On Monday evening, I had the honor of attending a Westchester Community Leaders meeting at Calvary Baptist Church. The meeting was held in partnership with the NAACP Branches of Westchester. The goal of the meeting was to build relationships, hold our fears, and imagine ways we could work together. With the outcome of the election, we are already seeing people and organizations feeling emboldened to act in ways that spread fear and othering. So, the leaders gathered, connected, and began the conversation to create opportunity for collective response, to make sure it is known that hate doesn’t have a home here. I look forward to sharing more about how his coalition will work together to build community partnerships and deeper relationships.
Navigating complicated conversations at Thanksgiving and wanting to thoughtfully push back? Practice saying these phrases to confront intolerance in your everyday life! Gina Hatzis, Global Speaker, Empowerment and Communications Expert, suggests saying these responses calmly when someone says something rude in a meeting or family event.
- “What an odd thing to say out loud.”
- “I’m surprised you feel comfortable saying that.”
- “Did you mean to share that with the group?”
- “Would you mind repeating that?”
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Please note that I will be taking some vacation time from Tuesday, November 25rd through December 1st. I will be away from phone and email. If you have an emergency please reach out to Rev. Deb Morra.
I will be working remotely, from Michigan, the first week in December. I appreciate all of the support and care the congregation has shown me after the death of my home minister, the Rev. Colleen Squires. Her memorial service will be Sunday, December 8th, in Michigan.
~ Rev. Danielle Lindstrom