White people need to take greater responsibility for helping themselves and each other learn about racism, not expect BIPOC to teach them. A fundamental value and purpose of this work is to support the reality that white people are critical to making racial justice a reality – and for educating other whites.

Learning happens though a supportive space free of guilt and shame – yet one that encourages honesty, risk taking, and challenging one another. Creating a learning community that balances being supportive and challenging to one another can lead to constructive confrontation of one another—and it also equips participants to respond to challenges by BIPOC without denial and defense.

This work advocates change through nonviolence — externally and internally within oneself. The foundation of nonviolent personal and social change is built on one’s inner attitude and resulting actions. Nonviolence does not mean passivity or being “nice.” It is action-oriented, though the action is thoughtful, effective, strategic, and grounded in compassion. It may sometimes be passionate, strong, direct, bold. We don’t strive to be like the people and systems we seek to change.

Some workshop attendees are activists; others are newcomers to anti-racism work. Whatever the background, each participant is supported in discovering any limiting dynamics or emotions that may inhibit the ability to participate at full effectiveness. Some activists start out motivated by anger; others are locked in fear. By addressing these internal barriers, we are able to build more confidence and the courage to act on what we learn.

The workshops are not about finding blame. They are about becoming aware of white supremacy consciousness and systems, how they work in us and advantage us, while disadvantaging BIPOC. We can, and must, learn to see our privilege and use it in support of racial justice; this includes seeing how we can consciously or unconsciously use our privilege in ways that reinforce and enact white supremacy. The ultimate goal is to make rights and privileges available to everyone, following the guiding principle that if one person is injured, then the entire community suffers. The workshops foster a healing process and help to release fear and guilt that block learning and informed action.

This work is held in partnership with people who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Though led by white facilitators, the content and format have been created with the input and support of many people of color. To be effective anti-racism leaders and change agents, facilitators of this work need ongoing feedback from those who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color through formal and informal networks. In addition to benefiting from a formal council of accountability, facilitators are people who are involved with people of color personally and in working relationships. Having a means of ongoing feedback across race and from each other as white allies is essential.

The dynamics and language of race evolve over time. So the work must evolve and stay current as things change. The ongoing participation of colleagues of color in the design and planning of the workshops also provides significant and important guidance. And the ongoing energies, insights, and perspectives of the many facilitators who have carried on this work and continue to help ensure the work stays relevant and current to racial issues over time.

The workshops place a high value on helping people learn to become effective allies to other white people, and allies and accomplices to people identifying as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. No one can do this work alone – and white people tend not to lean into support of one another in this work – yet that is what is required. White people need to continually develop their self-awareness and relationship skills, as this is a life-long process of learning, By learning together and building momentum at the group and systems level, powerful change can happen.

Awareness is the first step in taking informed action. But developing awareness is not enough: we must be committed to taking constructive action. The goal is to develop and engage with action-oriented allies through continuous learning. Over time and through continually learning from experiences, people are better able to act on the skills learned.

This work is not meant to be the only way to learn about race and racism. It is also important to develop mutually-agreed-upon relationships with BIPOC people and organizations, and strive to take actions which are in concert with their leadership and goals