UU Allies for Racial Equity

Rev. Wendy von Zirpolo, President
Wendy is the minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead, MA. Her AR/AO/MC experince includes training district boards & other groups in AR using a variety of tools primarily focused on white privilege and allied behavior;  * two years service on the ARE Exec Team (previously the ARE Steering Committee)  * was part of the team that designed the GA ARE response for Portland and St. Louis GAs  * served on the GA 2007 Right Relationship Team;   * served on the UUA Accessibilities Committee from 2002-2007, designing and leading workshops focused on congregational transformation through allied behavior;  * designed worship, led forums and facilitated trainings within the congregation she serves in the area of racial justice;   * co-edited an antiracism packet for Gulf Coast Relief volunteers;   * co-led trainings in AR/AO for relief trips;   * led one congregation through the Welcoming Congregation program,   * is in the process of bringing a program on transgendered issues to my current congregation;   * attended trainings and coursework in my M.Div. on multiculturalism, white privilege, social identity and oppression, focusing on marginalized populations and the allied response in her pastoral care studies at Boston University.

Rev. Michael Tino, Vice-President 
Anti-racism work is central to both Michael's faith as a Unitarian Universalist and his ministry as a member of our clergy. He has engaged in regular training around anti-racism, anti-oppression and multiculturalism since 1990.  These trainings have included personal and institutional analysis-building around many different aspects of oppression.  In the UU setting, he has participated in several Jubilee Level 1 and II trainings in addition to numerous other trainings with organizations such as Visions, Inc. and the UUA Groundwork Program.  He has worked with congregations, seminaries, districts and continental organizations on anti-racism.  Michael's ministerial internship included half-time work for an intentionally multi-racial UU congregation.  He has led numerous trainings and workshops on racism, linked oppressions, gender and sexuality issues, and accountability.  He has also designed tools used by the UUA and C*UUYAN for evaluating programs using an anti-racist/anti-oppressive analysis. Michael for two years on the Meadville/Lombard Catalysts for Change Steering Committee and for two years on the board of a local, multi-racial, interfaith social justice organization.  Michael is also a Beyond Categorical Thinking trainer with the UUA and he is a member of the Metro New York District Anti-Racism and Diversity Committee, and a member of the team planning their annual Conclave this year.

Ken Wagner, Treasurer/Stewardship Coordinator
Ken began working in what was called a "white-privilege" group in early 2004 in his congregation.  That group has met over the last four years and has sponsored and facilitated the showing and discussion of a series of films and Sunday services.  Ken and his wife have facilitated a second group modeled after the "Anti-Racist Cookbook" that began meeting last spring.  He recently facilitated a third group using "The Great White Elephant" as a resource.  As president of the Clara Barton district, Ken made AR/AO/MC awareness and training a top priority for the district board, and the focus of the spring retreat. He attended the AR/AO training workshop following GA last summer.  As president of the District Presidents Association, he worked to increase awareness among the District presidents of ARE and the annual conference.

Sharon Blevins, Membership Chair
Sharon is a member of All Souls in Kansas City, where she has worked to expand opportunities for individuals and the congregation to be involved in anti-racist/anti-oppression/multicultural activities. She serves as a lay consultant for the Prairie Star District for board planning and right relations/conflict management and has developed and led workshops on anti-racism and multiculturalism at District meetings. She participated in the UUA’s AR/AO/MC training for national UU leaders. She served on the board of a multi-racial coalition of 18 congregations that addresses public policy issues. She was executive director of several nonprofit community economic development corporations and a citizens policy development organization, all of which addressed racism and multicultural issues. She is currently on an action planning team for the Kansas City Missouri School District to develop recommendations for fostering racial and ethnic harmony. She serves on the Midwest Regional Subcommittee on Candidacy, which interviews and provides feedback to aspiring UU ministerial candidates.