To Anita Warner, pastor at Advent Lutheran in Morgan Hill, California, “hearing differently” means “opening up to comprehending the lived experience of Black and brown people in this country, and the everyday violence in many forms that they have to navigate.”
Fifty Advent members began cultivating openness by participating in anti-racism training. Then, Advent leaders listened carefully to Latino neighbors as together they co-developed the Beloved Community Art Center, which offers affordable music and arts classes to mostly Latino children.
“Inviting our neighbors to take the lead and set the direction of programming helped us learn how to practice just relationships,” Warner said.
This message is excerpted from “Gathered in love” by Anne E. Basye in the May 2021 Gather magazine. Today is Cinco de Mayo.
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