White People Challenging Racism: Moving from Talk to Action - Part 1 *Online*

While this five-session workshop welcomes participants of all identities, its focus is on racism as a system that White people created, maintain and condone - and White people have a responsibility to dismantle. The workshop will take participants beyond the headlines to impart an antiracist world view that will infuse every aspect of participants’ lives, when hearts are open to it. In this group setting you will: Examine the role of White people in dismantling racism, in becoming antiracist, and in building an equitable society. Explore the impact of White privilege and how being unaware of that advantage helps perpetuate racism. Write about your own racial awareness journey. Enhance your understanding and capacity for action through discussion of short readings, videos, and other materials. Share everyday racism-related situations where you may not have effectively responded and, using role plays, work out effective ways to challenge racism. Develop a specific plan for challenging racism in the workplace, an organization, or in the community, while being encouraged to find other people in your life who can provide support and serve as an accountability partner in implementing your plan.
Please note: Attendance at all sessions and completion of all assignments are required. Each participant will receive a phone call from one of the facilitators prior to the start of this program to review the commitment and class requirements.
Co-Facilitators: Kim Beamon, Michelle Chalmers

Sections

Instructors

Michelle Chalmers is a White woman from predominantly White communities in the suburbs of Boston, created by redlining and racist policies of exclusion. Michelle intentionally volunteers with community organizations and boards, including the Wellesley housing authority, World of Wellesley, Wellesley A Better Chance, and Friends of Wellesley METCO. Michelle has been a facilitator of White People Challenging Racism for 10 years. She strives every day to be an antiracist, engaging in workshops, dialogues and conversations about White supremacy, race, and racism. She hopes to encourage White people to dig deeper, get uncomfortable, and strive to be antiracist too. Michelle’s essay on the liabilities of white privilege, How White Privilege Hurts White People, is a pivotal turning point for her and she hopes it is for you too.

Kim Beamon is a Black woman who grew up in a close-knit Black community in New Haven, CT. Kim attended South Central Community College after high school, and matriculated to Northeastern University where she earned a B.S. in Criminal Justice. Her concentration was Juvenile Justice. Kim went on to earn her MSW in Clinical Social Work from Smith College, and a postgraduate certificate in Child and Adolescent Therapy from Boston University School of Social Work. Kim served as Associate Dean/Assistant Director at MIT in The Office Of Minority Education. She relocated to Pennsylvania in 2007 and retired in June of 2023 from The Agnes Irwin School where she spent 16 years and served as the Director of Student Support Services, Diversity Equity and Inclusion Coordinator. The work of anti-racism, DEIB and decentering whiteness is essential to her walk on the planet.