Mr. Kurtz mentioned this program back in December; an eager reader reminds me in the comment section that Bridge Flandreau kicks off its Racism Study Circles today at 4 p.m. in the Royal Room at Royal River Casino in Flandreau.
Here’s what this afternoon’s conversation is meant to achieve, and where it’s coming from:
The study circles will be a six week guided program, hosted at various times and places throughout the community. Part of the kickoff event will be gathering data on what days and times work best for participants. Each study circle session is scheduled to last 1.5 to 2 hours and will have two local co-facilitators. The group plans to meet again after the six weeks for a Community Action Forum. The details of that event are yet to be finalized.
For those wanting to better understand how this all came to be and the group’s mission, the name Bridge Flandreau was born from an action step of the book study, which was find a way to fix the Crescent Street bridge which links the city of Flandreau to the Flandreau Indian School. The group felt that the effort to fix the bridge not only applied to the physical bridge, but also to the figurative need to bridge gaps within the community when it comes to cultural understanding and communication [Carleen Wild, “Racism Study Circles—Program Launching January 17,” Moody County Enterprise, 2016.01.12].
You’ve got to love a project hatched from vivid physical metaphor.
Bridge Flandreau has received over four dozen RSVPs. If you’re interested in joining them this afternoon, contact Emily Pieper (listed above in the poster) to see if she can fit another chair in the circles.
Good on Flandreau for tackling South Dakota’s most heinous human rights issue. Mobridge, Watertown and Rapid City should take note.
No offense,but I can just hear wingnuts heads exploding when they are told Rust Limpaw won’t get to head their defense of racism circle.
Is the Flandreau Indian School the only place that road over the bridge leads to? If so,why?
mfi: if you click on Cory’s Google maps link you will find the answer to your question.
The why is pretty easy: the bridge is structurally deficient just like 21% of South Dakota bridges are.
That link answered the first question,LK, Thank you.
Thanks for the plug, Cory.
LK – Rapid City Community Conversations on racism are well underway and making a difference in our community. In fact we have our Team Leaders training tomorrow and it will mark our 10th public community conversation since last February. Native and non-native community leaders have come together with open minds and open hearts to create a new Rapid City where all people are valued and respected and where public policies that have resulted in institutional racism are examined and revised.
RCCC is not the only game in town, either. The Mniluzahan Okolakiciyapi Ambassadors, the RCPD, the Pennington County sheriff, the mayor and dozens of organizations are working to turn an important corner in racism in Rapid. It’s not easy, fast or at all comprehensive. Yet. As a wise woman said, “we can only change at the speed of trust”.
Thank you.
Thanks for the coverage! Looking forward to the event this afternoon and the ripples of possibility that come from community building. There’s always room at the table for more, so please join us if you’re able!
Racism? No worries. http://dailycurrant.com/2015/01/19/republicans-pass-resolution-declaring-racism-is-over/
There you go, folks! Emily says there’s room at the table! Besides, the Packers are out, so who cares about football any more? ;-)
Just a quick update! Despite the frigid temps, we had a fantastic turnout of 70 people at our Racism Study Circles kickoff event on Sunday. A great inter-generational, cross-section of tribal and non-tribal community members attended representing the Flandreau Indian School and Flandreau Public Schools, Tribal Council, the Flandreau Development Corporation, members of the business sector, and the community at large. We also had friends from Wagner Horizons and our community coach from SDSU Extension join in the evening’s activities. Stay tuned over the next 6-8 weeks to our Bridge Flandreau Facebook page for updates on the study circles. Thank you for your support!
Emily! That’s a good turnout for a cold Sunday with playoffs on TV. Do keep us posted on the city council’s response and your group’s progress and activities.
Check out Emily’s pictures of the citizens assembled to tackle racism: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1555126274813065&id=1499682650357428