Invitation to Attend Anti-Oppression Leadership Series
Dear Staff and Faculty,
- The series begins with two, four-hour remote Race-based Affinity Group Workshops that will be held from 12:30-4:30 p.m. on Jan. 13 and 14 OR Feb. 17 and 18. These sessions are capped at 23 attendees.
Given the current climate around race in the U.S., the Mandala Center recommends starting with separate racial affinity groups/caucuses; one for white-identifying individuals and another for individuals who identify as racially marginalized.
They recognize that multi-heritage and biracial people will self-assess which caucus best meets their needs. Doing deep work on race in mixed groups is challenging. What white individuals often need to work on is different than individuals who are racially marginalized. Thus, this work is most authentically and healthily done in separate spaces.
Racially marginalized individuals face racism daily and most know how to talk about it; therefore, they usually don’t need basic anti-racism education. However, many white people need to learn fundamental concepts and to practice talking about it. Overall, these groups are intended to provide a healthy container to share stories as well as allow for self-reflection, action practice, increased awareness, and application of tools for a more equitable, healthy, and joyous workplace for all. For more on affinity groups, please read “Race-based Affinity Groups – Why Do Them?”
- If you want to do more work in this area, you can continue with a one-day, in-person Anti-Oppression Leadership Development Workshop on March 25, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (prerequisite, Race-Based Affinity Group Workshops). The session will be capped at 36 attendees.
For staff and faculty interested in long-term anti-oppression leadership at Colorado College, this highly participatory professional development session builds on antiracism practice including intersectionality of oppressions. Content will be driven, in part, by needs of the group.
It may include, but is not limited to, power analysis of social group members with interactive exercises and applications; discussion of strategies for navigating the complexities of race within the US context; story sharing to encourage self-reflection and build solidarity; action practice to explore strategies for a more just and equitable workplace for all, and self-care practices and frameworks to support social-emotional health and well-being.
- If you want to do even more work in this area, you can end with a one-day in-person Extended Anti-Oppression Leadership Development Workshop on April 22, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (prerequisite, Anti-Oppression Leadership Workshop). The session will be capped at 36 attendees. This session is for staff and faculty who want to extend their professional development work in anti-oppression leadership. The content builds on the previous anti-oppression leadership development sessions.
