Groundings is a monthly lecture series offered by Sacred Ground in collaboration with Loyola Spirituality Center and the Ignatian Spirituality Center at Saint Thomas More. Groundings is open to anyone interested in deepening their spirituality, their capacity for deep listening, and their contemplative engagement in our world.
This March, we look forward to welcoming Rev. Dedra Herron-Slack as she shares how she curates culturally based contemplative experiences and why these experiences are necessary.
“Who has the authority to parse out that which is sacred for another? For so long those with power have pushed out the perspectives, stories, and experiences of anyone who isn’t white. It is time that we open our minds and hearts to that which is outside of the narrowly-defined idea of “sacred / contemplative” and make space for Spirit to move in all its mystery. As persons of color, we often enter “white spaces” to participate in contemplative practices. Rarely do those spaces such as classes, seminars or even spiritual direction certifications offer experiences where we feel included. Many times the practices experienced do not relate to our lived experience or do more harm than lead us into a deeper relationship with God. It is important for contemplative practices to be culturally inclusive. There are many contemplative practices in our culture that are not recognized by the mainstream contemplative community. There are also many contemplative persons of African decent that we rarely recognize in our contemplative communities. How do we decolonize contemplative practices so we include all people especially African Americans without doing more harm? How can we be more inclusive and sensitive creating “brave” space for everyone who desires to enter into contemplative communities?
People of color need contemplative places in which we can gather and be free from the mainstream stereotypes and marginalization that permeate every other societal space we occupy. We need spaces where we can be our authentic selves without the white gaze and insecurity muzzling that expression. We need spaces where we can simply be—where we can get off the treadmill of making white people comfortable and finally realize just how tired we are. Using contemplative practices and curating contemplative experiences for an exhausted community is one way to address individual as well as collective healing in our communities.”
Rev. Dedra Herron-Slack is an Ordained Minister, Spiritual Director, and Information Technology Delivery Executive with DXC Technologies. Having a dual career has afforded her the opportunity to minister in church, community and in the workplace as she leads a global staff of over 600 employees.
Rev. Dedra is a native of Kansas City, Kansas. She is a graduate of Spelman College (Atlanta, Georgia) with a bachelor’s degree in economics and a graduate of Bethel Seminary (Saint Paul, MN) with a master’s degree in Community Ministry and Transformational Leadership and a Certification from United Seminary (St. Paul, MN) in Arts and Spirituality. Rev. Dedra is also a certified Spiritual Director. She has served on several church staffs across the United States as Nursery Director, Youth Minister, Women’s Ministry Director and Spiritual Formation Leader. Ordained in 2010, Minister Dedra worked alongside her husband, Pastor Paul T. Slack in the Leadership and Pastorate of New Creation Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota for 17 years.
Minister Dedra is the Founder of Soul Sabbath Spiritual Wellness, an education, coaching, spiritual direction, and creative arts ministry that offers workshops, mentoring and experiences for people wishing to deepen their relationship with God, find life purpose, and experience transformation in sacred and brave community. Most of her work is centered in the North Minneapolis Community through the Northside Healing Space.
Minister Dedra is married to Rev. Paul Slack (Minneapolis, MN) and has two adult sons, Paul Timothy (Durham, NC) and Caleb Simeon (Houston, TX).
Registration is helpful, but not required. A $20 suggested donation to help cover costs may be paid at the door or online.
We are happy to be able to offer a live Zoom link to those who are unable to attend this event in person. You will need to request the zoom link when you register.