September Workshops

Quick links:

Building Racial Justice Through Allyship
Sept 23 2020, 6:30pm
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/120783985151

Responding to Racist Remarks
Sept 30 2020, 6:30pm
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/120784785545

Writing to Heal Pt. 1
Sept 16 2020, 10:00am
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/120786400375

Writing to Heal Pt. 2
Sept 23 2020, 10:00am
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/120786400375

Building Racial Justice Through Allyship
Understanding differences and ourselves is a life-long learning journey central to building authentic cross-racial relationships. In this workshop participants will receive a framework for dismantling the unnatural divisions we have inherited across racial differences. A climate free of blame, shame and guilt will be established in order to create a supportive and challenging learning community. The framework introduced in the workshop addresses three critical elements for creating change on diversity:
1) dissatisfaction with the status quo;
2) an inclusive and sustainable vision for what can be; and
3) a process for getting there. This framework will serve as a foundation for catalyzing personal change that supports the development of authentic, inclusive organizations and communities.
Goals:
–To increase understanding of racial justice by identifying and learning more about group membership and identities.
–To develop a common language for talking about power, privilege, and difference.
–To examine how institutional and personal practices maintain racial inequities among people and prevent us all from reaching our full potential.
–To identify practical strategies for implementing and facilitating change collectively.
–To build alliances and networks
Sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/120783985151

Responding to Racist Remarks
Note: Past participants will be separated out into small groups at the beginning of the workshop to practice the process that was learned. New participants will be grouped together to learn the process and then practice through role plays and observations.
This workshop has been created because POC have been asking white people to speak up when they hear racist remarks. In the workshop participants will learn a process for developing effective responses when hearing racists remarks by family members, strangers, friends, colleagues and others. It acknowledges that the flood of emotions that sometimes occur in these situations may limit the full range of responses we could have. Participants learn the process through a demonstration and then practice real situations so that in the future they can increase their ability to respond in a way that calls other white people in and not out.
GOALS:
*To introduce a process for participants to feel more confident to think about effective responses and empowered to make responses.
*To practice with support using the process and developing more effective strategies
*To support each other to become more empowered to take action
*To incorporate ideas and concepts from the readings and other resources that were shared
Sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/120784785545

Writing to Heal
Writing to Heal from the Trauma of Racism Description: Racism not only creates trauma but derives from trauma for all involved. Becoming a true ally means having to do the deep work of examining and processing how we learned racism and how it hurts us. Part One of this workshop will offer an understanding of what trauma does to the brain and nervous system, how the body can get safe enough to repair itself, and how writing can help. Writing exercises will include looking at our history of awareness around race, and telling the story of one of the traumatic incidents that shaped us. Part Two is about breaking free of survival patterns that limit our humanity, many of which correspond to characteristics of white supremacy. We will also write about our family histories, traumas, and resilience. We’ll get more acquainted with the parts of ourselves we’ve left behind, and look forward to our next steps as anti-racists. Goals: –To learn what it takes to get racism out of our bodies –To have writing resources available to process the effects of trauma and racism –To remove blame, shame and guilt and replace it with truth, authentic feelings, and empowerment –To create community among people of all colors in the journey of personal as well as societal transformation If you need a brief bio of me: Anais Salibian has been a practicing bodyworker, writer, and writing teacher for over 25 years. These lines of work have merged in her Writing to Heal courses because they address how healing happens in the body.

SURJ ROC