Workshops

The Whiteness Within

Set your organization on a path toward cultural competency and authentic diversity.

Power Moves

Unseen Toxic behaviors cost everyone both health and wealth......You can change that .

Community Repair

Create Trust.  Nurture Growth.   Heal Community.
 Email us with questions and enquiries at:  [email protected]​

The Whiteness Within

This workshop uses story sharing, reflection and physical expression to give participants a chance to recognize and shift away from racism.

What to expect from the Whiteness Within

​This workshop uses a variety of activities, including pre-session prep (reading, writing, reflection), whole-room learning, small-group breakout discussions, theatre-based games with simple gestures and physical image creation, and quiet reflection.

For Teams.... 

Why is undoing racism urgent for my field or business? What can I do, and what can we do, to achieve anti-racist business practices?
​The purpose of The Whiteness Within for Teams is to help individuals within an organization examine ways in which they personally uphold white supremacy culture without realizing it, and to set the organization on a path toward cultural competency where an authentic diversity of perspective can thrive within the business’s day-to-day operations.
  • Approximately 1.5 hours pre-workshop planning sessions
  • Approximately 1.5 hours individual preparation (homework)
  • A six-hour workshop, divided over three days
  • Post-workshop interviews (one-on-one, 20 minutes) with each staff and leadership team member who attended
  • $3,000 for up to 25 attendees

When possible, we recommend that your team seek to take this workshop in partnership with other organizations in your field.

For individuals...​

How does white supremacy culture show up in my life? How can I confront and challenge those behaviors safely and constructively?
The purpose of The Whiteness Within for Individuals is to unearth and recognize our own conditioning and complicitness in perpetuating white supremacy culture, and to imagine new ways to move forward in our day-to-day interactions without it.
  • A four-hour workshop, divided over two days
  • Available to individuals who are not signing up as part of a workplace or organization
  • $50 (sliding scale available)
All funds contributed for this workshop go directly toward (1) paying our BIPOC facilitators and administrators, (2) developing the workshop for future learners, and (3) supporting the work of Black Humboldt and the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde. White and white-passing facilitators willingly donate their time and energy to support this anti-racism work.

Theoretical Foundations

The Whiteness Within is based on the following work.
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This workshop was created in early consultation with artist educator Dionná Fletcher Ndlovu.

Sharing in a group setting.                   
     ​                The priority is to create a secure enough space to allow courageous sharing and growth.  Our breakout  rooms  are structured as affinity groups (meaning participants and facilitators share similar racial and ethnic backgrounds) to support safe, vulnerable and courageous self-reflection for all.

Why use movement and gestures in
workshops?

What we do with our bodies on a day-to-day basis becomes who we are. The converse is also true. If there's something in our lives we wish to change, we can use gesture and movement to help make that transformation.

What is white supremacy culture?

By "white supremacy culture," we mean the behaviors and attitudes that position "whiteness" as a default—the normal way to be—while dominating or disparaging other ways of being in so doing, whether on purpose or by accident. For more information follow this link:
https://www.whitesupremacyculture.info/?mc_cid=bf3b3d430c&mc_eid=1e1a8edde0

Power Moves

How can I cultivate power balance in my life?
​How can I develop the skills to empower myself and those around me?

For individuals or teams to flush out and move past toxic behavior

Unhealthy and toxic  power moves show up in our lives every day, especially at work. People around us assert status, making us feel small. We’re undervalued, overwhelmed, underpaid.

We feel powerless to change things. We’re less effective, less productive and less healthy. We can’t quit because we have to survive. And even when we go home, the stress goes right home with us.
Everyone deserves kindness, wellbeing and respect. Everyone should be heard and valued for who we are, not just what we do. In this workshop, our voices count.
Our experiences matter.                                   There is a way forward.                           And you can find it.

Community Repair

Create Trust                                Nurture Growth                              Heal Community

If you want to go fast go alone,
​If you want to go far go together"
African traditional wisdom
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Identify the Group Dynamics you want for a healthy community!

In this workshop you will:
  • Identify unhealthy aspects making community life difficult
  • Create common purpose and mutual agreement
  • Understand the needs of the group
  • Create a realistic plan for a habit of community 

Consultation for any event book here Open Art Workshop