Racism takes place everyday.
We can all take action against it.
Here’s how racism might show up in day-to-day life:
- The question, “Yeah, but where are you really from?”
- Someone touching a Black person’s hair without permission
- Racial segregation in neighborhoods caused by patterns of discrimination
- Someone being more likely to be stopped by the police because of the color of their skin
- A Person of Color being followed around a store because a member of staff expects them to shoplift based on their appearance
- Increased likelihood of a check at a security gate
Oppression of people of color does not occur solely in the behavior of individuals — It is embedded deep into our social systems.
We are all participants in our societies. Born into multiple systems.
Systems of race… Color… Faith... Gender... Wealth... Education... Politics... Social etiquette... Class... Family... Health.
The list continues.
As participants in these larger systems, we all have a role in transforming them.
How?
To begin, we can learn more about systemic racism - that is, the racism occuring within the systems we live in.
Then we can have conversations that challenge racist words or ideas in a way that encourages people to reflect on their beliefs. And their behavior.
This is the first step to real change.
This course is designed to help you step into your power to advocate for a more just world, while also staying compassionate to those who you perceive as unjust.
In this 4-session course, the trainers will explore:
✔️ Understanding perspectives that are different from our own
✔️ Staying grounded in conversations that are painful
✔️ Finding connecting ways to talk with those who differ from us
✔️ Challenging unjust words in a way that leads to understanding, rather than anger
✔️ Empowering ourselves to help transform the opinions of those in our lives who hold views we see as racist
✔️ Challenging racism in ways that encourage the other person to reflect on their beliefs, without judging their behavior.
✔️ Getting comfortable having these conversations with family members, old friends, and co-workers.
✔️ increasing our ability to find words that express clearly and passionately why it matters to transform social systems
Each session will include time for assisted practice — come ready to try out new skills in a safe. supportive space!
About the trainers: Kathy Simon and Itzel Hayward
Kathy is passionate about teaching skills that aid peaceful communication across differences — whether the differences arise across the kitchen table, in the classroom, the boardroom, or across religious, racial, and political divides. She is a certified trainer with the Center for Nonviolent Communication and has been practicing NVC since 1995, and teaching it since 2009.
Itzel is the founder of Attuned Living - a mindfulness and wellness organization that helps individuals heal the sense of separation they feel from others, or even themselves. She promotes social justice within organizations and communities and guides individuals as they search for personal and professional fulfillment. She gently reminds her students of their individual wholeness and our interconnectedness with others and all of life.
Kathy and Itzel are a pair of insightful trainers who bring a wealth of experience and knowledge. Together, they guide participants with thoughtfulness, care and calm.
Here is what previous participants had to say about learning with these compassionate and supportive trainers:
“Kathy and Itzel are an amazing duo in facilitating learning about NVC and embracing an empowered stance to confront racism in our communities, relationships, and work world.”
— Miriam, Cincinnati
“Itzel and Kathy have such an accessible style of Nonviolent communication. I appreciate that they always demonstrate a calm and thoughtful demeanor that one can emulate in their own practice.”
— Kiyomi Kowalski, Anti-Racism Educator, Los Angeles
“Absolutely everyone interested in living a rich life filled with love, relationships and worthwhile conversations should take this course. Beyond the focus on how to foster anti-racism conversations with empathy and compassion, the communication skills gained in this delightfully enlightening series will uplevel all interpersonal exchanges.”
— Heather Anderson, Founder, The Mamahood
