Ferndale Inclusion Network

By Ryan R. Ennis

Ferndale Inclusion Network

For A Fair & Just World

IT IS A STATISTIC THAT SHOWS THE IMPACT OF JUST ONE PERSON’S ACTIONS: ABOUT 50% OF ALL INSTANCES OF VICTIMIZATION CAN END WHEN A BYSTANDER STEPS IN TO OFFER HELP…

…according to David’s Legacy Foundation and other organizations seeking to raise abuse and prevention awareness. Effective measures can range from alerting friends and others about the harmful effects of bullying, to reaching out to the appropriate authorities or support groups when victims feel powerless to do it for themselves.

As a way of becoming upstanders and preventing injustice, five Ferndale residents have come together in recent years to make their own important local impact. These activists are Sandra Dukhie, Kathleen LaTosh, Lindsay TerHaar, Prasad Venugopal, and Eliza Webb. Calling their organization the Ferndale Integration Network, they hope to foster a culture of inclusion by advocating for fair policies and treatment of all individuals.

As stated by TerHaar, the members form a “small but mighty” group of volunteers who share responsibilities and make decisions based on consensus. While TerHaar functioned as the spokesperson for this interview, she stressed that FIN has a uniform “hierarchy without formal leadership.”

What is the organization’s history?

FIN was originally an outgrowth of the Race & Community Project launched by the Citizens for a Fair Ferndale (CFF) in 2014. During the past couple of years, FIN has operated more as an independent organization, and during that time we have focused on internal reorganization and reflection work, and have engaged in transformative justice sessions with CFF to evaluate how and if the two organizations should remain formally connected. As a result of these sessions, FIN has concluded that it was best to separate from CFF. This separation allows both CFF and FIN to continue supporting the community albeit from two very distinct paths with different purposes.

What are some of the organization’s goals?

FIN’s mission is to create a just and racially equitable Ferndale that embodies a culture of inclusion and belonging for all. This is done through approaches that emphasize:

• Amplifying the voices and issues of racial justice.

• Centering lived experiences.

• Expanding our community’s understanding of systemic racism.

• Learning about and reckoning with our racial history.

• Advocating for policies that are transparent and accountable to the community.

• Shifting our individual and collective behavior.

What types of issues do you think Ferndale currently faces regarding fair treatment?

We are facing many issues today when it comes to creating a racially just and equitable community. Such matters are how we tackle housing and community development efforts, how we envision public health and welfare, and how current policing models compare to historic ones. In talking about and addressing our racial history, we hope the knowledge will inspire ways we can become better neighbors to our border towns, as well.

How have the members been promoting FIN’s mission?

The organization hosts a variety of community events with a focus on advancing racial justice in Ferndale. Some examples of past events include:

• Educational sessions that expand the participants’ understanding of Ferndale’s racial history, systematic racism, and current policies and programs that impact racial outcomes in Ferndale and its neighboring communities.

• Workshops focused on building skills for engaging in critical conversations on race.

• Community conversations to gather feedback and ideas from citizens on current initiatives related to race and equity in the city of Ferndale.

If someone is interested in joining the organization, what is the process?

Anyone interested in volunteering or learning more about the group can email ferndaleforall@gmail.com to set up a brief meeting with a few of our members. Volunteers should have a desire to work towards a more racially just Ferndale and be able to attend monthly meetings. The time commitment is flexible based on availability but typically ranges from four to six hours each month.

Have any local businesses joined FIN? How about people from the surrounding communities?

In our early stages, we sought to invite the business community into a network, hence the “Ferndale Inclusion Network.” Over time, we found a need to shift our approach and have most recently been focused more on city policies and procedures.

Although FIN is focused on working within the city of Ferndale, we are sometimes involved in projects that span across city and county lines. We are always open to collaboration with other Southeastern Michigan organizations with a similar focus and dedication to racial justice.

How have FIN’s efforts helped others to feel a sense of security or belonging in their community?

Our community education events are designed to build a sense of security and belonging in Ferndale for all people, including:

• Learning about what racial profiling looks like at the neighbor level and strategies to interrupt it.

• Learning about how to be an active bystander and intervene when observing harmful behavior in the moment.

• Hosting a community storytelling event with Ferndale immigrants, who are invited to tell their stories and share suggestions with others on how to help newcomers feel welcomed and included.

What are some upcoming events?

Our next event is planned for early Fall of 2023. To stay up to date on upcoming events, please follow our Facebook page (search under “Ferndale Inclusion Network”) or email ferndaleforall@ gmail.com to start receiving our e-newsletter.