Witnessing Whiteness: A Book Workshop Group

Join Erin Pohl for the "Witnessing Whiteness: A Book Workshop Group" at Eliot Chapel, a transformative journey to explore racial awareness and antiracist action. This hybrid series meets every other Thursday evening from September 26 to December 19, blending online discussions with in-person sessions, and follows Shelly Tochluk's curriculum to foster deep community dialogue and personal growth. Find curriculum by the author, Shelly Tochluk, online. Meetings will be from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. The first and last meetings will be held in-person at Eliot while the other sessions will be on Zoom.


About:

The book, Witnessing Whiteness, is best read as part of a group process because…

  • We learn more by talking about new ideas in community
  • Friends and colleagues can help us process challenging ideas and feelings


Engaging with the workshop/dialogue series helps people….

  • notice and interrupt internal, interpersonal, institutional and cultural racism
  • improve cross-race relationships and collaboration to support racial justice.


What does the workshop/dialogue series involve?

  • Integrated, comprehensive, guided experience. A 14-part, sequential process aligns with the reading of the Third Edition of Witnessing Whiteness: The Journey into Racial Awareness and Antiracist Action. (**This group will be in 7 parts, condensing the curriculum a bit to cover 2 chapters every other week, as opposed to covering one chapter per week)
  • Dialogue-based, experiential approach. Agendas allow groups of up to 15 people to explore how issues discussed in Witnessing Whiteness relate to personal lives and communities in 2-hour sessions.
  • Grassroots philosophy. Assumption that people can learn by doing, and groups need to organize themselves to develop skills and capacities that bring needed change to their communities, organizations, and institutions.
  • Accessible and sustainable. Dialogue session agendas with facilitator’s notes offer detailed instructions so groups can avoid hiring an expensive consultant.
  • Supportive intention. Guidelines support the creation of a welcoming, inviting space where people feel free to speak the truth of their experience without fear of shame or reprisal.


Materials needed to participate:

  • Witnessing Whiteness: The Journey Into Racial Awareness and Antiracist Action

 https://www.left-bank.com/book/9781475863123?ref=shellytochluk.com 


Materials provided:

  • Virtual worksheets and workbook


Disclaimer: This workshop/book was crafted with the intention to provide community building opportunities for white affinity groups. This series, associated with the Third Edition, includes language and prompts that address white people directly. Although the materials are available for anyone to use, the agendas and handouts would require adjustment for use

in multi-racial contexts.


Facilitation Links:

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