Bloomington Community Invited to Break Down Barriers with Dr. Maureen Walker and Daryl Davis
Bloomington Center for Connection (BCC) is delighted to announce its first community events: Power Redefined: Disruptive Empathy as a Tool for Liberation Friday, August 10 7-9 p.m. and Conversations Reimagined: Relational Cultural Theory in Action Saturday, August 11, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sponsored by Griffin Realty, both events are free and open to the public and take place the Monroe County Council Chambers, Bloomington City Hall
401 N. Morton Street in Bloomington, Indiana.
In conjunction, Nonviolent Civic Engagement Initiative (NCEI) is organizing a free event Monday, August 13, 3:30-5:30 PM EDT at the Monroe County Public Library Room 1B: Purposeful Encounters: Initiating Civil Dialogue with Intentionality with Daryl Davis and the Nonviolent Civil Engagement Initiative (NCEI). This is event is co-sponsored by the Political and Civic Engagement Program at Indiana University, the Monroe County Public Library, and the City of Bloomington’s Martin Luther King Junior’s Commission.
Participants are encouraged to attend all three opportunities as part of Courageous Connections: A Series of Events to Inspire Meaningful Conversations.”
Bloomington Center for Connection is a newly established organization committed to dismantling toxic cultural conditions of inequity and isolation. Founded and Directed by Amy Makice, MSW, LCSW the BCC offers a variety of community building activities guided by Relational-Cultural Theory (RCT).
According to Makice, RCT is based on the idea that connection is the center of growth; that people grow through and toward relationships. Isolation is a root cause of human distress, and is aggravated by cultural barriers to connection including racism, socio-economic stratification and misogyny.
“RCT is a powerful model and approach for bridging differences, and is the antidote for today’s divisive times,” said Makice. “BCC is looking to become a hub for RCT conversations in the Bloomington community as well as bring RCT to a larger audience. The BCC has been quietly organizing since Fall 2017. This summit is intended to be a local launch of BCC as well as a general introduction to RCT for the broader Bloomington Community. These are our first public events.”
Friday’s Keynote Speaker, Maureen Walker, PhD. will deliver a talk: Power Redefined: Disruptive Empathy as a Tool for Liberation. Walker is a licensed psychologist, speaker, educator, and writer. Raised in the racial apartheid culture of 1950’s and 60’s Augusta, GA, Walker’s career spans from work in the Georgia public schools to 25 years as staff psychologist in the MBA Counseling Service at Harvard Business School to serving as the Director of the Jean Baker Miller Training Institute at Wellesley College where she contributed to the development of the Relational-Cultural model of psychological healing and development. Since 1993 Walker has offered private pyschotherapy, training and supervision at the Center for Relational Growth, (also known as the Jean Baker Miller Training Institute). She is currently developing curricular and certification programs in Relational-Cultural psychology with the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota.
“Dr. Walker helps people bridge cultural differences such as race, religion, gender and other markers of social status,” said Makice. “She is a motivator, change maker, and inspirational speaker. She challenges us to consider how we create belonging and community, and how it impacts our ability to progress. Every time I’ve heard her speak, I’ve left ready to dig deeper and make authentic connections. We are delighted that she is joining us for our kick-off event.”
On Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. participants will get to see RCT in action during the day-long event: Conversations Reimagined. Topics and conversations for the day include: Power-With; Differences in Social Justice Approaches, and Compassionate Collaboration: Responding to the Opiate Crisis followed by a question and answer panel. Saturday speakers and presenters include: Dr. Maureen Walker; Amy Makice; Dr. LaShawn Williams, MPA, LCSW, of Utah Valley University; Medication Assisted Treatment specialists, Dr. Claudie Jimenez and James Evans; Harm Reduction Specialists, Cathy Thrasher and Brandon Drake; Monroe County Commissioner, Amanda Barge; and Judi Epp, one of the founders of Spencer Pride.
On Monday at 3:30 the conversation continues during Purposeful Encounters: Initiating Civil Dialogue with Intentionality presented in conjunction with the Nonviolent Civil Engagement Initiative (NCEI). This public forum will be facilitated by the NCEI with Daryl Davis, American R&B and blues musician, author, actor and bandleader whose efforts to improve race relations by befriending members of the Ku Klux Klan have been widely reported and viewed via his TedTalk “What do you do when someone just doesn’t like you?”. Davis is also the subject of the 2016 documentary Accidental Courtesy: Daryl Davis, Race & America. This interactive forum is tailored toward high school aged students but all ages are encouraged to attend. Registration is not required.
All Courageous Connections events are free and open to the public. Space at the Friday and Saturday events is limited, however, so it’s important to reserve your spot in advance. Register for each event separately on-line.
Friday, August 10, 7-9 p.m.
Power Redefined: Disruptive Empathy as a Tool for Liberation
Monroe County Council Chambers, Bloomington City Hall 401 N. Morton Street in Bloomington, Indiana. Register here:
Saturday, August 11, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Conversations Reimagined: Relational Cultural Theory in action
Monroe County Council Chambers, Bloomington City Hall 401 N. Morton Street in Bloomington, Indiana. Register here:
Monday, August 13, 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Purposeful Encounters: Initiating Civil Dialogue with Intentionality with Daryl Davis and the Nonviolent Civil Engagement Initiative (NCEI)
Monroe County Public Library, Room 1B, 303 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington
No registration required
