Tools for Having Difficult Conversations on Race
Engaging in difficult conversations about race with others, particularly those we know or are close to, can be daunting for many of us. This feeling often causes us to avoid important discussions due to worries about potential negative outcomes, like confrontations or damaged relationships. Yet having these conversations now seems more crucial than ever, as progress towards racial justice is being systematically reversed.
Our e-course, Talking About Race: Courageous Conversations for a Diverse & Inclusive Workplace, provides us with practical tools and a step-by-step guide on how to have hard conversations. While the course focuses on workplace situations, the skills you learn can be applied to any relationship.
We think it's important that we share our tools by offering our e-course for a discounted price of $99, a $51 savings off the regular price of $150. The license lasts for 3-months and you can revisit the course as often as you'd like during this period. Visit the link below and enter courageous18 when checking out. Offer runs through March 31st.
If you're an organization, be sure to reach out to Judy at judy.lee@culturesconnecting.com for special group rates.
Resources for Navigating the Current Political Environment
Have you heard the term "flood the zone" to describe the onslaught of Executive Orders being released by the current administration? Brittany Luse of NPR explains the term as a strategy designed to "hit the American people with such an overwhelming barrage of government action that we don't know where to look or what to address first." The intended result is for people to feel overwhelmed, disoriented, and ultimately, paralyzed. Many of us have been feeling this way and we are working to put together some gatherings for the near future. In the meantime, we wanted to share resources we've found helpful for navigating this troubling time and to continue the work for social justice.
Resources from Kathy Obear
Our colleague Dr. Kathy Obear is offering over 20 of her self-guided webinars free on her website including, "Leading White Accountability Groups," "Design and Facilitation Skill Building," and "Self-Care Course." You can visit her website to view the offerings.
Dr. Obear is also holding weekly Community Connections throughout February, a free gathering "for authentic connection, dialogue, and engagement for people committed to co-creating greater social and racial justice." Visit our DEIB/Social Justice Calendar for details.
Resources from Western States Center
Western States Center (WSC) is a PNW organization that "works with communities and organizations to build movements, develop leaders, shift culture, and defend democracy." They offer multiple resources to help you take action.
Petition letters you can sign to denounce actions by the current administration.
Download toolkits for action on topics such as "Speaking Out Against Bigoted, Dehumanizing Rhetoric," and "Protecting Pride Organizing Guide."
Dr. J.P. Anderson's Article on Executive Orders
In case you missed it in our last issue, our Racial Equity Specialist, Dr. J.P. Anderson, wrote the article on our blog, "Executive Orders Can Be Scary. Here is What You Should Know." This is an insightful guide to executive orders from a law perspective on what they can actually do and what we can do about them.
Make Us Visible: Urgent Action Needed to Include AA&NH/PI History in Schools
Make Us Visible (MUV) is a nationwide effort to get Asian American & Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander history into K-12 curriculum. We spoke with attorney Angelie Chong (featured center), Director of the WA chapter, about why she got involved and why it's more important now for local governments to step up as DEI is being attacked at the federal level.
Visit our blog to read the interview and learn about MUV. In the meantime, Angelie is requesting urgent action to get a hearing for SB 5574, a bill that would require AA&NH/PI history be integrated into K-12 curricula. Action must be taken before the committee cut off which is Friday, February 21st.
MUV provides a legislative toolkit with phone numbers, email contacts, and scripts which you can view here to take the following action:
Contact Senator Lisa Wellman, Chair of the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.
Contact members of the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.
Email your Senator for support.
Dr. Caprice Hollins and Ilsa Govan on Talking Books
Dr. Caprice Hollins and Ilsa Govan talk about the upcoming second edition of their book, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Strategies for Facilitating Conversations on Race, on Talking Books with Tanisha.
They talk about why they updated the book title to Facilitating Conversations about Race, why it's especially pertinent now, how their own personal growth is reflected in the updated edition, and why they now offer their workshop, Train the Trainer, based on this book virtually. Watch the video below to listen to their conversation.
Flash Drives Sale Continues
Our Flash Drives sale is ongoing and we are left with just 12 drives!
Our Flash Drives contain some of our favorite activities for facilitating activities on race with lesson plans, slides, templates, and more.
They typically sell for $35 but are on sale for $25, which includes shipping.
We will no longer be selling the physical flash drives after we run out so get them today!
For details on these and other events, workshops and conferences happening in the social justice space, visit our Events Calendar. If you have an event you would like us to share, please reach out to us!
2/18: NAMI BIPOC Support Group
2/19: Joyful Futures: Uplift Black and Brown Joy
2/19: SURJ: Protect & Resist in the First 100 Days
2/19: Recover! Fundamental Mindfulness Practices
2/20: Lens of Equity Summit
2/20: Race Forward: Building Racial Equity: Foundations Virtual
2/20: SURJ: Abolition Action Hour
2/20: Community Governance in Practice: Stewarding What We Need
2/20: Calling In: An Intimate Evening with Loretta J. Ross at NAAM
2/20: NAMI LGBTQ+ Support Group
2/21: Community Conversations with Kathy Obear
2/22: Black Abstract: Black Influence on Western Modern Abstract Art
2/22: Bainbridge Art Museum Black History Month Soiree
2/24: White Women, Get Ready! Book Discussion
2/25: Anima Cafe Grief Circles
2/25: Nonprofit Leadership Book Club: Creating Meaningful Social Change
2/26: When We Laugh: A YBCL Dream Lab Event
2/27: Freedom Lifted: Shared Power in Supervision
2/27: SURJ: Working Families Party Mass Call
...and so much more! Visit our Events Calendar to see the most up-to-date full schedule.