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A New Vision Workshop: Exploring Key Inner Work Practices for Ending Racism
September 9 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Workshop Background
The so-called “racial reckoning” that arose in 2020 in response to mass protests of police violence and hate crimes against Black people almost feels like a long-ago fever dream. Did it really happen? The backlash to that racial justice blip has been so intense, it’s been disorienting. Voter suppression, continued investment in policing and the carceral state, legislation banning historical truth-telling in education, and persistent gaps along racial lines in every quality-of-life measure. It’s all still happening and, in some cases, more intensely.
However, many people, groups, and organizations remain committed to opposing racism, to being antiracist. While there is no shortage of “isms” to abolish, we know that racism is unique in that all of our U.S. systems, institutions, and outcomes emanate from the racial hierarchy—a hierarchy that is hurting all of us, no matter our place in it. (Racial Equity Institute, n.d.)
At Impact, while we’ve been reeling from the backlash too, we’ve also been reflecting on what it might look like to move the goalpost beyond antiracism (a good aspiration indeed) to actually ending racism (dissolving hierarchy). We want to invite others into this reflection. That’s why we’re creating an exploratory space to grapple with the questions: What would it look like to end racism? What do we need to practice to get there?
About the Workshop
Over five sessions (two in-person, three online), with independent self-work and online-platform weekly discussions, we’ll explore inner work that supports (dare we suggest it?) ending racism for good. With that bold end in mind, participants will delve into a curated array of ideas and practices focused on intraconnection, shadow work, and forgiveness. These three key areas of inner work build upon teachings from Impact’s earlier Weaver Learning Labs to deepen individual healing; foster more connections across divides; and support participants in identifying or confirming the heart-centered action(s) they want to take towards ending racism. The workshop content includes ancient wisdom as well as ideas from today’s racial justice and healing thought leaders and practitioners.
At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Internalize the key concepts and practices of intraconnection, shadow work, and forgiveness and their importance to ending racism
- Understand and practice inner work exercises to effectively and more sustainably engage in racial justice work
- Germinate a personal passion project aimed at ending racism
The workshop is geared to an audience of racial justice activists and advocates, as well as anyone on a racial justice/healing journey. Graduates of Impact’s Weaver Learning Lab and participants in our other racial equity and justice spaces are encouraged to apply. The workshop will have a cohort model of up to 25 participants.
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Workshop Schedule and Topics
Monday, September 9 | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm | Mini Visioning Retreat (in person)
Monday, September 23 | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm | Exploring Intraconnection (online)
Monday, October 7 | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm | Exploring Shadow Work (online)
Monday, October 21 | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm | Exploring Forgiveness (online)
Monday October 28 | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm | Seed-to-Action Celebration (in person)
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We ask that accepted applicants make a donation, with a suggested starting point of $50. We welcome all accepted applicants, regardless of their ability to contribute financially.
MEET THE WORKSHOP FACILITATION TEAM:
Keren Korman Cabral (she/her) is a project consultant, certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher, White Awake board member, and a founding member of a local Muslim-Jewish Sisterhood and The Many Paths Collective. A former IMPACT staff member for six years, Keren has developed and supported anti-racist educational programming, and has organized with Showing Up for Racial Justice Montgomery County, Transit Immigration Assistance Silver Spring, and the Montgomery County Racial Equity Network.
Molly Jackman has been on a long journey to understand racism, equity, justice, and liberation. An experienced presenter, facilitator, and content developer on issues of race and racism, anger and conflict, in corporate and non-profit settings, she is also a trained mediator. In 2019, Molly completed an intense two-year contemplative studies program based on teachings from many spiritual traditions. The program called for deep inner work and daily ongoing practices, through which she finds hope that the entrenched racism and divisions in this country can be overcome. She believes all beings are connected and that love is the most transformative force of all.
Oswaldo Montoya (he/him) has a master’s degree in educational psychology. He has been a trainer, curriculum developer, researcher, and network builder for more than 20 years. He comes from the tradition of Popular Education, which was developed in Latin America as an instrument for consciousness-raising, community mobilization and social justice. Working with different NGOs in Nicaragua and the US, he’s been involved in pro-feminist men’s activism, anti-racism work and advocacy for children’s rights.
Lanita Whitehurst (she/her) currently serves as a Senior Organizer for IMPACT Silver Spring where she has worked as a trainer, facilitator, designer, and project manager for many of the organization’s key racial justice and healing programs and events. She’s completed a variety of trainings focused on racial justice and healing such as Wildseed Society’s Liberation Logic, Racial Equity Institute’s Groundwater Training, and Dream Bigger Foundation’s Liberation Experience. She is also an active member of the Wade in the Water Racial Justice Ministry at Grace Episcopal Church in Silver Spring. Lanita holds a B.A. in English and has completed 70 hours of coach-approach and mentor training approved by the International Coach Federation (ICF). She is a part-time leadership coach for the Episcopal Diocese of Washington.
