Anti-Racism Organizing in Maine (AROM) Gathering 2021

October 16, 2021 @ 9:00AM — 4:30PM Eastern Time (US & Canada)

Day long gathering to deepen local, anti-racist organizing and action in Maine. *UPDATE: THIS IS A FULLY VIRTUAL EVENT* (due to recent surges in COVID-19 infections)

Anti-Racism Organizing in Maine (AROM) Gathering 2021 image

Let's build community, connection, and power in Maine!

There are currently no tickets available for this event, but you can still make a donation.

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Anti-Racism Organizing in Maine (AROM) Gathering 2021

Revealing Complicit Histories | Uplifting BIPOC Resistance | Shaping Transformative Futures

Come take part in a convening of organizers, activists, leaders, and educators committed to the movement for racial justice in Maine. This is a unique opportunity to dive into regional anti-racist education, learn from frontline activists, and strengthen our community relationships so that we can move toward more robust collective action.


(for more detailed speaker bios and sponsorships see: https://communitychangeinc.org/arom2021/)

Keynotes:

Rachel Talbot Ross - Maine Democratic House Representative, assistant House Majority leader, and founder & co-chair of the Permanent Commission on the status of Indigenous, Ethic, and Maine Tribal Populations

Maulian Dana - Tribal Ambassador of the Penobscot Nation and co-chair of the Permanent Commission on the status of Indigenous, Ethic, and Maine Tribal Populations

Kate McMahon - Museum Specialist at the National Museum of African American History & Culture, leads research efforts at the Center for the Study of Global Slavery


Featured Panelists Include:

Bob Greene - Retired Associated Press journalist and Maine historian

Patricia Wall - educator and author (inc. Lives of Consequence: Blacks in early Kittery & Berwick in the Massachusetts Province of Maine)

Members of Maine Inside Out - A group led by formerly incarcerated people that activate individuals and communities to imagine and embody freedom through art, advocacy and support, and transformative justice

Members of Black P.O.W.E.R. - a group led by black organizers working to end racism

Members of Maine Youth Justice - a campaign fighting to end youth incarceration in Maine

Members of Racial Equity & Justice - a group providing support for all communities across the nation through consulting, education, advocacy, and solution based action plans in order to better equip individuals, organizations, businesses, and institutions to tackle racial justice issues.

Claudia Sayre - Leader of the project titled ‘Just History: Uncovering an Inclusive Story of the People of the Kennebunk Region.’

Lisa Simpson Lutts - Executive Director of the Castine Historical Society


Hosted by Community Change Inc. & Atlantic Black Box

*The ticket fees cover the costs associated with putting on the event, including virtual platform support and a small honorarium to all speakers, panelists, and artists. We are also asking those with the means to engage in class solidarity by making an additional donation, above the ticket price, to ensure that this gathering is accessible to all.

No one will be turned away due to a lack of funds or be asked to volunteer. Contact Jake Fahey at jake@communitychangeinc.org for details on obtaining a comp ticket for the day.

If you cannot join us on October 16th and would like to stay connected to the work of AROM, click here for more details.


Sponsored by:

Racial Equity Institute - New England

Elmina B. Sewall Foundation

The BTS Center

Maine Initiatives

St. Paul's Episcopal Church - Brunswick

South Portland Human Rights Commission

First Parish Congregational Church UCC - Saco

Southern Maine Conservation Collaborative

HopeGateWay Church

Night Moves Bread

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The AROM gathering is an extension of the Antiracism Organizing in the Suburbs (AROS) Project.

While we focus on addressing the fact that racism in this country is a “white problem,” ALL ARE WELCOME to this event, as we need each one of us to build a more liberated nation.

The intention of this event is to move members of predominantly white communities deeper into antiracism organizing. It is our belief that white people are in a unique position to confront and leverage power due to their proximity to power and privilege. Thus, while working toward the upliftment and liberation of BIPOC, white people need to be working together to shift white supremacy culture and institutional racism embedded within society. It is our stance at Community Change Inc. (CCI) that it is not enough for white people to work with people of color and allow them to lead. It is imperative that white folks gain the skills and comfort to work in their own communities; this is a crucial element to bringing about transformative change across systems, and throughout the dominant culture. White people must acknowledge and understand the historic role of radical white anti-racist organizers in their history to build on a lineage of accomplices to a multi-racial struggle for freedom.
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