Turlock city, university, religious leaders come together

Civic and religious leaders came together to listen and learn in a joint city-university Leadership Summit on Inclusivity, an ivory-tower name meant to spur tangible change.

“It’s all about understanding where people are coming from,” said Mayor Gary Soiseth. “It’s all about understanding differences.”

The half-day summit took place at California State University, Stanislaus, on Friday, moderated by consultant Lynn Murphy.

“I am profoundly struck by increasing amounts of polarization going on in the world, and people really trying to find common ground,” Murphy said.

Her travels have helped her see her own blind spots, she said. “I’ve had to actively look for those blind spots and ask others to give me feedback on those blind spots so I can truly listen.”

Using the word “inclusive” was a choice to step beyond simple tolerance, said Stan State President Joe Sheley. “The degree of proactivity is critical,” he said.

Indifference to bias can lead to tragic consequences, he said, pointing to the mass shooting in San Bernardino. “It was frightening in terms of the act and in terms of the implications,” Sheley said. “It could have happened in any place, any city.”

Listening to casual conversations around Turlock, Sheley said he hears much that perpetuates divisions. “There are too many stereotypes on the table,” he said.

While the university prides itself on welcoming diversity, he said, “Sometimes you do need to step back and take a pulse. Sometimes you do need to check: Are we doing everything we can? Are we living up to all we say we’re doing?”

Westside Ministries, as well as representatives of the evangelical Christian, Catholic, Jewish, Islamic and Assyrian faiths, joined in the event. Notably absent was the Sikh community, currently roiled in an internal dispute.

Soiseth said he spoke to both factions, asking them to come once they resolved the issues. “It pains me that they are not at this table,” he said.

Sheley said in the aftermath of a spate of hate crimes around 2000, he was inspired by an initiative that brought together civic, government and religious leaders to combat the social discord behind the violence.

“They basically said, whenever it happens, you will see us get together and counter it,” he said. “That was so powerful.”

About two dozen participants filled a large rectangle of tables. A variety of community leaders were sprinkled between university faculty and staff along two sides. City leaders filled much of another side, and religious leaders congregated on the fourth.

In announcing a short break, Sheley suggested participants use the time to mingle. “Take the time to cross the room,” he said.

After the summit, Soiseth said the meeting included a frank conversation about Turlock’s strengths and weaknesses.

“Fixing roads, water systems and basic infrastructure is fundamental to a city, but so is creating an inclusive and welcoming environment,” he said via email. “Turlock is redefining the word ‘community’ in the Central Valley.”

This story was originally published February 12, 2016 at 4:25 PM with the headline "Turlock city, university, religious leaders come together."