that each of us can make a difference, that we can help
to create relationships, organizations, and religious communities
where all people are respected, valued and affirmed.
Session
1: Getting Started
The goals for Session One
are:
- To explore expectations
of one another and this program.
- To begin to build group
trust and support.
- To develop a group covenant.
- To explore the diversity
of the group.
- To consider the power
of language in diversity issues.
Session
2: Making Links
The goals for Session Two
are:
- To continue the process
of group building.
- To share experiences
of feeling included and excluded in the congregation.
- To become aware of one's
own privileges and their impact.
- To see oppressions as
linked or interlocked, not independent or idiosyncratic.
Session
3: Ableism
The goals for Session Three
are:
- To understand ableism
and its oppressive effects.
- To learn some facts,
myths, and truths about different disabilities and the people who experience
them.
- To practice appropriate
language and etiquette with respect to persons with certain disabilities.
- To be aware of one's
own feelings about disabilities and people with disabilities.
- To identify actions that
individuals and congregations can take to recognize and respond to ableism.
Session
4: Racism
The goals for Session Four
are:
- To share personal encounters
with racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity.
- To promote dialogue about
the dynamics of ethnicity, race, and racism.
- To be aware of and resist
categorizing or stereotyping people by racial, ethnic, or national origin.
- To understand some of
the challenges of racial and cultural diversity.
Session
5: Heterosexism
The goals for Session Five
are:
- To be familiar with
the concept of heterosexism.
- To explore how heterosexism
negatively affects all of us: heterosexual women and men, bisexual women and
men, gay men, and lesbians.
- To be familiar with UU
involvement in and support of gay, lesbian, and bisexual issues.
- To understand how heterosexuals
benefit from heterosexual privilege.
- For heterosexuals: to
consider becoming an ally and committing to specific actions.
Session
6: Ageism
The goals for Session Six
are:
- To recognize ageism
directed against the young and the old.
- To share personal experiences
with ageism.
- To be aware of ageist
attitudes and behaviors within the congregation.
- To envision an age-inclusive,
age-affirming religious community.
Session
7: Classism
The goals for Session Seven
are:
- To be aware of the socio-economic
homogeneity of UU congregations.
- To see classism as a
form of exclusion/prejudice/discrimination/oppression that hurts people.
- To evaluate classist
practices in light of UU values and principles.
- To identify connections
between classism and other oppressions.
- To consider taking specific
actions in the congregation to change classist attitudes and practices.
Session
8: Becoming a More Inclusive Congregation
The goals for Session Eight
are:
- To identify ways a congregation
can actively include, affirm, and serve a diverse membership.
- To develop an action
plan.
- To celebrate what the
group has learned and shared.
Note: Each session
is approximately 2-1/2 hours long.
