The pursuit of diversity, equity, and inclusion in Whitefish Bay and beyond is a team effort, requiring collaboration from many different stakeholders. Over the years, Bay Bridge has frequently partnered with United Methodist Church of Whitefish Bay to host justice-oriented events in the area, from discussions about unconscious bias to workshops on housing, race, and equity.
At the helm of UMC’s justice efforts is WFB local Kathy Schluter, who volunteers as chair of the church’s justice team. For Schluter, faith — specifically, following the ways of Jesus — is the motivation and the ideal vehicle for promoting social justice. “Everything Jesus did was breaking norms of the day, asking people to be better than they were and envision a better world,” she says.
Mission-oriented work like food pantries and clothing drives are essential in meeting local needs. But promoting justice, Schluter says, often means taking a step farther — working to address our own implicit bias and understand others’ points of view so we can live with greater empathy in our daily lives. In other words: Working to achieve a more equitable community means getting out of our comfort zones.
Whether she’s planning an MLK Day event or a discussion about homosexuality and the bible, Schluter’s goal is to change people’s hearts and minds about important topics — prompting them to take transformative action in their daily lives. “When you’re in a predominantly white suburban area like we are, we don’t always understand some of the issues that affect people,” Schluter says. UMC aims to encourage people, through education and events, to grow and work together to make a difference in people’s lives.
UMC’s justice team also works with Milwaukee organizations to advance the faith-driven cause, including fellow Christian churches, Unitarian Universalist groups, and synagogues. While each group approaches justice through a different religious lens, each is committed to creating a more just Milwaukee — a prime example of building bridges between communities and uniting for the greater good.
For Schluter and her team at UMC, this work isn’t just occasional events or educational opportunities. It’s an ongoing, daily fight to help more people flourish. “I’m a believer that diversity makes us better. More people thriving makes us better,” she says.
