Organizations providing racial justice training and education
Compiled by Rev. Dr. Melanie S. Morrison, Advisor
United Church of Christ Sacred Conversation on Race
We strongly recommend the use of trained facilitators as leaders of the Sacred Conversation in your local setting. In your search for trained facilitators, you might consider contacting organizations with a history of providing quality anti-racism education, training, and resources. Among the many organizations committed to dismantling racism through training and education, this list is comprised of organizations with whom the Sacred Conversation Inter-Ministry Team is familiar.
We have included a website link, location of the main office, and brief description of each organization’s work and mission. Some organizations provide education and training only in the region in which their headquarters is located; others have nationwide outreach. While some of the organizations address particular issues (e.g. immigration, truth and reconciliation, etc.), most of the organizations listed focus on anti-racism training and education.
We recommend that you contact the organization directly to learn more about their area of focus, fees, and availability. If staff members of a given organization are not available for your chosen event, they may be able to recommend colleagues who do comparable work in the same region of the country.
An additional list of trained facilitators within the United Church of Christ is being developed by the Sacred Conversation Inter-Ministry Team and will be available in the near future.
ASDIC – Antiracism Study – Dialogue Circle (http://www.cherokeeparkunited.org)
St. Paul, MN
The Antiracism Study - Dialogue Circle ( ASDIC) is a community of twelve to fifteen people who gather as a "Circle" to create supportive relationship as they explore the ways their social behaviors and Identities have been formed in the context of "race" and the practices of racism in the United States. Binding them together as a Circle are values about the importance of relationship, the desire to eliminate personal and institutional racism, and a willingness to engage in an extended dialogue process that leads to an action plan
Greensboro, North Carolina
The Beloved Community Center (BCC) is committed to fostering and modeling a spirit of community based on Dr. Martin Luther King's vision of a "Beloved Community." In this spirit, we envision and work toward social and economic relations that affirm and realize the equality, dignity, worth and potential of every person. The BCC has served as the anchor organization of the Greensboro Truth and Community Reconciliation Project (GTCRP), which is an innovative, grassroots initiative inspired by Truth Commissions in South Africa and elsewhere around the world.
The mission of Crossroads is to dismantle systemic racism and build anti-racist multicultural diversity within institutions and communities. This mission is implemented primarily by training institutional transformation teams. Crossroads offers intensive 2½½ day training sessions.
cultural bridges is a consortium of anti-racism educators and activists that offers training programs to dismantle oppression and forge justice in organizations and communities.
Healing the Heart of Diversity (http://www.leadingdiversity.org/ld/company.php)
Our mission is to provide Diversity Leadership Educational programs that promote sustainable social change through a deeper understanding of diversity issues and diverse relationships. Our goal is to foster and sustain change to achieve organization, individual and community goals that contribute to the common good.
The Institute for Democratic Renewal Project Change (IDR•PC), a national joint antiracism, social justice collaboration, catalyzes, supports, strengthens and contributes to movements for racial and social justice. IDR•PC assists communities in dismantling racism and achieving full and equitable participation in the democratic process through a variety of convenings, networking, learning communities, projects, publications and technologies.
Los Angeles, CA
Since 2001, the Rev. Eric H. F. Law and his associates have provided consulting and coaching for local churches and church leaders – sometimes with a group of churches, sometimes with individual congregations, sometimes with individuals. These programs range from basic diversity-skills training to dialogue programs addressing specific issues such as race, sexuality, interfaith concerns, class, intergenerational issues, etc.
Consultant for organizational change, specializing in issues of diversity and white privilege. Our focus is on working with organizations, institutions, and communities to create more inclusive, supportive environments in which people can bring their fullest selves into their work; and their talents, gifts, and skills are recognized, developed and encouraged to grow to their fullest potential.
Musasa Training and Consulting Company (firstname.lastname@example.org)
Palo Alto, CA
Provides teams of consultants who create, deliver, and evaluate training, consulting, facilitation, and coaching. Musasa Training and Consulting has years of experience, specializing in workplace diversity, multiculturalism, and inclusion.
East Lansing, MI
MSUE offers intensive learning experiences that focus on increasing awareness of several areas of prejudice, discrimination, and oppression, including racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, and ableism.
The NCBI is an international, non-profit, leadership training organization that, since 1984, has worked to eliminate racism and all other forms of prejudice and discrimination throughout the world.
National Conference for Community and Justice (http://www.nccj.org/)
Brooklyn, NY and regional branches
Founded as the National Conference of Christians and Jews in 1927, the mission of the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) is to fight all forms of bias, bigotry, and racism, and promote understanding and respect among all races, religions, and cultures through advocacy, conflict resolution, and education. In many regions of the country, NCCJ offers an anti-racism program entitled Dismantling Racism.
National Training Laboratory (http://www.ntl.org)
Founded in 1947, NTL Institute is a not-for-profit educational organization whose purpose is to develop change agents for effective leadership in all varieties of organizations. NTL has a long, rich history of working with corporations, government agencies, community groups and non-governmental organizations to facilitate inclusion and the creation of equity, access and opportunity.
New Dynamics Organizational Consultants (http://www.newdynamicsconsulting.com/)
Helps organizations eliminate preconceived notions about other people based on race, color, class, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation as well as other diversities. Our journey models guide individuals and organizations from behaviors which impede productivity to new ways of relating that make each powerful and whole.
Paul Kivel (http://paulkivel.com/workshops.php)
Among the workshops that Paul Kivel offers is Uprooting Racism: How White People Can Work for Racial Justice. This is a highly interactive and participatory workshop looking at the intersection of race, gender, and class. Participants focus on the roots of institutional racism and white privilege, and how the work of uprooting racism remains central to eliminating male violence, and to rebuilding our divided communities.
New Orleans, LA
Founded in 1980, The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond (PISAB), is a national and international collective of anti-racist, multicultural community organizers and educators dedicated to building an effective movement for social transformation. Through Undoing Racism™™/Community Organizing Workshops, technical assistance and consultations, PISAB helps individuals, communities, organizations and institutions move beyond addressing the symptoms of racism to undoing the causes of racism so as to create a more just and equitable society.
Project Change (http://www.projectchange.org/)
Oakland, CA, Knoxville, TN, and Albuquerque, NM
The Institute for Democratic Renewal/Project Change (IDR/PC) strives to combat injustice in the United States through a variety of training centers, projects, convenings, presentations and technology initiatives. Our primary goal is to assist communities who are experiencing structural exclusion to participate more fully in the democratic process.
The Southern Poverty Law Center was founded in 1971 as a small civil rights law firm. Today, SPLC is internationally known for its tolerance education programs, its legal victories against white supremacists and its tracking of hate groups.
East Hartford, CT
Study Circles helps communities develop their own ability to solve problems by exploring ways for all kinds of people to think, talk, and work together to create change. Racism is a key focus in their work because of its roots in our country's history and culture. Study Circles helps communities address race and diversity on any issue in order to create community dialogue and change.
Todos, the Spanish word for "everyone," was started in 1985 to work with high school students on issues of race, gender and class, focusing on how to break down barriers and create alliances between groups. Today Todos Institute has broadened its work to include adults. Hugh Vasquez, Director of Todos Institute, is co-author of "Beyond the Color of Fear and Celebrating Diversity, Building Alliances."
Since 1992, Training for Change has been committed to increasing capacity around the world for activist training. When we say activist training, we mean training that helps groups stand up more effectively for justice, peace and the environment. We deliver skills directly that people working for social change can use in their daily work.
Veterans of Hope (http://www.veteransofhope.org/)
The Veterans of Hope Project is a multifaceted educational initiative on religion, culture and participatory democracy. We encourage a healing-centered approach to community-building that recognizes the interconnectedness of spirit, creativity and citizenship. Through a video interview series with older peace and justice activists; an accompanying curriculum; workshops and training in compassionate leadership development; the Project emphasizes grassroots resources for social change from the wisdom of varied local communities
VISIONS Inc. is a nonprofit enterprise that provides training and consultation to organizations, communities and individuals seeking to achieve greater effectiveness in a multicultural setting. The unique, research-based VISIONS training model helps overcome barriers to communication, relationship-building and organizational development caused by cultural misunderstandings and apprehensions. VISIONS helps to maximize the positive aspects of cultural diversity and engage in a multicultural organizational development process that addresses personal, interpersonal, institutional and cultural needs.
Colorado Springs, CO
The annual White Privilege Conference (WPC) serves as a yearly opportunity to examine and explore difficult issues related to white privilege, white supremacy and oppression. WPC provides a forum for critical discussions about diversity, multicultural education and leadership, social justice, race/racism, sexual orientation, gender relations, religion and other systems of privilege/oppression. The 10th Annual White Privilege Conference will be held April 1-4, 2009 in Memphis, TN.