In Spring of 2011, Catalyst Project will be offering...
The Anne Braden Anti-Racist Training Program
For White Social Justice Activists
This four month political education and leadership development program is designed to support the political development, skills, and analysis of white activists in becoming accountable, principled anti-racist organizers building multiracial movements for justice. The program will begin in February of 2011. Applications are due by October 1stof 2010.
Showing posts with label Ally. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ally. Show all posts
Monday, August 23, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Workshops: Challenging Racism
Cultivating Capacity for Challenging Racism
"Awakening Your Ally-Body: From White Racial Shame to Allyship," An Article by Vanissar Tarakali
The journey to powerful and accountable racial justice allyship is actually a process of thawing out and healing from trauma. This is challenging because trauma is stored deeply in the body, and so the thawing-out-from-trauma journey unfolds in our bodies. It is deeply intimate and personal.
One of my allyship workshop participants who experienced this thawing process in her body came in with a vague fear connected with being a white racial justice ally. As she and the group brought compassionate attention to their sensations, she felt rage, helplessness and sadness emerge in her body underneath the fear. She directly experienced the devastating impact of systemic racism on her being--"like having a car accident on my front door step every day”--and felt how she had numbed herself for years to cope with this “disaster.”
Direct, bodily insights like these, while painful, support empowered allyship. After her thawing out experience, this participant felt more space and energy, and was able to identify the next steps she needed to take to be a conscious racial justice ally: “It’s empowering …to be able to observe it happening…this new awareness… insert[s] more choice into what is an otherwise automatic numbing reaction.”
One of my allyship workshop participants who experienced this thawing process in her body came in with a vague fear connected with being a white racial justice ally. As she and the group brought compassionate attention to their sensations, she felt rage, helplessness and sadness emerge in her body underneath the fear. She directly experienced the devastating impact of systemic racism on her being--"like having a car accident on my front door step every day”--and felt how she had numbed herself for years to cope with this “disaster.”
Direct, bodily insights like these, while painful, support empowered allyship. After her thawing out experience, this participant felt more space and energy, and was able to identify the next steps she needed to take to be a conscious racial justice ally: “It’s empowering …to be able to observe it happening…this new awareness… insert[s] more choice into what is an otherwise automatic numbing reaction.”
I'll be offering "Shame and White Allies Working for Racial Justice" on Saturday, February 13. Read on for details.
Workshop: Shame and White Allies Working for Racial Justice
with Vanissar Tarakali
Guilt and shame are common issues for white people seeking to acknowledge and address racism. White people’s shame about racism often shows up as behaviors that reinforce racist dynamics, including denial, defensiveness, passivity and self-absorption, the calling out of which often serves to deepen shame and limit white people’s receptivity. How can we respond compassionately to this shame without condoning the resulting racist dynamics?
On February 13, Vanissar Tarakali will offer a workshop that brings theory and embodied practice together to explore white people’s automatic, shame-coping behaviors, and offers insights into why certain racist behaviors are so entrenched, even in well-intentioned white people.
This workshop, which draws on over a decade of research into the psychology of how white people unlearn racism, will benefit white allies seeking to strengthen mutual support and compassion for everyone working to transform racism. People of color who would like to recognize when racial shame is motivating white behavior are also welcome to attend. This workshop will help everyone recognize when white racial shame is operating and offer options and antidotes to support white allyship and accountability.
On February 13, Vanissar Tarakali will offer a workshop that brings theory and embodied practice together to explore white people’s automatic, shame-coping behaviors, and offers insights into why certain racist behaviors are so entrenched, even in well-intentioned white people.
This workshop, which draws on over a decade of research into the psychology of how white people unlearn racism, will benefit white allies seeking to strengthen mutual support and compassion for everyone working to transform racism. People of color who would like to recognize when racial shame is motivating white behavior are also welcome to attend. This workshop will help everyone recognize when white racial shame is operating and offer options and antidotes to support white allyship and accountability.
You can learn more about Vanissar's background and work by visiting her website: http://www.vanissar.com/.
Saturday, February 13, 10am-5pm
Sliding Scale: $80-180; limited financial assistance available
First Congregational Church of Oakland, 2501 Harrison St. in Oakland
Email our registration desk to sign up
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Undoing Oppression Through the Body
Undoing Oppression Through the Body
with Victor Lee Lewis and Vanissar Tarakali
Saturday, January 23, 2010 10am-5pm
This embodied workshop for both people of color and white racial justice allies will explore the impact of trauma (personal, intimate, social) on our experiences of oppression, our participation in oppressive systems, and our efforts to free ourselves from both. By employing concrete tools and practices, we’ll work with trauma and shame as they live in the bodymind, helping participants engage consciously with adaptations that keep oppression and privilege in place.
Participants will spend time in both joint sessions and POC/white caucuses. People of color will explore ways to recover resilience in addressing racism and internalized racism. White allies will become conscious of automatic behaviors that interfere with efforts to undo racism and be allies to people of color. People in both groups will become more resourceful in managing feelings of anger, fear, overwhelm, discouragement, “burnout” and stress in themselves and others.
This is a rare opportunity to learn from two pioneers in the field of social justice education. Victor Lewis, best known for his role in the groundbreaking film The Color of Fear, is pioneering new ways to bring together education, bodymind healing, and leadership coaching. Vanissar Tarakali combines intimate and social trauma expertise, anti-oppression education, a Ph.D. in East-West psychology, and a deep understanding of the body's intuitive, energetic, survival and healing mechanisms to design embodied educational programs.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
10am-5pm
Sliding scale: $80-180
First CongregationalChurch of Oakland , 2501 Harrison St. Oakland
Email ntorbett@seminaryofthestreet.org to sign up.
with Victor Lee Lewis and Vanissar Tarakali
Saturday, January 23, 2010 10am-5pm
This embodied workshop for both people of color and white racial justice allies will explore the impact of trauma (personal, intimate, social) on our experiences of oppression, our participation in oppressive systems, and our efforts to free ourselves from both. By employing concrete tools and practices, we’ll work with trauma and shame as they live in the bodymind, helping participants engage consciously with adaptations that keep oppression and privilege in place.
Participants will spend time in both joint sessions and POC/white caucuses. People of color will explore ways to recover resilience in addressing racism and internalized racism. White allies will become conscious of automatic behaviors that interfere with efforts to undo racism and be allies to people of color. People in both groups will become more resourceful in managing feelings of anger, fear, overwhelm, discouragement, “burnout” and stress in themselves and others.
This is a rare opportunity to learn from two pioneers in the field of social justice education. Victor Lewis, best known for his role in the groundbreaking film The Color of Fear, is pioneering new ways to bring together education, bodymind healing, and leadership coaching. Vanissar Tarakali combines intimate and social trauma expertise, anti-oppression education, a Ph.D. in East-West psychology, and a deep understanding of the body's intuitive, energetic, survival and healing mechanisms to design embodied educational programs.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
10am-5pm
Sliding scale: $80-180
First Congregational
Email ntorbett@seminaryofthestreet.org to sign up.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Embody Your Allyship
Embody Your Allyship
Open House
for White Racial Justice Allies
Sunday, December 13
12 noon-3:00 PM in Temescal (North Oakland)
Suggested Donation: $25
Once we know what we are responsible for as white anti-racist allies, why is it often so hard to follow through?
Why, despite our best intentions, do we freeze up when it's time to speak up and educate other white folks, or hold back when it's time to challenge systemic racism? Why do we get defensive when it's time to listen to people of color?
At this Open House, we will learn about how an embodied approach to allyship can support creative & connected racial justice responses when we find ourselves off balance. We will discuss individual and collective blocks to effective white racial justice action. Participants will also learn some simple, effective tools that support practical white allyship.
Facilitator bio:
Vanissar Tarakali, Ph.D. is a healer and teacher who designs embodied healing oppression and allyship trainings and interventions for individuals and groups. She is passionate about supporting folks with privilege to unlearn oppression and use their privilege for social justice. The former Healing Oppression Project co-lead at Community United Against Violence (CUAV), Vanissar studies Generative Somatics with Staci Haines and Denise Benson, and intuitive reading with Phyllis Pay.
Please contact Vanissar at (510) 594-6812 or vanissar@cs.com for more information
Open House
for White Racial Justice Allies
Sunday, December 13
12 noon-3:00 PM in Temescal (North Oakland)
Suggested Donation: $25
Once we know what we are responsible for as white anti-racist allies, why is it often so hard to follow through?
Why, despite our best intentions, do we freeze up when it's time to speak up and educate other white folks, or hold back when it's time to challenge systemic racism? Why do we get defensive when it's time to listen to people of color?
At this Open House, we will learn about how an embodied approach to allyship can support creative & connected racial justice responses when we find ourselves off balance. We will discuss individual and collective blocks to effective white racial justice action. Participants will also learn some simple, effective tools that support practical white allyship.
Facilitator bio:
Vanissar Tarakali, Ph.D. is a healer and teacher who designs embodied healing oppression and allyship trainings and interventions for individuals and groups. She is passionate about supporting folks with privilege to unlearn oppression and use their privilege for social justice. The former Healing Oppression Project co-lead at Community United Against Violence (CUAV), Vanissar studies Generative Somatics with Staci Haines and Denise Benson, and intuitive reading with Phyllis Pay.
Please contact Vanissar at (510) 594-6812 or vanissar@cs.com for more information
Monday, November 2, 2009
Peace March in Richmond in Response to Rape 11/7
A Peace March will be held in Richmond this Saturday
November 7, 11:00 a.m.
Richmond High School, 1250 23rd St, Richmond, CA (get directions)
For more info malupresents@gmail.com
Read More
November 7, 11:00 a.m.
Richmond High School, 1250 23rd St, Richmond, CA (get directions)
For more info malupresents@gmail.com
Read More
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Retreat: Uncovering Our Hearts: Working with Our White Skin Privilege & Inner Diversity
http://www.eastbaymeditation.org/event/80
October 24-25, 2009
9:30a.m.-5:30p.m.
East Bay Meditation Center
For self-identified white people
October 24-25, 2009
9:30a.m.-5:30p.m.
East Bay Meditation Center
For self-identified white people
Embodying Your Allyship: An experiential workshop for white anti-racist allies
A benefit for Catalyst Project.
Monday October September 12, 10am-6pm
Location: 522 Valencia St, near 16th & Mission, San Francisco
Cost: sliding scale $60-$150
*All proceeds will benefit Catalyst Project, a local organization whose mission includes working with majority white sectors of left social movements to develop anti-racist commitment. (www.collectiveliberation.org)*
Once we know what we are responsible for as white anti-racist allies, why is it often so hard to follow through?
Why, despite our best intentions, do we freeze up when it's time to speak up and educate other white folks, or hold back when it's time to challenge systemic racism, or get defensive when it's time to listen to people of color?
In this experiential workshop, we will bring compassionate awareness and insight to individual and collective blocks to effective white anti-racist action and community-building, learning embodied practices that support creative, connected anti-racist responses when situations throw us off balance. We will empower each other to challenge systemic racism and support the leadership of people of color.
Facilitator bio:
Vanissar Tarakali, Ph.D. is a healer and teacher who designs embodied healing oppression and allyship interventions and trainings for individuals and groups. She passionately supports folks with privilege to unlearn oppression and use their privilege for social justice. Former Education Programs Director and Healing Oppression Project co-lead at Community United Against Violence (CUAV), Vanissar studies Generative Somatics with Staci Haines and Denise Benson, and intuitive reading with Phyllis Pay.
To Register:
Registration is on a first come/first served basis. Please contact Alex Fischer at: embodying.allyship@gmail.com
Monday October September 12, 10am-6pm
Location: 522 Valencia St, near 16th & Mission, San Francisco
Cost: sliding scale $60-$150
*All proceeds will benefit Catalyst Project, a local organization whose mission includes working with majority white sectors of left social movements to develop anti-racist commitment. (www.collectiveliberation.org)*
Once we know what we are responsible for as white anti-racist allies, why is it often so hard to follow through?
Why, despite our best intentions, do we freeze up when it's time to speak up and educate other white folks, or hold back when it's time to challenge systemic racism, or get defensive when it's time to listen to people of color?
In this experiential workshop, we will bring compassionate awareness and insight to individual and collective blocks to effective white anti-racist action and community-building, learning embodied practices that support creative, connected anti-racist responses when situations throw us off balance. We will empower each other to challenge systemic racism and support the leadership of people of color.
Facilitator bio:
Vanissar Tarakali, Ph.D. is a healer and teacher who designs embodied healing oppression and allyship interventions and trainings for individuals and groups. She passionately supports folks with privilege to unlearn oppression and use their privilege for social justice. Former Education Programs Director and Healing Oppression Project co-lead at Community United Against Violence (CUAV), Vanissar studies Generative Somatics with Staci Haines and Denise Benson, and intuitive reading with Phyllis Pay.
To Register:
Registration is on a first come/first served basis. Please contact Alex Fischer at: embodying.allyship@gmail.com