WORKSHOPS

The OAR Alliance offers Racial Equity Institute (REI)'s 2-day workshops in the Triangle area. Each county coordinates workshops within their geographic area.

After attending the workshop, alumni are invited to return to future trainings for a minimal cost (food only).

RACIAL EQUITY WORKSHOP - Phase I

Moving the focus from individual bigotry and bias, the REI Phase I workshop presents a historical, cultural, structural and institutional analysis over 2 days. REI believes that organizations often work for equity with multiple understandings of racism that rely more on personal feelings and popular opinion. The lack of a common analysis creates complications to the goal of eliminating racial and ethnic disparities and producing equitable outcomes. With a clear understanding of how institutions and systems are producing unjust and inequitable outcomes, participants in Phase I are able to begin a journey to work towards social transformation and racial justice. 

RACIAL EQUITY WORKSHOP - Phase II

There is no more frequently asked question during and after a Phase I or our Foundational training than "what do I do?" Participants consistently want to rush out with a fragile, limited understanding and "do" something. Trainers and consultants must hold a tension between not crushing their interest and enthusiasm and illuminating how much more they need to know in order to put the new learning to practice. At one and the same time we are asking them to take a leap of faith and prepare to do it!

The Racial Equity Institute Phase II training is designed to help individuals and institutions practice reframing problems and determining solutions with a racial equity lens over 2 days. Using group exercises, it moves participants through a new way of thinking based on an "analysis before action" model and a learning continuum. Participants will be encouraged to use the time honored "trial and error" approach, taking greater risks to change what are too often entrenched patterns of institutional practice. 

LATINO CHALLENGES TOWARD RACIAL EQUITY WORKSHOP

This two-day workshop is for people who work with and in Latino communities. It is designed to engage participants in a critical analysis of racism and the negative impact it has on the local community and Latino communities and create racial equity throughout our society.

In this workshop, we examine race and racism, and explore the relationship between institutional racism, cultural racism, classism and other forms of oppression. We look through history at how people of Latin American origin have been racialized and how they "have come" to the United States. We examine how our educational, health care and other systems disproportionately impact Latinos and Latinas today. Additionally, we take a close look at the current process in the US to, once again, redefine racial categories and the devastating effects this process will have on Latinos and on this country's long-term efforts toward racial equity if not interrupted now.  

GROUNDWATER PRESENTATION

In this lively and participatory 3-hour introduction to Racial Equity, REI organizers use stories and data to present a perspective that racism is fundamentally structural in nature. By examining characteristics of modern-day racial inequity, the presentation introduces participants to an analysis that most find immediately helpful and relevant.

The Groundwater Presentation dovetails with REI’s Phase I workshop, is recommended as an introduction or followup to a full two-day workshop, and may be tailored to focus on a particular content area as needed for a particular client.