RACIAL EQUITY LEARNING MODULES (REL)
World Trust uses an integrated approach to our curricula, consisting of visual and performing art as well as slides, presentations, written materials, and handouts. This approach supports the deconstruction of deeply held cultural beliefs by addressing the pre-conscious brain.
We use the arts – story, film, and music – to activate our habits and associations around fairness and justice, allowing our brain to draw connections to our personal experience.
Through deep internal reflection, a collective engagement in the systems and structures that hold racism in place emerges.
RACIAL EQUITY LEARNING (REL) VOLUME 1
Systemic inequity can be difficult to teach and talk about. Recognizing that we are all great students of a culture that has reinforced inaccurate and inappropriate structures, Beyond Our Wildest Dreams: Racial Equity Learning Volume One (REL1) focuses on the history, culture and identity that maintain and reinforce the systems of racism. A resource for educators, trainers & leaders, it supports individuals in identifying those systems and structures, taking personal initiative to make changes by naming and re-framing, and developing institutional outcomes for addressing and changing the system.
RACIAL EQUITY LEARNING (REL)
VOLUME 2
Focusing on movement, immigration and the development of race in the United States, Beyond Our Wildest Dreams: Racial Equity Learning Volume Two (REL2) examines law and its affect on cultural norms.
This volume supports educators, community members, and social justice trainers by analyzing structural racism, and changing the systems that maintain white culture as superior.
RACIAL EQUITY LEARNING (REL) VOLUME 3
This collection of curriculum explores colonialism and the impact it has had on current thought patterns and interpersonal communication. Understanding history, culture and power allows for a deeper understanding of on-going patterns of inequity. Exploring historical colonialist justification and the current thought patterns that have developed based on those rationals supports the understanding of how power works, who has it, and how to interrupt those patterns. The more intentional that interruption becomes the more clearly the desire for on-going cross-racial organizing is articulated, allowing participants to more authentically work to collaboratively dismantle structures and policies that maintain inequitable outcomes.
* We are updating REL 3; will be available soon.
TRANSFORMING WHITE PRIVILEGE
21st Century Leadership Capacity
A Joint Project of The Center for Assessment and Policy Development (CAPD), MP Associates and World Trust Educational Services, funded by The W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
The Transforming White Privilege (TWP) curriculum is designed to help current and emerging leaders from a variety of sectors better identify, talk about and intervene to address white privilege and its consequences.
The curriculum includes lessons plans, handouts, PowerPoint slides and video clips covering a number of key concepts, tools and strategies for change. For example, the curriculum helps groups explore dominant cultural assumptions and perspectives about what is considered normal, appropriate, desirable and/or valid. Dominant culture narratives or norms – e.g. what constitutes a “family,”’ who is considered dangerous, intelligent, acceptable and whose perspectives are valid – are codified in customs, laws, institutions, policies, and practices. The deep investigation and chance to “work with” these ideas can help build participants’ capacity to identify, talk productively about and act to address white culture, white privilege and their consequences in their spheres of influence.
WHO SHOULD USE THESE MATERIALS?
Racial Equity Learning Modules are ideal for those who are interested in engaging others in issues of diversity and inclusion, and particularly in exploring and understanding structural racism. These groups include a variety of sectors:
Higher education – professors, administrators, and students
Government – local, state and federal employees
Healthcare providers and administrators
Faith-based leaders and their communities
K – 12 school communities – parents, teachers, staff and high school students
Philanthropy
Nonprofit organizations including community-based service and cultural workers.
“Sometimes we struggle with the angle to approach difficult conversations about race and equity. REL served as a great resource and an excellent frame for the conversation. It helps to advance what we are all hoping to achieve.”
Sara Chang, Boston Public Health Commission
“This learning material helps you find a place to start. The conversation is so hard to have. Racial Equity Learning allows you to begin the scary conversation about race and equity. It should be required learning in K-12 and college curriculum.”
Elisabeth Garcia Davidson, Portland Community College
The best I've seen! I'm excited about getting started, using it in our department and city wide.
- Natalie Hunter, Seattle Public Utilities
“Explains root causes and other contributors to disparities in a way that is easy for many different types of people to digest. I love the video clips and the reflection exercises."
Eva Marie Shivers, Indigo Cultural Center
The art and imagery in this curricula sparked a different part of people's minds and gave us a more complex understanding of race and power. These modules will become a part of our quarterly training materials; they support us in opening new conversations around race and power.