VISION

In August, 2017 wise elder, Ruby Sales spoke these words,

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“We live in a world where we are being overwhelmed by the spiritual malformation of a people who place materialism as the highest good and who are addicted and possessed by an insatiable hunger for materialism and power that has not been able to be satisfied by invasions, by stealing land, by genocide by cultural appropriation by killing the earth and all of the natural resources in the earth.  It is a hunger that cannot be satisfied with materialism because it is a spiritual hunger.  It is a spiritual emptiness that is in the soul of white America.  And so any movement in the 21st century that seeks to do systemic and core changes must be spiritual in nature.”

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About three years ago, Niyonu Spann and Lisa Graustein began to discuss the need for a BD101 that would focus directly on uncovering the many layers of racial memories, experiences and choices that have created and continue to bolster systems of injustice. With excitement we began to co-design BD101 Race which would allow us to dive in, to excavate precious life-giving gems and transmute poisonous lies of superiority and inferiority.

 

We offered this workshop for the first time in July of 2015. It was an amazing experience!  We are learning and remain committed to this journey!

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We envision within 2 years the BD101 Race will gain capacity to include a wider range of people of color as both participants and as facilitators. 

  

GOALS + FRAMEWORKS

Spending significant amounts of time each day in racial affinity groups, this workshop allows the time and space for individual work, the work we need to do within our racial groups, and the work we need to do together.

 

Exploring history, sharing our stories, using movement, art, media and body work, we access and seek to dislodge seeds of inferiority and superiority that live within us and work to establish new ways of being that are about greater wholeness, truth-telling, and healing. We do this to become more effective transformers who work to de-structure systemic and structural racism in this world. 

 

What to expect as a participant at BD101 RACE:

• Yoga, Qi Gong and other body-centering practices

• Historical framing (Lecturettes, Videos, Readings)

• Expanding our vision(s) for Whole Selves/Whole Communities

• Journaling and other reflection tools

• Hands on bodywork (Optional)

• Ancestral recognition

• At least 50% of time will be in Affinity Healing Groups (race-alike groups)

• Noticing, Support & Stretch (N & S) Groups (race diverse groups)

• Identify, understand, and replace patterns of racism and white supremacy within ourselves.

• Develop skill in speaking from YOUR knowingness, speaking truth

This workshop will be limited to 28 participants. 

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PEDAGOGY

Diversity training has traditionally been based in models driven by guilt and blame. We believe that if the goal is to become a more whole society, such trainings are highly ineffective. We need to move beyond the vicious cycles that are embedded in these old “Diversity 101” models.

 

We can, in fact, abolish systematic discrimination within and without. It requires recognizing, taking responsibility, shifting mindsets while continually building and utilizing effective skills. Beyond Diversity 101 is for all who choose to transform systems of separation and power-over. It is for those who want to work toward wholeness — within and without.