Unpacking Systemic Racism (Free, Online)

Uncover, discuss, and process how racism exists and operates within our systems and in ourselves. We will examine how we are complicit in keeping systems alive that support white supremacy and racial violence, and what we can do about it. This is an emergent conversation that will be experimental, thoughtful, and provoking. A variety of presenters will be invited to engage us in these topics in diverse ways.

This series is a response to the Black Lives Matter global uprising that is calling for racial equity and justice. On June 8th we hosted a ‘hockshop called Unpacking Systemic Racism: Making Meaning of this Moment. We highly recommend that participants watch a recording of the video as an introduction:

With the grief and outrage over innocent Black lives lost in the US to race-based violence, what is our role? Black, Indigenous, and other racialized people in Canada are also at a much greater risk of not only police violence, but a host of other problems due to systemic racism and white supremacy. What does this mean for each of us, and what can we do? Join us for an emergent conversation with a panel of speakers to listen, learn, feel, and make a plan for action.

Watch Recording

These are free or by-donation community events hosted online on Zoom. Please register for each event using the button below the description; you will get a confirmation e-mail right away with the link. You may add a donation to your registration, which will help us pay the presenters with any additional proceeds being donated to Black and Indigenous led organizations. Thank you so much for your support.

Unpacking Systemic Racism: Resilience & Capacity Building

Thursday July 2nd, 4:00 – 5:30pm PT

For many, especially those who are white and/or privileged, processing the enormity of systemic racism can feel overwhelming and paralyzing. This workshop is focused on embodied experiences of whiteness, with tools for increasing resilience and capacity for discomfort in the project of dismantling white supremacy. These tools include sound, breath, and movement. This workshop will include a recorded session from Khari Wendell McClelland with music and writing exercises. Laura June Albert and Rebekka Goldsmith will lead movement and voice/singing exercises that can be used to increase resiliency and capacity as we each work towards unpacking and dismantling systemic racism within ourselves and our society.

Laura June Albert, is an educator, researcher, cultural organizer, and artist. Her research investigates the experiential body as a liberatory landscape for anticolonial and anticapitalist self-determination and liveness. Rebekka Goldsmith is a professional singer, group facilitator and coach who believes that when we have full access to our voices, we unlock our creativity, awaken to our full capacity and catalyze deep and lasting change in our communities. Khari Wendell McClelland is an award-winning musician and sought-after facilitator who uses the arts and experiential activities for transformational learning.

Watch Recording

Unpacking Systemic Racism: Unlearning Anti-Blackness

August 26th, 6:00 – 8:00pm PT

Dive deep into unpacking the manifestations of anti-Black racism in our society. The session weaves together key events in Black history, contemporary examples of racism and tangible actions for allies. Unlearning Anti-Blackness explores themes such as cultural appropriation, solidarity, activism, intersectionality, Black and queer identity, microaggressions, intergenerational trauma, and transformative justice.

Cicely Belle Blain is a Black/mixed, queer femme from London, UK now living on the lands of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh people. They are noted for founding Black Lives Matter Vancouver and subsequently being listed as one Vancouver’s 50 most powerful people, BC Business’s 30 under 30, and one of 150 Black women and non-binary people making change across Canada.

Unpacking Systemic Racism: Decolonize First

Oct 19th, 5:30 – 7:30pm PT

What is required for us to repair the damage caused by colonization and neocolonialism? What personal shifts and actions can be done towards building reconciliation? Decolonize First is a liberating guide & workbook that guides readers through personal and systemic framings and actions to shift out of colonial defaults and into critical consciousness. In this session we will walk together through the workbook activities and resources, as well as provide space for the self-reflection and preparation needed to peel back the layers of neocolonialism that impede all of us.

Ta7talíya Michelle Nahanee, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, is a decolonial facilitator & strategist catalyzing social change to transform colonial narratives & impacts. She is the designer of a life-size board game called Sínulhkay and Ladders. Her approach earned her the 2019 City of Vancouver Award of Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion. Michelle is also a 2020 Dialogue Associate with the Simon Fraser University Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue and the author and designer of the workbook, Decolonize First.