Finding Spaces to Reflect On Whiteness

The DEI Learning Group for White Women is a brave learning space for white women looking to go deeper into their anti-racist work. I’m finding that many people have soaked up knowledge about diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, accessibility, and belonging. However, many of these people are not quite sure how to translate this profound knowledge into changed behaviors. Changing behaviors and deepening self-awareness are the key objectives of the DEI Learning Group for White Women.

I was really hesitant to launch a learning space for white women. Creating this space felt more like separation than integration. And I was worried about my own blind spots in facilitating this kind of space. However, friends and colleagues of color kept reflecting that these spaces were needed because too many white women were showing up in harmful ways.

If you are wondering what this kind of learning space looks like, then keep reading. Here’s an insider’s look into the curriculum and participant experiences.

From a facilitation perspective, I have designed six virtual sessions that focus on connection and accountability. These are two ways that we can dismantle dominant culture in our everyday work. Each session starts with a check-in so every voice is heard and every participant can get focused on the session. Embodiment practices are also a regular practice. These include breathing and feelings identification. We also build working agreements together so we honor how each other wants to show up in this space. Working agreements are a practice of building consent.

The DEI Learning Group for White Women also prioritizes reflection. We use different tools to reflect on our own experiences and see how our social location can impact how we show up and/or how people might perceive us. Some of these tools include:

·       The Diversity Wheel by Loden and Rosener

·       The Cycle of Socialization by Bobbie Harro

·       White Supremacy Culture by Dismantling Racism

We also work together as a group through several activities that help us identify specific approaches to time, tolerance for ambiguity, and power distance. We discuss the differences between power, influence, responsibility, and gatekeeping. The group work includes mapping how we can move from dominant culture behaviors to alternative futures. In fact, this map is a specific takeaway from the group. Some of these tools include:

·       Values Continuum by the Cultural Competence Learning Institute

·       Power, Influence, and Persuasion by Psychology Today

·       Ten Sources of Power by Psychology Today

The DEI Learning Group for White Women supports the work of BIPOC people, specifically women and gender non-conforming, in several ways. First, the group uses a racial healing journal created by a BIPOC-owned company called Zenit Journals. Second, the readings and workbook resources provided in the class are mostly BIPOC authors and organizations. Finally, the group focuses on relationship repair with our BIPOC community and ends with a personalized action plan for change.

I could talk for days about this learning group, but I hope that you will share this opportunity with your networks and maybe even join the class yourself.

Visit the program page to see more details. The DEI Learning Group for White Women is offered twice per year – January and September. You can also listen to Sally discuss racial biases on The Courage Podcast.

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash