WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS -(these are just a few)

1) The Conceptual Trap of Whiteness

This workshop or talk  will examine the ways in which whites are harmed by a system of institutional racism, even as that system provides immense privileges to them on the basis of skin color. Although people of color are the targets of racism, whites, ironically, become the ‘collateral damage’ of the system that bestows such privileges upon them.

Specifically, the workshop will look at the ways in which racial privilege “traps” whites, mentally (in terms of encouraging racist mindsets and internalized beliefs in supremacy), culturally (in terms of requiring “whites” to relinquish their actual cultural/ethnic/national identities for the sake of ‘becoming white’), economically (in terms of forcing allegiance to an economic system that disempowers most whites too), politically (in terms of encouraging whites to support public policy that is against the best interests of most persons, including most whites), and even spiritually.

This workshop also examines the ways in which systemic privilege “sets up” whites for a fall, by encouraging dysfunctional notions of entitlement that lead to a host of destructive and pathological cultural tendencies among the dominant group.

2) “Making the Connections: The Role Religion Plays in Discrimination.”

Employing an interdisciplinary approach that draws on critical race theory, African American , queer and religious studies.  Rev. Irene Monroe’s workshop “Making the Connections: The Role Religion Plays in Discrimination” informs her audiences  of the role religion plays in discrimination against women, people of color and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. Because racism, sexism and  homophobia is both a hatred of the “other ” and it’s usually acted upon ‘in the name of religion,” Rev. Irene Monroe highlights how religious intolerance and fundamentalism not only shatters the goal of American democracy, but also aids in perpetuating other forms of oppressions.

3) Justice begins in the bedroom-

All relationships are relationships of power. Our understanding or lack of understanding about power is reinscribed in both your social and sexual relationships.

We will explore how abuse of power is integrally tied to sexual, racial, class and religious stereotypes and misinformation  we act out in bed. As a site of subjugated knowledge, we will gather to examine our bedroom politics as a lens   to critique our actions with one another and in the world as religious activists aimed at doing social justice work.

4) Debunking the Notion of a Hierarchy of Oppression

This workshop or talk works toward the  goal of a participatory and multicultural community by examining the intersection of race, gender, class and sexuality, and how they impact identity, identification, and community building.

5) Diversity Training Workshop

My prejudice reduction workshop serves as a vehicle in shaping awareness of systemic racism, sexism, heterosexism, and other “isms” within institutions and an analysis of the specific barriers to change.

The specific goals of the workshop are:

1.To explore a common understanding of the “isms” and their individual, institutional, and cultural manifestations;

2.To begin to apply a common understanding of the “isms”  to specific situations within the classroom, and institution;

o talk with colleagues

Role play/acting scenarios – which allows participants to relate to a given situation, talk about issues that have come up in school, witness a situation and learn from it

Action plan – learning how to have confidence to deal  with these incidents and provide clear resolutions in the moment of the incident  as well as setting up objectives for the school to implement.

6) Work Preferences Workshop

Goal and Aim

team building workshop has a one simple goal and aim.

• The goal is to achieve improvement in the way staff  and faculty view and do their jobs. This brings about the productivity improvement benefit that all desire.

• The aim is to inspire action that improves the way the department operates and the way staff interact.

Key Benefits

• Demonstrably better, more relevant and practical team building methodology that is easy to organize and deliver.

• Content is relevant, interesting, challenging and rewarding, because  it taps into real world workplace experiences of employees.

• Makes use of the people with  experiences at all levels and utilizes this diversity of interests and experiences to shape solutions and improvements for the department.

• Identifies the challenges faced by the department, internally and externally.

•  Gains consensus through role playing

• Encourages self-criticism.

•  Can identify hidden talent and talents within the group.

•  Develops trust, responsibility and loyalty.

Work Preferences Workshop is an application of a flexible small-group activity to enable players to express, explain, and exchange what they need, want, or like in a work and learning situation.

Work Preferences Workshop has two important outcomes:

• Players express, explain, and exchange a wide range of preferences about adult working and learning environments.

•Players work cooperatively and creatively in teams.

7) Homophobia from a multi-oppression perspective
An anti-oppression approach
Anti-Homophobia Leadership Training

** GOALS OF WORKSHOP **
1. To provide basic awareness of prejudice against sexual minorities;

2. To provide basic information on sexual orientation;

3. To explain stresses on gay/lesbian/bisexual youth and how this impairs

educational performance;

4. To explain how prejudice against sexual minorities impairs educational

performance of all students; and

5. To equip teachers with some tools and skills to use to reduce prejudice

against sexual minority youth and to create an inclusive classroom & school

environment.