Friends,
As part of our collaborative and regional work with City Garden Montessori School, Forward Through Ferguson, and the US BANK CDC, Crossroads College Prep is hosting one of the region’s “Understanding and Analyzing Systemic Racism” workshops the weekend of February 3-5th. I am invited members of our Crossroads community to attend. This is the same workshop the Crossroads faculty and staff experienced in August and the same workshop half of the Board experienced at various times in 2016.
This two and a half day, intensive anti-bias/anti-racism workshop provide an excellent basis for our work to advance efforts as an anti-biased, anti-racist school and community. I believe that the experience of the faculty, staff, Board of Trustees, and parent community is imperative to engaging in and enacting the mission of Crossroads. I believe as more individuals participate in this workshop – gaining new insights and understanding – the more deeply our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion will be realized – in our Crossroads and in our St. Louis community.
Those who have had the opportunity to participate in this workshop over the past year have found the experience to be meaningful and well worth the time. Some have described it as life-changing. Without a doubt, it is essential to understanding and participating in a network of mutuality.
In this workshop, participants, from Crossroads College Prep and other organizations in the region, will build a common definition of racism and explore the historic development of institutional racism in the US. Participants will examine ongoing realities of racism including the identity-shaping power racism has on People of Color and White people; explore racism’s individual, institutional and cultural manifestations; and consider the link between racism and other forms of oppression. A strategic methodology to dismantle racism will be introduced, focusing specifically on applying principles of organizing and social/cultural change.
With great expectations,
Jason
Workshop Schedule
Friday, June 2nd, 5-9pm
Saturday, June 3rd, 8:30am-6pm
Sunday, June 4th, 8:30am-5pm
Attendees will meet in the Black Box Theater.