Workshop Objectives:
“We live in a post-racial society; racism no longer exists!” “We all have the same opportunities now, don’t play the race card!” “That’s reverse racism!” We’ve all heard variations of these phrases within our social settings. Understanding that racism is systemic is key to dismantling it. Leading with racial equity means to approach all systems, organizations, groups, and culture with a contextually-racial lens. To acknowledge context, its historical and present impact, as well as contemporary impact. It is crucial to consistently be in the know of how oppressive systems and processes continue to shift and impact Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) and their livelihoods.
Learning Goals
In this workshop, participants will delve deeper into understanding racism, its systemic functions, social functions, and its past and current contextual morphing that has aided in its long-standing existence. Through interactive engagement, participants will reflect on their own experiences and understanding of racism and develop tools to utilize within their personal anti-racist work.
Self-auditing and reflection (within a racial context)
Dismantling racist structures to move towards equitable outcomes
Development and understanding of racial equity analysis
Deeper understanding of racism’s systemic impact
Skill development and exploration of inclusive processes of communication
LOCATION
Online via Zoom
PRICING AND REGISTRATION
For any questions regarding registration, our sliding scale, work-trade opportunities or accessibility needs, please contact the social justice team at sjp@ywcapdx.org or (503) 294-7480.
ACCESSIBILITY
This class will be held online via Zoom. Please contact us to let us know if you need specific accommodations.
VIRTUAL CLASSROOM TIPS
Thanks for joining us online! Here are some suggestions for getting the most out of this workshop:
Mute your microphone. To help keep background noise to a minimum, make sure you mute your microphone when you are not speaking. When your microphone is not muted, avoid activities that could create additional noise.
Engage with the class. These are intended to be workshops, not webinars! Please come ready to engage and participate, and help build community within the “classroom.” Not everyone is able to participate via webcam, but if you are able, we ask that you do so as much as possible.
Limit distractions and avoid multi-tasking. You can make it easier to focus on the meeting by turning off notifications, closing or minimizing running apps, and muting your smartphone. You’ll retain the discussion better if you refrain from replying to emails or test messages during the meeting and wait until after the workshop ends.
Help us improve our program! Each workshop will have a brief survey sent out. All results are anonymous and help us continuously improve our program.
Take notes. Our facilitators’ own their presentation material so it is not a requirement for the presentation to be shared afterwards.
Need an accommodation? Email us so we can create an ideal learning environment for you. sjp@ywcapdx.org
GROUP PARTICIPATION FRAMEWORK & AGREEMENTS
While guidelines and expectations will vary from workshop to workshop, most of these apply to a typical workshop session:
One speaker at a time. When one person talks, everyone else listens.
Community wisdom. Nobody knows everything, together we know a lot.
Take space & give space. Be mindful of how much you’re participating in the discussion.
Intent vs. impact. Before sharing, consider how what you say will affect others in the group.
Confidentiality. Details shared in the class stay in the class, but what’s learned goes with you.
Active participation. In this environment, it’s better to be open and imperfect than worry too much about being overly articulate.
Embrace discomfort and expect non-closure. Learning and growth can be stressful, do your best to hold space for those feelings.
PRESENTER
Ruby Joy White (b. 1988, Denver, CO; Prince/She) is a stylish, 30-something sapphically-inclined, writer-violinist-dancer-Sagittarius-TOMBOY, based in Portland, OR. A radical imaginist, Prince is a cultural curator, and plans & executes creative events, art talks, festivals, and installations that center People of Color and all their intersections. Additionally, Prince is a sociologist, hosts conversations on equity in creative spaces, engages with youth, and has a background in the academy. She is a Content Writer and Editor for Art for Ourselves, a creative essayist, and a consultant for anti-racist and queer equity work, organizational structure & strategic planning. Ruby curates and creates vibrant experiences that aim to transport those engaged into realms that connect the soul to the beauty and intersections of the self. Prince’s work is best described as aesthetic, altar-like intimacies that tell stories, illuminate Queerness (in all its forms) and challenge the cacophony of the static norm.
Ruby is the Equity and Racial Justice Program Manager for Parks and Nature at Metro, and holds a B.A. in Journalism – News/Editorial and a B.A. in Sociology – Family Studies from the University of Northern Colorado.
Contact Us
Email: Shay at shayb@ywcapdx.org
Phone: (503) 294-7395
SOCIAL JUSTICE PROGRAM EQUITY PROMISE
The Social Justice Program will operate in conjunction with the YWCA of Greater Portland’s Equity Policy. We will provide our community workshops centered around domestic & sexual violence, racial equity, and gender equity by addressing oppressive tactics used on both individual and institutional levels. This program will actively confront white supremacist culture by dismantling as many oppressive systems within its’ power through organizational culture, policies, and procedures. We will build each other up by amplifying voices from marginalized communities and with sociocultural identities. How do we manage to tackle all of these goals? By changing the way we think and act to collectively embrace equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging.