This session includes multiple presentations. Timestamps are indicated in parentheses so you can forward to the presentation you want to view.
Activating Lectio Divina as a Transformative Process for Anti-racism Engagement and Empowerment (00:00)
Presented by University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, University of Massachusetts Boston, and University of Massachusetts, Lowell
This workshop will empower participants to be change-agents and allies in anti-racism through a reflective and transformative dialogue about race. A secularized version of Lectio Divina will be used as a conduit for transformative dialogue and an approach for generating social action. Lectio Divina is a meditative reading process and ancient tool for understanding texts, which has been adapted for contemplative practice in 21st century classrooms. The four stages of the Lectio Divina process are: Lectio (read and understand), Meditatio (consider and reflect), Oratio (respond), and Contemplatio (rest in the word).
- Lectio phase: Participants read, savor and notice the texture of the language, sounds of words, and meaning(s) of passage, and share any word or phrase that captures their attention.
- Meditatio Phase: The passage is again read, and participants make personal connections, and share with the group.
- Oratio stage: Passage is read again aloud and participants are asked to create a response to the text, one that is actionable in terms of combating racism and positioning themselves as anti-racist allies.
- Contemplatio: The passage is read once more aloud and participants are asked to rest in the word.
For this Lectio Divina process, we will use texts such as Langston Hughes,’ A Dream Deferred to facilitate this transformative process using literacy and equipping participants with effective tools to become social justice agents/anti-racism advocates.