Crossroads Antiracism: August 18, 2021: Introduction to Systemic Racism (CENTRAL TIME)

The idea that oppression, and in particular, racism, is not only a matter of individual prejudice but a systemic, institutional problem of power is foundational to the Introduction to Systemic Racism workshop, and requires structural intervention to dismantle. Conducted in an atmosphere of mutual respect and courageous space, this workshop is designed to explore racism as a systemic, institutional problem of power that goes beyond personal prejudice. Participants will experience first-hand Crossroad's effective methodology for facilitating productive conversations about race. They will also be be introduced to a strategic methodology that can assist people in effectively organizing to dismantle racism in their institutions.

The workshop is open to all interested persons, especially leaders in organizations and congregations responsible for diversity or social justice agendas in healthcare, public, and private school systems, colleges and universities, government, philanthropic, public safety, faith-based and community-based organizations.

This workshop:

•  Introduces a framework for understanding what systemic racism is and what is its relationship to white dominant culture in the USA

•  Begins exploring how the values of white dominant culture operating through US institutions replicate patterns of intersectional oppression that advantage white people disproportionately and that harm people of color regardless of intent

• Invites participants – both individuals and institutions - to consider how they are upholding via institutional practices and norms - – often in unintentional ways - systemic racism

• Begins unpacking what the long-term strategic work of dismantling institutional practices upholding systemic racism will require of the institution and its stakeholders

Participants to this workshop will gain shared language and frameworks with which to grapple not only their unwitting legitimization of systemic racism but with what committing to the work of dismantling racism and of cultivating antiracist culture and practice in their institutions will require. They will be introduced to a strategic methodology that can assist them to organize the work of dismantling racism in the institutions in which they are invested.

Each organization/institution is limited to sending 6 individuals to these public workshops. If you are authorized by your institution to attend the workshop and they are paying your registration, and your institutional budget is greater than $2 million, the price of the workshop is $200 per person.

Crossroads has set the value of the workshop at $100 for individuals attending and paying out of their own pocket; recognizing that price can be a barrier to attendance, we invite you to pay what is appropriate for you. In order to ensure confidentiality all participants must register even if you are selecting the $0 registration price Previous participation is Crossroads workshops does not grant guest, un-registered or unpaid access to Crossroads digital workshops.

All workshop participants are expected to attend the complete workshop from beginning to end and to not go " in and out" of the workshop space. Participants who repeatedly leave the workshop while it is in progress may not be allowed to re-enter the workshop at the discretion of the facilitators. In addition, if participants turn off their camera and the facilitators perceive this is done to mask disengagement from the workshop, they will be dropped from the Zoom feed and not allowed to re-enter. 

Please create a free Zoom account beforehand: https://zoom.us/freesignup/