Racial Healing and Peacebuilding Book Discussion

Hosted by Compassionate Atlanta co-directors, Iyabo Onipede and Leanne Rubenstein,
in collaboration with Tamara Serwer Caldas

...whether you are a person of color or White, there are many inaccurate messages you can pick up from the world about who you are and who other races are. This workbook is all about taking action to develop strategies you can use to begin the journey of healing from racism (p.6).

This workbook breaks new ground by giving you tools that will help you as a person of color or as a White person to heal from the harm of racism you’ve faced or done and encourage others to heal from racism in the same way. As you work through the exercises in each chapter, you will explore your own race from an intentional perspective of healing, transformation, and liberation, while also learning about the possibilities for healing for other racial groups (p.10).

Tuesday evenings, October 19 – December 21, 2021
Zoom meetings - 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. except for the first session which will be 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

$125 suggested donation to Compassionate Atlanta covers class sessions and a copy of The Racial Healing Handbook.  No one will be turned away due to lack of funds, but we do request a minimum donation of $25 to cover the cost of the book.

Generally, except for the first session, we can expect each class to follow the following format. However, we also allow for flow and the unexpected. This serves as a suggestion and not firm timing. All sessions will be recorded for your use. The affinity groups will not be recorded.

• 7:00 – Welcome, Announcements, Check-in or Warm-Up Exercise (10)
• 7:10 – Reflections on the current chapter from Iyabo (20) 
• 7:30 – Instructions for affinity group work (5)
• 7:35 – 8:05 – Affinity groups meet (30)
• 8:05 –8:25 – Large group feedback/a-ha moments (20)
• 8:25 – 8:30 - Assignment for next week/overview of next chapter (5)

Class #1 - Tuesday, October 19 (7:00 – 9:00 p.m.)
Introduction & Overview – Introduction to concepts. Forming Affinity Groups/Facilitators, other logistics.

Class #2 - Tuesday, October 26
Chapter 1: Know Your Racial Identity - Explore what you know about your racial identity and what you were taught (or not taught) about race and racism

Class #3 - Tuesday, November 2
Chapter 2: Explore Your Internalized Racism - Identify belief systems about race and racism that aren’t yours and develop new and more helpful thoughts and feelings.

Class #4 - Tuesday, November 9 - 2 chapters
Chapter 3: (Re)learn the History of Racism - Discover new knowledge and gain a new understanding about racism and how this system of oppression works.
Chapter 4: Grieve and Name Racism - Acknowledge the stages of grief that come with more awareness, learning, and action on racism.

Class #5 -Tuesday, November 16
Chapter 5: Raise Your Race-Consciousness - Learn how to act more consciously as a racial being and be a positive influence on others to do the same

Class #6 - Tuesday, November 23 (Tuesday the week of Thanksgiving)
Chapter 6: Catch Yourself in the Flow of Racism - Understand that racism can arise in spontaneous and unexpected ways and develop skills to interrupt these instances.

Class #7 - Tuesday, November 30
Chapter 7: Understand Racism in Relationships - Recognize how racism plays out in interpersonal relationships across a variety of settings and learn to identify when it is happening.

Class #8 - Tuesday, December 7
Chapter 8: Reclaim Your Whole Racial Self - Honor the ways you have changed and the authenticity that comes with individual racial healing.

Class #9 - Tuesday, December 14
Chapter 9: Be a Racial Ally - Learn ways you can help others and work for racial justice.

Class #10 - Tuesday, December 21
Chapter 10: Engage in Collective Racial Healing - Find ways to build circles of accountability and support for community racial healing. Conclusion – Time to Dream – What Does A Racially Just World Look Like?