Dear friends,
I recently read a book entitled Why We Act: Turning Bystanders into Moral Rebels, by Catherine A. Sanderson, a professor at Amherst College. Dr. Sanderson reviews a wide range of sociological studies as she pursues the question of why some people step forward to help when they see harm being done. Are they superheroes—a different category of people who are better or more courageous than the rest of us?
The answer, from her analysis, is no. They are ordinary people. There are a few simple things, she discovered, that make a huge difference in enabling us to step up to help. One is a little knowledge about what to do or say. The other is a little practice.
Dr. Sanderson also writes about the ways a small group of people trained to step forward can reshape the culture of the wider community. Human beings are social creatures. We naturally look to those around us to make sense of a situation and figure out how to respond. If there is one person in a crowd who is willing to try to help, many more will be inspired to follow.
In a time when societal transformation feels both urgent and daunting, this research offers me a sense of hope. In a time when many of us are looking for ways to make a difference but are unsure what to do, it points me to a starting place.
Open Spirit is partnering with Jewish Family Services of Metrowest to pilot an Active Bystander Training, via Zoom, on Wednesday, July 29 from 9:00 to 11:45 a.m. The training will be led by Rev. Liz Magill, a UCC pastor many of us know. She was the founding pastor of Worcester Fellowship, an outdoor church we have long supported, and preached at Edwards Church several years ago. Currently she is serving as pastor of Ashburnham Community Church. She was trained in Active Bystander Training by Quabbin Mediation, a central Massachusetts organization.
The purpose of the Active Bystander Training is not to teach us to intervene in ways that put us in danger. It is not about confronting dangerous people or running into burning buildings. Instead, it provides us with tools to analyze a situation, think through what we might do or say that could help, and make an informed choice about how to act. It offers a safe place to practice some strategies, so we will have the confidence to act to make a difference.
Right now, in our society, we are acutely aware of the depth and persistence of racism in our nation and in our world. The problem feels so huge and so daunting that we can become paralyzed. This training has the potential to help us move from paralysis to small actions that make a difference.
Sign up here or contact me for more information.
Peace,
Debbie