SUMC G2G CONFERENCE 2020

Theme of this year’s Generation to Generation conference hones in on what we believe will be beneficial to the basic challenges we face as African Americans.

We have two modules that will be offered to young and older members of our church and our community. They are Love Skills and Life Skills. We are offering two days of instructive workshops, “Village Chats,” health checks, culture and arts, food and fun.

Workshop facilitators are drawn from our membership and the community.

Workshops will require registration but walk-ins can be allowed if space allows. We will use online tools to accommodate registration. 

Each workshop will include a satisfaction/learning survey that will gauge the impact of the workshop. Our conference will practice safe distancing and other methods of preventing Covid-19

Overview

Friday – August 21st will be the opening day and will be celebratory and social with a dynamic keynote speaker who will discuss the state of our community, how we got here and what we can do about it now. This day of events includes workshops and fun and will focus on LOVE SKILLS and will include learning opportunities throughout the day and food, music and fun into the evening.

Saturday – August 22nd will be a day of LIFE SKILLS workshops, followed by an evening Village Chat under the tent in the grassy area near the annex. This chat will include discussion led by a sage, spoken word, hot dogs and drinks, marshmallow roasting, drumming etc.

Sunday – Closing service – This celebration will be our morning church worship service with recognition of those who helped with G2G, and a message from our special Guest speaker.

Friday Workshops – LOVE SKILLS

10.a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Sanctuary

Opening – The State of Black Indianapolis. Rev. Joy L. Thornton, of St. Mark Church, will deliver the keynote opening address and detail where we stand as a people. 

Workshops

Will range from 90 minutes to all day. Planning will assure that workshops for younger and elder are held simultaneously.

11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Sanctuary

Choosing Your Mate – Here’s where our people’s challenges start. This workshop is for young and older participants. It will explore the definition of a good mate and the qualities that should be sought and the consequences that result from ungrounded coupling.

Panel: Moderator Tammy Ramsey Thomas

Dr. Shelvey Keglar, Midwest Psychological Center, 

Mary Duffy-Lewis: Minister Nuri Muhammad. (Kim Hooper writer)

1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Sanctuary

18 Ain’t Grown. Raising Children - This workshop addresses the challenges of parenting, especially single-parenting. It should deal with issues such as supervising your children, discipline, having a social life while raising children, having a schedule, parents’ responsibility in schools/educating children; grandparent’s role. When your kids can be alone at home. “18 Ain’t Grown!” Discussion will be direct in addressing such issues as overnight guests with children in the home, dangers posed by having causal relations in the home, drug use, and more.

Facilitator: Nicole Holder. Panel Michelle and Ahmad Perry, James Johnson III, and Regina Majors

3:15 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Sanctuary

“Stage-Struck: A Series of Mini Dramas”. Performing arts presented by local actors and actresses. Ethel McCane, Facilitator

4:15 p.m. – 6 p.m. Zoom Room

Taking Care of Your Mental Health – This workshop deals with mental health challenges. Because of the generations-long struggles of African Americans, we all have mental and emotional health challenges. This session will also address trauma faced by Black males. Speakers Dr. Joseph Smedley, Dr. Tremaine Pressley, Beatrice Beverly, with National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, and Min. LaVreen Hall. A panel discussion. Facilitator: Virrither Cooper, Project Wings

4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Small Chapel

Family History- Know Where You Came From

We have to know more about who we are. We’ve been told there is no way we can find out who are family is, but this is not true. In 15 minutes, many families can identify relatives who lived in the 1870s. This workshop will give instruction on finding your roots and why it is important to know basic information about your family. Will use Ancestry.Com or other programs to help participants get started and will provide basic resources for documenting family. Leon Bates of the Indiana African American Genealogy Group /Paul Pearcey

6 p.m. Under the Tent

Village Chat --- Blues/jazz\spoken word jam session performance. Ken Skelton/Markell Pipkins and Friends.

Art Exhibits – Ethel McCane, Facilitator

Health Checks – Charlesine Ford, Facilitator

Vendors on parking lot set up at 9 a.m.

Saturday Workshops – LIFE SKILLS

9 a.m. -10:30 p.m.

Outdoors/Parking Lot

Car Maintenance. How to change your tire, check your oil, add fluids, check your tire pressure.

Oliver Brewer

10 A.M. – 3 pm

Just for Children

This workshop is for 5 to 12-year-olds, teaching them games they’ve never known but were important in our culture. Jacks, Dodge Ball, HopScotch, Marbles, Jump Rope, Monopoly and more. Also teaching life lessons. Bullying will be discussed by Project Wings during this period.

Allison Banks and Michelle Perry

10 A.M. – 11 a.m. 

All About Money

For young and older. This class deals with financial education and why it’s important; budgeting, impulse control, credit, banking, shopping, debt management, assets (real estate and stock), saving and more. It should also cover self-employment/entrepreneurship. Crypto currency.

Facilitator Elizabeth Parker

10 a.m.- 11 a.m. - OUTDOORS - Field

Basic Gardening – We Are What We Eat

For young and older. We will partner with Lawrence Community Gardens and Mother Love Gardens to share information about growing food and plants, including herbs. This workshop will address the importance of this knowledge and provide information and resources for getting started. It will be conducted outdoors. Sharrona Moore (Lawrence) and Tysha Ahmad (Mother Love)

10:30 a.m. to noon – Sanctuary

“Stage-Struck: A Series of Mini Dramas”. Performing arts presented by local actors and actresses.

11.am. to 1 p.m.

Becoming A Man/Woman

For young men/boys and young ladies/girls. Two separate groups will come together for some interaction. Chivalry and manhood training for young men. Womanhood training for young women. Men walk on the outside to protect their women. Saying “yes sir” is not being a punk. Which fork do you use? Is it ok for a man to pat you on the rear? How to dress for success, respecting elders and self.

Facilitator for Girls/Young Ladies

Visions Summer Beauty Camp Founder and Director Velora Anderson (mental health counselor, intake clinician at Valley Vista Substance Abuse and Behavior Hospital, mother and grandmother) and Valerie Miller, President and Instructor, Visions Summer Beauty Camp, Founder of Indiana Youth Achievers Facilitator for Boys/Young Men, Steve Jefferson, WTHR, 100 Black Men, Rev Dennell Howard, Hovey Street COC - Boys/Men, Evolve 

11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Basic Sewing and Fashion

This workshop will demonstrate sewing techniques, fashion and style advice. How clothes are put together. How to hem pants or a dress. Sew on a button. Pressing a shirt. What goes in the wash together? Minister Carcelia Amial

11-12:30 p.m.

Your Cellphone, iPad and Computer are Your Friends

This workshop is to teach participants basic skills about their telephones and computers. The goal is to make sure everyone participating can access basic applications, such as email, text messages, Zoom, Duo, Facebook. People will bring their own devices. Min. Lydia Davis, Barnes United Methodist Church; Brie Anderson, Joshua Jordan

Noon – 1 p.m.

Music Under the Tent

1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Living Healthy and Well

Team of four presenters will discuss our community’s health and wellness: Panel: Nicole Billups, will speak on developing mental health, Shereeta Lacy, certified functional medicine health coach, will discuss health needs being met naturally; Courtney Porter will discuss role food plays in mental health; Aimbriel Lasley, Black Mama Vega; Aletha Powell – moderator. 

1 p.m.- 2:30 p.m.

Black Political Officeholders 

We take a look at what our office holders are doing in their various positions and what the issues are. We will also address challenges of the upcoming election. Moderator: Abdul Hakim-Shabazz, lawyer, political columnist, blogger. Panel: Vop Osili, president of the Indianapolis City Council; State Rep. Gregory Porter, minority leader, Indiana House; Annette Johnson, Pike Township Trustee; Myla Eldridge, Marion County Clerk and Secretary of the Election Board. U.S. Congressman Andre’ Carson may also be present. (Mary Beth Schneider, Writer)

1:30 p.m. - 3 p.m. 

Black and Gay in Indy – The History and Existence of Black Queerness

Issues related to the Black LGBTQ community. This community is ostracized by both the Black community and the “queer” community. So, they exist in silence and fear. The challenges they face are at much higher rates than others. The emotional turmoil. The blackness they face. What about the down-low brothers? Facilitator T. J. Wright 

1:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. Tent

Fashions from the Mother Land

Fashions from the Mother Land will be on display. Head-wrapping demonstrations. April Dalton/ Carceila Amial

3 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Interacting with Police

This panel discussion will deal with one of the most serious issues we face. How to survive interacting with police and what you can and should do when you run into a bad cop. We will talk about cop etiquette, filing complaints, etc., Will also deal with maintaining current license, registration, consequences of carrying weapons or illegal drugs – and running from police. Additionally, we want to cover investigation of Black on Black murders. (Bobby King, writer) Moderator: Ebony Chappel. Panelists: Indianapolis Police Chief Randal Taylor; Rev Charles R. Harrison, board chair of Ten Point Coalition and pastor of Barnes UMC; Dominic Dorsey, Don’t Sleep, on Zoom; Unconfirmed: Atty. Tasha Roberts

6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Poetry and Music Under the Tent 

Spoken word across generations, drumming, music. Manon Voice, featured spoken word artist, Tamara Goode-Breeding, MC;

Ethel McCane, Joshua Jordan; Kwabena Dinizulu, Mijida Holiday.

Art Exhibits – Ethel McCane, Facilitator

Health Checks – Charlesine Ford, Facilitator

Vendors

Sunday Celebration

11 a.m.

Intergenerational Worship Service

The preacher is Dr. Theron B. Williams of Mount Carmel Church. There will also be a recognition/awards portion for volunteers during service.