Tim Wise, Prominent Anti-Racist Writer/Educator, Featured Speaker at Annual Forum in Grand Rapids

Annual Community Forum – Friday, February 24, 2012

Go to this Link to Register Today!

Location: Kroc Center
2500 South Division Avenue SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49507
Click here for directions
Registration/Breakfast: Begins at 7:30 a.m.
Program(Includes Box Lunch):8:00a.m.-2:30 p.m(est. end time).

Cost: $55.00

Participants will have the opportunity to learn, connect, and become part of the goal of making the greater Grand Rapids area racism free.

Speaker: Tim Wise

Tim Wise is among the most prominent anti-racist writers and educators in the United States. Recently named one of “25 Visionaries Who are Changing Your World,” by Utne Reader, Wise has spoken in 49 states, on over 600 college campuses, and to community groups across the nation. He has also lectured internationally in Canada and Bermuda on issues of comparative racism, race and education, racism and religion, and racism in the labor market.

Wise is the author of six books, including White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son; Affirmative Action: Racial Preference in Black and White; Speaking Treason Fluently: Anti-Racist Reflections From an Angry White Male; Between Barack and a Hard Place: Racism and White Denial in the Age of Obama,Colorblind: The Rise of Post-Racial Politics and the Retreat from Racial Equity, and his latest White Like Me (The Remix).

Wise has another forthcoming book – in January 2012, his newest book, Dear White America: Letter to a New Minority will be published.

Wise has contributed essays to twenty-five books, and is one of several persons featured in White Men Challenging Racism: Thirty-Five Personal Stories (Duke University Press). He received the 2001 British Diversity Award for best feature essay on race issues, and his writings have appeared in dozens of popular, professional and scholarly journals.

Wise has provided anti-racism training to teachers nationwide, and has conducted trainings with physicians and medical industry professionals on how to combat racial inequities in health care. He has also trained corporate, government, entertainment, military and law enforcement officials on methods for dismantling racism in their institutions, and has served as a consultant for plaintiff’s attorneys in federal discrimination cases in New York and Washington State.

In Summer 2005, Wise served as an adjunct faculty member at the Smith College School for Social Work, in Northampton, Massachusetts, where he co-taught a Master’s level class on Racism in the U.S. In 2001, Wise trained journalists to eliminate racial bias in reporting, as a visiting faculty-in-residence at the Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Florida.

From 1999-2003, Wise was an advisor to the Fisk University Race Relations Institute, in Nashville, and in the early ’90s he was Youth Coordinator and Associate Director of the Louisiana Coalition Against Racism and Nazism: the largest of the many groups organized for the purpose of defeating neo-Nazi political candidate, David Duke.

Wise graduated from Tulane University in 1990 and received antiracism training from the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond, in New Orleans.

Wise has appeared on hundreds of radio and television programs, is a regular contributor to discussions about race on CNN, and has been featured on ABC’s 20/20.

Christmas is Over . . . Or Is It?

I read the following at Christine Sine’s Godspace blog and thought it was worth sharing with those of you who follow and read my postings.

Posted on December 26, 2011 by Christine Sine

Christmas is Over

Now that Christmas Day is over many of us feel let down because the day we have been anticipating for so long is over. The malls strip their elaborate decorations and junk their remaining Christmas stocks with huge 50-70% off sales. The Christmas wreaths and trees are thrown out for the garbage collectors and our frenzied activities give way to a low grade depression. But Christmas isn’t really over. In the sixth century it was decided that celebrating Christmas just for a day didn’t provide time to celebrate all the joy that Christ’s birth brought into the world. They made Christmas into a twelve day festival that ended with a feast on the Eve of Epiphany on January 5^th to celebrate the coming of the wise men. Yep that’s right the 12 days of Christmas begin with Christmas Day they don’t end there as many malls would have us believe. In countries where this understanding of Christmas has not been co-opted by the commercialism of our society Christmas trees are not decorated until Christmas Eve and remain in the house sparking with light and life until the Eve of Epiphany.

This is the season when we are meant to celebrate with joy and gratitude the wonder of a God whose love is so great that he sent his son to dwell amongst us. How incredible! How wonderful! Lets take advantage of every day of the Christmas season

Now is a great time to reflect on how we want to follow Christ throughout the year.  For me the more relaxed season after Christmas Day is a great time to think about my observances throughout the year. Tom & I will be going on retreat for a couple of days at the end of the week. For those of you who want to continue following the liturgical calendar here are some suggestions for scripture readings for this season and throughout the year.

The Daily Office From the Book of Common Prayer

textweek.com. has excellent liturgical resources for the entire year

Presbyterian USA daily readings

The Daily Office from the Episcopal Church US

Northumbria Community Daily Offices

Daily Prayer with the Irish Jesuits

Daily Prayer from the Catholic Church in Australia

A collection of reflections from early church fathers and others for Christmas and Epiphany season

Bosco Peters in New Zealand has excellent liturgical resources available. Tom and I are particularly enjoying the lectionary readings that he has put together for this year.

Reflections from Forward Day by Day

Dave Perry uses his spectacular photography to reflect on the lectionary

For those that may want to develop a plan for the entire year:

The Voice: The entire liturgical calendar of readings

Christianity: A Plan for Reading the Entire Bible in a Year

Upper Room Ministries provides beautiful and often very moving daily devotional prayers and meditations

 

Reconciliation: Our Sacred Task

I read and was encouraged by the following Christmas Day reflection in Henri Nouwen’s little book, Bread for the Journey: A Daybook of Wisdom and Faith:

What is our task in this world as children of Goad and brothers ans sisters of Jesus? Our task is reconciliation.  Wherever we go we see divisions among people–in families, communities, cities, countries, and continents. All these divisions are tragic reflections of our separation from God. The truth that all people belong together as members of one family under God is seldom visible. Our sacred task is to reveal that truth in the reality of everyday life.

Why is this our task? Because God sent Jesus to reconcile us with God and to give us the task of reconciling people with one another. As people reconciled with God through Jesus we have been given the ministry of reconciliation (see 2 Corinthians 5:18).  So whatever we do the main question is, “Does it lead to reconciliation among people?”

A Request for Tall Turf Ministries

As many of you know, I am the CEO of Tall Turf Ministries (aka Camp Tall Turf), a Grand Rapids, Michigan based Christian youth development ministry committed to equipping youth for lives of reconciliation in God’s world. We seek to do this by providing camp and community-based programs throughout the year with youth from diverse racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds who are between the ages of 8 – 18.

I am writing to you at this time–with about two weeks remaining in 2011–because the amount of financial support we receive during these final weeks of the year will to a large extent determine what and how much we can do or continue to do in the coming year.   Why? Because private contributions alone account for more than 90% of the income we need to continue our year-round ministry with our youth.

If you have not yet made your 2011 year-end contribution in support of Tall Turf, please consider doing so now. And, if you have already made your year-end financial contribution to Tall Turf, thank you!

You can make a contribution online right now by clicking on the following button. 

Or, if you prefer, just send an email message to info@tallturf.org and let us know that you intend to mail your contribution–indicate the amount if you know how much you intend to give–to us before year end. Our mailing address is: Tall Turf Ministries, 816 Madison Ave. SE., Grand Rapids, MI 49507.

For more information about our programs and other information about Tall Turf, please visit our website at tallturf.org. For information just about our programs, click on this link.

Thank you for taking the time to read and consider my request on behalf of Tall Turf.

Gratefully,

Jack Kooyman

A Request for Tall Turf Ministries

As many of you know, I am the CEO of Tall Turf Ministries (aka Camp Tall Turf), a Grand Rapids, Michigan based Christian youth development ministry committed to equipping youth for lives of reconciliation in God’s world. We seek to do this by providing camp and community-based programs throughout the year with youth from diverse racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds who are between the ages of 8 – 18.

I am writing to you at this time–with about two weeks remaining in 2011–because the amount of financial support we receive during these final weeks of the year will to a large extent determine what and how much we can do or continue to do in the coming year.   Why? Because private contributions alone account for more than 90% of the income we need to continue our year-round ministry with our youth.

If you have not yet made your 2011 year-end contribution in support of Tall Turf, please consider doing so now. And, if you have already made your year-end financial contribution to Tall Turf, thank you!

You can make a contribution online right now by clicking on the following button. 

Or, if you prefer, just send an email message to info@tallturf.org and let us know that you intend to mail your contribution–indicate the amount if you know how much you intend to give–to us before year end. Our mailing address is: Tall Turf Ministries, 816 Madison Ave. SE., Grand Rapids, MI 49507.

For more information about our programs and other information about Tall Turf, please visit our website at tallturf.org. For information just about our programs, click on this link.

Thank you for taking the time to read and consider my request on behalf of Tall Turf.

Gratefully,

Jack Kooyman

Receiving Applications for Office Administrator

Tall Turf Ministries, a non-denominational urban youth ministry with a mission of equipping youth for lives of reconciliation in God’s world, is seeking qualified applicants for a full-time Office Administrator. Applications must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on December 20, 2011.

For more information about this position and what we are looking for in a person who would fill this position, please click on the following link to Tall Turf’s Blog.

Tall Turf Ministries . . . A Year In Review

If you are interested in or even curious about the work of Tall Turf Ministries, the ministry which God led me to more than 17 years ago, you might want to take a look at our Annual Program Impact Report. The past year was one of significant challenges, accomplishments, and many blessings . . . some of which are highlighted in this report.

Tall Turf also has a facebook page that is usually updated at least weekly with information, stories, and pictures. If you don’t already follow us, consider doing so after visiting us at facebook.com/tallturf.

To learn more about the ministry of Tall Turf, please visit our website at tallturf.org

Drop the I-Word. Sign the Pledge.

The i-word, “illegals,” creates an environment of hate by exploiting racial fear and economic anxiety, creating an easy scapegoat for complex issues, and OK-ing violence against those labeled with the word.

If you want to join me in eliminating the use of the i-word, please click on the following link to see and sign the pledge. By signing the pledge you will commit yourself to eliminate the racially derogatory term, “illegals,” from use within the church, popular usage and public discourse and for choosing instead to use language that affirms the inherent worth of all people in the eyes of God.

Sign the Pledge

Please visit the General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR) of The United Methodist Church For more information.

Proposed Charitable Deduction Cuts Threaten Nonprofit Work

The following is taken directly from the National Council of Nonprofits website.

Federal tax law currently encourages individuals to give to charitable organizations whose missions they support by providing an itemized deduction. Policymakers in Washington are focusing on how to reduce the federal budget deficit through spending cuts, entitlement reforms, and changes to the tax code. The President, Senators, Representatives, bi-partisan commissions, and think tanks have all put forward plans to address these issues, and all propose changing the charitable giving incentive in one way or another. No one knows the true impact that any of these proposals will have on the ability of nonprofits to raise the resources needed to provide the programs and services that fulfill their missions. It is imperative that Congress make no changes to the charitable deduction that threaten the ability of nonprofit organizations to serve those most in need and to continue to strengthen our communities.

Why it Matters to Nonprofits

Nonprofit organizations throughout the United States are dedicated to the public good; their work improves lives, strengthens communities and the economy, and lightens the burdens of government, taxpayers, and society as a whole.  Maintaining the value of the charitable deduction is essential to the ongoing work of nonprofit organizations in delivering essential services, enhancing quality of life, and uplifting the spirit of faith, innovation, and inspiration in local communities across America.

Status

The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction is conducting an across-the-board review of federal government spending, taxing, and entitlement programs in search of law changes that will result in $1.2 trillion in federal deficit reduction over ten years. The committee, created by the Budget Control Act in August, must report its plan by November, and Congress is required to enact legislation by December to reduce the deficit by $1.2 trillion in order to avoid triggering automatic spending cuts of $600 billion to both categories of defense and domestic spending. President Obama has proposed limiting the value of the charitable and itemized deductions for upper-income taxpayers as a source of new revenues to pay for a job-creation package pending in Congress. Other tax reform proposals are likely to be considered by the 12 members of the supercommittee that could adversely affect the ability of charitable nonprofits to provide current or increased services in their communities.

Proposals to Alter the Charitable Deduction

• Obama 28% Limit: President Obama has proposed limiting the value of charitable and itemized deductions for upper-income taxpayers, capping the deduction at 28 percent, regardless of whether the individuals are in the 33 percent or 35 percent tax brackets. This proposal has been included in the President’s American Jobs Act, his deficit reduction plan submitted to the supercommittee, and in his three annual budget proposals
• 12% Tax Credit: The National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform (Bowles-Simpson Commission) empaneled by President Obama recommended significant changes to the federal tax code, including converting the current charitable itemized deduction into a 12-percent, non-refundable tax credit available to all taxpayers, but only for donations above two percent of Adjusted Gross Income (AGI).
• 15% Refundable Credit: the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Debt Reduction Task Force issued its own set of recommendations for deficit reduction that included cutting individual income tax rates and reducing the number of tax brackets, and eliminating the charitable deduction and replacing it with a 15 percent refundable tax credit payable to nonprofits.
• The Congressional Budget Office issued a report in May 2011 projecting the potential impact of 11 proposals to alter the charitable giving incentive in the federal tax code. The report found that both charitable giving and federal tax receipts would increase if Congress either (a) applied the tax deduction to all taxpayers (itemizers and non-itemizers alike) but imposed a minimum floor on contributions of $500 for individuals and $1000 for couples, or (b) converted the deduction to a 25 percent tax credit for everyone who gave more than the $500/$1000 floor.

What Nonprofits Can Do

Nonprofits can communicate the value of the charitable giving incentive to the supercommittee and Congress by taking these actions:

• Sign onto the nonprofit community letter calling on the supercommittee to preserve the charitable deduction.

Read the letter.

Sign on so your voice is heard.

• Contact your Senators and Representatives directly and urge them to oppose any changes to the charitable giving incentive that threaten the ability of nonprofit organizations to serve those most in need and to continue to strengthen our communities.

CORR Understanding Racism Workshop in October

Congregations Organizing for Racial Reconciliation (CORR) is an initiative of Madison Square Church, Coit Community Church, and Church of the Servant. Our vision is to build a community of churches and Christian organizations who are agents of reconciliation. The facilitators for this two and one half day workshop are Laura Carpenter and Janice McWhertor.

Workshop Goals: To learn about the nature of racism from a social and Biblical perspective.

1. To see connections between our history and its impact on race relations today.
2. To understand how we have been socialized by and participate in a race-based society.
3. To gain insight into resisting systemic racism through new-found identity in Christ.

WHEN:  Thursday, October 6 at 5:30pm – October 8 at 5:30pm

Note: you must plan on and be able to be present for the entire event!!

WHERE: TBD . . . Stay Tuned at CORR’s workshop event site on facebook

Cost $200.00 per participant: includes training, training manual, and meals mentioned above (no lodging). There is a reduced fee of $75 for those who have attended before and whose purpose for attending again is to come along side of a new attendee. Dress is casual and comfortable.

To register, please fill out the information below and send to Kris Vander Stelt, 1816 Lonsdale Dr. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 or email the information to her at kris.vanderstelt@gmail.com

Name:_______________________                              

Address:_____________________                   

City/State/Zip:__________________________________ Organization/Church:_________________

Email: ________________________________ Phone:______________________________________

 

I am:  __a new participant   __returning participant and/or with a new attendee.  __Race/Ethnic background: (to ensure diversity within training) ________________

Please indicate special dietary or other needs________________________

For additional information please contact Kris Vander Stelt at kris.vanderstelt@gmail.com or call her at 616-456-6419.  Please make checks payable to: Madison Square Church with CORR workshop in memo.  Please also contact Kris if you are in need of a scholarship in order to attend.