Meetings

June 2020 WeROC Meeting of the Whole

Dear WeROC Members, Friends, Supporters…

First, WeROC (virtual!) June Meeting of the Whole will be at 5:30-7:00 pm Thursday June 4 — we hope you’ll join us with the link below.

This heartless virus can take away away lives and livelihoods and our sense of stability; it can keep us away from each other; and it can give us all lessons in what real leadership looks like.  (Elections really do matter, yes?!).

  • But it can’t keep us from finding creative ways of collectively using our hearts and our minds to “triage, transition, AND transform”!  WeROC is so blessed at this time to have access to resources through MOSES and local and statewide allies to make a real difference together for the better.

Here are some things you can do right now that will help us all leverage the great power we have when we’re together, even now.

  • Please take this poll to help us understand the different ways the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting different individuals and groups, and what you think we might do together as WeROC in the coming months.
  • If you haven’t already, please help us gear up to engage the WeROC community by replying to this email with your first and last names, your best email, your best phone number (textable if possible), and your mailing address.
  • Additionally, WeROC (with MOSES) is using the Outvote app to help us all do powerful “relational organizing,” including around local COVID-19 issues and the upcoming elections. If you haven’t already, please download the Outvote app to your phone or device.
    • Once you have it, search for and connect to the MOSES campaign.
    • Then watch for specific WeROC actions to easily share with your family, friends, and members of your congregation/union/organization/network.  We’ll be devoting much of the June 4 meeting to learning more together about Outvote.

So…disrupted as our lives are, please plan to attend the June 4 WeROC Meeting of the Whole at the link below.  Let’s all get better at using using the tools and resources available to us to maximize our collective power together, even from home.

 

WeROC June Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84376837395

Meeting ID: 843 7683 7395
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,84376837395# US (Germantown)
+13126266799,,84376837395# US (Chicago)

 

Physically distancing; socially connecting!    

Contact:  Tad Wysor, WeROC Organizer and MOSES Liaison (734-883-3225) 

Check out our new, improved Website:  werocmi.org — especially our regularly-updated section on local “COVID-19 Resources.”

And follow and like us at Facebook.com/werocmi.

 

NOTE!  One more easy action we can take together THIS WEEK:  Join folks all around Washtenaw in signing up for the COVID-19 Five-Day Equity Challenge from the Washtenaw County United Way.  COVID-19 is exposing the inequities deeply rooted in Washtenaw County. 

  • Daily emails 5/25-5/29 will invite us to explore and confront bias and privilege, on our own and with friends and family.  Sign up here.

May 2020 WeROC Meeting of the Whole

May Meeting of the Whole, Thursday, May 7, 5:30-6:30, Zoom video conference

Dear WeROC Members, Friends, Supporters…Exploring the special role of WeROC in the local responses to the crises…

Well, as if the disruption, grieving, uncertainty, stress of this time wasn’t enough for every one of us, we have to deal with the ugly reality — now clearer than ever — that some sadly see it as economically and politically beneficial to themselves to try to take advantage of this moment for their short-term and, frankly, greedy purposes.  Bad enough to see them ramp up their constant efforts to try to divide us from each other along racial and economic lines.

  • But now to to see them try to implement policies that would actually shift the health dangers and economic devastation even more to the backs of poor and working families, who were already fighting hard for a decent life…AND then blow the tired dog whistles that hint it’s their own fault.

It’s NOT fair.  It’s NOT moral.  AND it’s NOT a foregone conclusion that we need to repeat the ugly past this time.  Join in WeROC’s conversation and practical grassroots leadership development and action aimed at using this moment to build on what we’re seeing in large majorities of people right now — broad agreement beyond race, income, geography, and politics — that we need to finally lean into where our power really comes from:  love, compassion, shared dreams, and caring for oursleves AND each and every one of our neighbors.

On Thursday’s Zoom meeting, we we’ll be exploring several ideas for how we can bring our special resources to bear alongside the many local efforts, to make sure we end up with MORE equity across Washtenaw County, not LESS, whenever we’re on the other side of this thing!

Zoom Meeting: May 7, 2020 05:30 PM 

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83640617169

Meeting ID: 836 4061 7169
+1 312 626 6799

Physically Distancing, Socially Connecting, right?  Contact Tad Wysor, WeROC Organizer and MOSES Liaison (734-883-3225) 

Check out our new, improved Website:  werocmi.org — With the NEW section on COVID-19 Resources.

And follow and like us at Facebook.com/werocmi

#     #     #

Joining a Zoom Gathering (Thanks to Church of the Good Shepherd UCC!)

  • Use the unique link and Meeting ID above for this meeting
  • If you are joining by computer, tablet, or smartphone, click on the link.  If you’ve never used Zoom before, you may need to download it and give it permission to use your camera.
    • If you don’t have a camera on your computer, that’s OK.  We won’t be able to see you, but you should be able to see us!
  • You can also call on at the number above from any phone and enter the same Meeting ID.  We won’t see you, but we can hear you and you can hear us!

Zoom Tips and Etiquette

  • Only one device:  It’s best to log into the meeting on one device.  Using multiple devices (i.e., computer and cell phone) can lead to feedback.
  • Menu:  You will have a menu of icons toward the top or bottom of your screen, including Mute, Stop Video, and Chat (sometimes listed under “More”)
  • Muting: In large groups, co-hosts will automatically “mute” you to avoid everyone trying to talk at once.
  • Stop Video: If for any reason you don’t want your camera on, you can click on the “Stop Video” icon, shaped like a video camera.  You will still be on the call.
  • Chat: Since it is not practical to talk all at once on Zoom, the chat feature allows everyone to ask questions or give feedback. The Chat icon is shaped like a cartoon speech bubble.  When you click on it, a chat screen will open up on the side of your screen…the space to type is towards the bottom.

Thanks for your patience!  We know many of you are learning something new and those of us leading the meeting are learning what works as well.

April 2020 WeROC Meeting of the Whole

April Meeting of the Whole, Thursday, April 2, 5:30-6:30, Zoom video conference

Dear WeROC Members, Friends, Supporters…

Well, here we are, all of us suddenly learning together how to adjust our lives to being apart from each other during a huge and scary and stressful health and economic crisis like none of us has ever seen.  But WeROC is about being and working and winning together — and the relationships we build and maintain seem more important than ever, even if we need to be at a distance, right?  

  • So instead of shutting down, WeROC’s leadership team has decided that we — with lots of you faithful members and supporters and new folks, too — have a historic opportunity now to focus together on creative ways that we can all use WeROC as a tool to stay engaged AND be effective together.  

WeROC leaders are of course still figuring this out, but for starters, we want to invite you to join us for our April Meeting of the Whole — for the first time as a Zoom video conference!  The link for this meeting is: https://zoom.us/j/774764359, Meeting ID: 774 764 359.  Or call in at  929-205-6099; 774764359#.   (Whether you’ve used Zoom before or not, please scroll down for some tips for a successful Zoom call.)

Questions?  Contact Tad Wysor, WeROC Organizer and MOSES Liaison (734-883-3225) 

October 2018 WeROC Meeting of the Whole

October WeROC Meeting of the Whole, Thursday, October 4, 5:30-7:30, Community Church of God, 565 Jefferson, Ypsilanti. Light dinner provided.

Even while most of us are participating in this hugely important election season, our local action campaigns are are still moving, and we’re hoping you will join us. We hope you’ll organize your life to be with us next Thursday.

Come hear updates and opportunities to participate from our Action Teams:

  • Mental Health Equity Action Team — bringing more community involvement into the critical decisions about how last year’s millage dollars will be prioritized.
  • Education — How WeROC can leverage Countywide resources toward better access by students and young people to professional mental health, trauma, and social services, and toward fewer suspensions and expulsions.
  • Veterans Issues — Veterans joining with supporters to lead the way toward real solutions and services that veterans.
  • Rising for Economic Democracy in Ypsi — Our allies who created REDY just last year will help us all learn from their example…how they won the major victory last week as Ypsi City Council passed one of the country’s first Community Benefits Ordinances.

Ypsilanti City Council Meeting Tues Aug 14

WeROC Members and Supporters —

We are looking for our fellow community members (both Ypsilanti City residents and other interested and affected community members) to speak out in support of maximizing critical funding for mental health and public safety services. Join WeROC leaders seeking commitments from City officials on Tuesday, August 14, 2018 at 7pm at the next Ypsilanti City Council meeting, at City Hall (Michigan Ave and Huron St.). More below about the Moral Values Agenda that has grown out of the past year’s collective work of local congregational leaders and allies to creatively address the major county-wide crisis in mental health services.

— Tad Wysor on behalf of WeROC’s Mental Health Equity Action Team

Ypsilanti Moral Values Agenda

WeROC Statement: Support for Mental Health and Public Safety Services:

WeROC is calling on members of the Ypsilanti City Council, the City Manager, and the Police Chief to commit to a meeting with WeROC members to discuss an amendment to the City Budget that would re-direct a significant portion of new funds the City is receiving from the Nov 2017 Mental Health/Public Safety millage toward the urgent County-wide community needs of crisis mental health services and mental health-related public safety services, including at a minimum funding for community policing and training in community policing and mental health response for all Ypsilanti police officers.

August WeROC Meeting of the Whole

August WeROC Meeting of the Whole, Thursday, August 2, 5:30-7:30, Community Church of God, 565 Jefferson St, Ypsilanti. Light dinner provided.

We’ll hear updates and opportunities to participate from our Action Team leaders:

  • Mental Health Equity — continuing to push for crisis and stabilization services as a priority for last year’s millage dollars and other resources. We’ll discuss the draft WeROC Statement and point toward how you can help this team push for these priorities as the County Community Mental Health Board and the County Commission prepare to act on the 2019 mental health budget.
  • Education — How WeROC can leverage countywide resources toward better access by students and young people to professional mental health, trauma, and social services, and toward fewer suspensions and expulsions — all issues that we all know have an ugly racial component.
  • Veterans Issues: Veterans, especially veterans of color, are are often among the most marginalized of our neighbors and members of our congregations and communities.
  • Rising for Economic Democracy in Ypsi: Working with WeROC, grassroots citizens have come together to develop over many months an excellent draft Community Benefits Ordinance to ensure those most affected by big developments are at the table, making sure that the developers AND the community benefit from our investments as taxpayers. Moving the draft CBO into reality with a strong City Council vote is next.

Contact this week: Jeremy at jwaechter@mosesmi.org

July WeROC Meeting

July WeROC Meeting of the Whole, TUESDAY JULY 10 (Delayed this month due to holiday), 5:30-7:30, Strong Tower Ministries, 134 Spencer Ln, Ypsi Twp (Annex at south end of lot).  Light dinner provided.

None of us spend all our time on things WeROC.  But we all know that the more of us that DO spend some time and energy on our collective local social justice work, and do it in significant numbers and side by side with those most affected daily by racism and poverty in our area, the sooner we’ll shift how power is distributed around us — and seriously address the severe moral crises that we’re confronting in our (overall) wealthy County.
With our successful major May 20 Public Meeting in Ypsilanti (here’s the video if you missed it! ), we learned once again that the bottom-up voices from our congregations and organizations can be seriously heard by our local public officials and decision-makers.  Now it’s time to make sure they also act on what they heard and what they agreed to do.  Next Tuesday is for making that real…please plan to be a part of it!

WeROC Meeting June 2018 and Public Meeting Follow-Up

WeROC June Meeting of the Whole — Thursday June 7, 5:30-7:30, First Congregational UCC (new location), 111 S. Wallace Blvd, Ypsi (best to park around back of the old school, off Jones St).

So, whether or not you were able to attend our May 20 WeROC Public Meeting, we hope you’ll share in a sense of accomplishment! With the help of so many of you and your congregations and organizations, we made a great showing of our numbers and unity to several key community decision-makers as we rolled out WeROC’s Moral Values Agenda (See Below). And, we’re so pleased that they, in turn, said a clear YES to every one of important “asks” that members of our Mental Health Equity Action Team and our Education Action Team had prepared and presented to them that afternoon.
VIDEO: Consider giving yourself a much-needed 90-minute break, and watch (or at least sample) the professionally-made video of the Public Meeting, to appreciate (or appreciate again if you were there) what healthy community-led work with our public officials can look like.

In our evaluation immediately after the Meeting, the WeROC committee of about 30 people who organized and participated in the Public Meeting were clearly proud of what we accomplished together, by blending the voices of neighbors most affected by the immoral failures of our governments at all levels with the voices of more privileged allies to creatively push for a more positive future for all of us. AND there was universal appreciation for the attendance and public commitments of our public officials on a busy weekend afternoon — those growing two-way relationships are a great sign of future successes.

In addition to Thursday’s important collective follow-up meeting, leaders of our Action Teams will be announcing smaller Team meetings to plan next steps. Consider supporting their leadership by asking to be kept informed about ongoing actions by one or more of our Action Teams (contact Tad Wysor ):
Mental Health Equity Action Team (Cindy Bodewes)
Education Action Team (Pastor Jeff Harrold)
Veterans Action Team (Jim Anderson)
REDY (Rising for Economic Democracy in Ypsi — working on real community involvement in major economic development decisions) (Erica Moody)

NOTE also: Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival — WeROC members and supporters have participated in the first 3 weekly PPC actions in Lansing as we explore how this growing new national and statewide voice by and for “the least of these” can help us leverage our local WeROC Moral Values Agenda — while reviving Dr. King’s “unsettling” vision from the 1968 Poor People’s Campaign.
Follow and register to participate at michiganppc.org and facebook.com/michigansppc

WeROC Public Meeting – Sunday May 20, 2018

WeROC Public Meeting:
3 PM Sunday May 20
Ekkliesia Fellowship Ministries
123 N Adams St, Ypsilanti MI

“For such a time as this…” (Esther: 4:14)

Do you want:

  • Equitable access to mental health treatment?
  • School districts to respond better to studen trauma?
  • Fair wages for mental health workers?

Join us at the WeROC Public Meeting as we seek answers from key local decision makers.