The same systems that separate us from caring for the earth also work to separate us from caring for one another.
The United States was built on land stolen from Native people by the stolen labor of enslaved Black people. The same way of thinking and being has created a world dependent on fossil fuels at the expense of our care for each other and the earth.
We can’t work towards a thriving, just, and sustainable world without also committing to repairing the wounds of land theft and enslavement.
What sort of ancestor will you be?
A defintion and a commitment
Reparations are the return of wealth, power, and land that the United States and its citizens stole from Black and Indigenous people through slavery and colonization.
Reparation recognizes that this wealth does not now and never did rightly “belong” to Europeans and their descendants, and return that wealth, power, and land without expecting something in return or qualification.
The winter solstice marks an ending and a beginning – as the shortening of our days comes to an end, we experience a transition into longer days and a new beginning.
As we've done our reparations work with all of you, one of the things we've heard is that folks are hungry for some tangible ways to learn, reflect, and act on their commitment to reparations. As an offering in this time of transition and refection, we put together A Reparations Solstice Offering for folks who are at any place in their reparations journey. It has tools, resources, and opportunities for learning and reflection, and it's designed to be used by individuals or by groups who might be interested in working together.
Click here to access our Reparations Solstice Offering!
REPARATIONS 101
In late 2022, MNIPL hosted a series of Reparations Learning Tables, which covered some foundational ideas around reparations, why it's important for faith, spiritual and communities of conscience to act, and how individuals and communities can get started.
Interested in getting started? Check out the series!
Reparations: What are They?
Why MNIPL and Why Now?
What’s Faith Got to Do With It?
What is Your Story?
What’s Faith Got to Do With It?
What is Your Story?
REPARATIONS LEARNING LABS
School is back in session, and it’s time to sign up for our 2024-25 Reparations Learning Labs!
For 2024-2025, we are offering monthly, hour-long, interactive sessions on Zoom that invite people into deeper reflection, work, and action towards repair and reparation.
These sessions are intended for White-bodied people from across different identities, lineages, traditions, and geographies who are already committed to the work of repair and reparation, and who want to continue to learn, grow, and build community. We will focus on moving from ideas towards action, and on building personal, collective, and systemic reparations practices. Black, Indigenous, Brown, and Native folks and other people of color are also welcome to join.
Sign up at the links to the right!
- Truth Telling | Wednesday, October 9
- Relationships | Wednesday, November 13
- Spiritual Practices | Wednesday, December 11
- Political Solidarity | Wednesday, January 8
- Wealth Return | Wednesday, February 12
All sessions are from noon - 1 pm on Zoom. Please sign up for each session you'd like to attend individually!
Before you sign up!
We have three asks and expectations as part of your commitment to this work together:
- Watch our “Reparations: What are They?” session so that we can all arrive with a shared foundation and set of concepts.
- Consider making a financial contribution of any amount that is meaningful and sustainable to you to support our Black, Native, and Indigenous Advisory Table. Our Black, Native, and Indigenous partners offer accountability, support, and solidarity, and it matters that we compensate their time and talent. Every dollar donated through this page goes to the amazing activists who are guiding us towards authentic change.
- Consider becoming a sustaining donor of MNIPL with a monthly contribution of any amount.
MNIPL provides our reparations programming free of charge, and we can only make that possible with your support and participation.
MORE ACTIONS ON REPARATIONS
Support our Black & Native Reparations Advisory Table
This team of 8-10 Black & Native leaders will assemble quarterly to counsel our shared reparations work. And this fund ensures that MNIPL can meaningfully compensate these leaders for their time and talents.
Every dollar donated through this page goes to the amazing activists who are guiding us towards authentic change.
Sign up for MNIPL's Reparations Learning Community
This email community (moderated by MNIPL’s Liz Loeb and Jessica Intermill) is a place to ask questions and engage in conversations about reparations and reparatory actions. We will share event and action opportunities, and support each other as we do the work of repair. Individuals and congregational teams are welcome. To join, email jessica@mnipl.org and ask to be added to the group!
Visit and support our reparations partners:
