An End-of-the-Year Reflection (in October)

It might seem weird to do an end-of-the-year reflection at the end of October, but I have good reason.

Almost exactly a year ago, james boutin & I decided to do something together, as longtime educators, for white people, about whiteness. That was November. In January, we launched our first workshop. Coming up next week, we'll hold our last workshop of the year. What a year it's been! We've had large groups & small, no shows and overflows, presented to tight-knit cohorts or at big conferences, facilitated together or solo.

Our first creation, You Know You're White. Now What? feels like our signature offering. Many of you have come, some of you have come twice. It's personal, participatory, and full of equity-based commitments in both structure and content. Participants leave with our One Word Work Plan, a tool useful in figuring out what to do about those Now What? moments.

Throughout the year, interspersed between workshop dates, I've held an ongoing, monthly and (deliberately) loosely planned conversation called We Are Well-Meaning White Folks. I love the opportunity to facilitate alone, and without a set agenda (admittedly a huge & important challenge for me). People have joined from all over the country, bringing their questions, curiosities, confusions & experiences into the conversation.

Our latest newest workshop, Not Getting It Right: How Racism Creates a Gap Between White Intentions & Impacts, is a classic Martha/james creation. That means we mingle in the workshop among each other, share moments of Not Getting It Right and lean on the structure of our Intent/Impact Worksheet to unveil racism at work. Participants leave with our Five A's of Racial Repair tool, useful for relationships of all kinds.

Oct. 2022

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