Doing Our Own Work (an Introduction) – For White People Wanting to Unlearn Racism and Foster Racial Justice
Many white people are well-intentioned, yet seek additional awareness, knowledge, and skills to more effectively engage in cross-race relationships and anti-racism efforts. Three workshops have been developed to support white people in becoming more conscious, competent, and committed to working for racial justice. Participants will also explore how to develop a “racial justice lens” to more critically notice and address racial inequities in a variety of contexts.
This Introduction is the first of the three workshops, which can be taken individually or in any combination. It will start to explore the core concepts:
- how we are socialized into the systems of racism—messages received interpersonally, institutionally and culturally
- how those messages affect our identity and experiences
- the implicit and explicit ways we are encouraged to maintain the racial status quo
- how we can interrupt this system
This will provide a foundation for and touch on many issues that will be addressed in two subsequent full-day workshops on November 4 and 5, 2017.
We strongly encourage people to take both of these full-day trainings, as follows:
- November 4: systemic racism and its impact on whites and people of color
- November 5: individual and interpersonal racism
Each workshop is experiential and interactive, providing a supportive and non-judgmental environment to explore racism on personal and structural levels. Tools and techniques used will include videos, personal reflections, small and large group discussions and activities, and presentations.
Click here for information on those two workshops.
Diane Goodman has been addressing issues of diversity and social justice for over 30 years as a trainer, consultant, facilitator, professor, speaker, author, and activist. Her extensive and varied background enables her to bring a range of skills and perspectives to meet the needs of her clients.
She has worked with numerous organizations, non-profit agencies, community groups, schools and universities to create environment that allow all people to feel valued, to be treated fairly, and to work together productively. Diane has also designed, led, and trained trainers for intergroup dialogues in community and academic contexts. Recently, she has been facilitating groups for community members to explore race, racism and whiteness.
Diane is the author of the book, Promoting Diversity and Social Justice: Educating People from Privileged Groups (2nd ed., 2011) and co-editor of and contributor to Teaching for Diversity and Social Justice (3rd ed., 2016) and other publications.
This workshop is presented in partnership with Stony Point Center, which is a retreat center offering radical hospitality, as well as a multi-faith community cultivating peace and justice. Stony Point Center is located in New York’s Hudson Valley.
