This summer’s Annual Conference passed a resolution presented by the Conference Commission on Religion and Race to raise awareness of racism and privilege in all its forms, dismantle racism, and become a more culturally competent Conference. The resolution included a training component with Dr. Grace Pak from the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference. She will train 15 volunteers in August to become trainers within the Desert Southwest Conference, and then those newly trained volunteers will teach others. The training is titled Intercultural Competency. This training will increase awareness and understanding of one’s culture and other cultures and learn ways to be bridge builders connecting with those who are different. This train-the-trainer event is free for those selected and will be done in-person at First UMC in Mesa.
