Program Calendar
The need for Witnessing Whiteness groups remains as strong as ever. Our capacity to respond to that need is guided by a schedule and deadlines that we share below along with basic information about how YWCA Witnessing Whiteness groups operate.
In March of 2020, we were able to convert all groups to meeting online. With the uncertainty and unpredictability of the coronavirus pandemic, we are still currently conducting sessions via Zoom. The next opportunity to organize a group or join as an individual in January 2022 finds us still uncertain about the program delivery model and whether it is safe to resume sessions in person. As soon as we reach a definitive answer, that news will be shared here.
However, at any time we are available to discuss organizing groups or joining the waiting list as an individual. To explore the possibilities email witnessingwhiteness@ywcastlmo.org.
Thank you for your continuing interest and support of this program!
These are the next groups we are putting together now: A Groups for January-May 2022
A GROUPS
(Meet January – May 2022)
October 1 Planning and organizing begins
Mid- November Individuals are notified of available open groups
Organized groups must meet recruitment targets
January Groups begin meeting
Mid-May Groups conclude
B GROUPS
(Meet August-December 2022)
June 1 Planning and organizing begins
Mid-July Individuals are notified of available open groups
Organized groups must meet recruitment targets
Mid-Late- August Groups begin meeting
Mid-December Groups conclude
- 10 sessions
- Each session is two hours
- Groups meet approximately twice each month beginning with an introductory overview session and then one session on each of the book’s 9 chapters
- Groups may meet day or evening hours, week days or weekends
- Groups through the end of 2021 will meet online; a determination about 2022 groups will be made at a later date
Group size – 15 to 18 for online groups
- Contact witnessingwhiteness@ywcastlmo.org to join a group as an individual
- Contact witnessingwhiteness@ywcastlmo.org if you have commitments from at least 15 people to form a group
Locations
- Participants come from all across the St. Louis metro region
- Groups for 2021B period (August-December 2021) will meet only online; we have yet to make a decision about 2022A group
- Groups may be organized by schools, faith organizations, workplaces, community centers and others
- Unaffiliated individuals may also join a group that meets their schedule when the group has fewer than 18 participants
Facilitators
- Teams of three volunteer facilitators guide each group
- All facilitators have gone through the Witnessing Whiteness program, facilitator orientation, and receive continuing professional development
Using the book Witnessing Whiteness: The Need to Talk About Race and How to Do It (2nd edition) by Shelly Tochluk, group members explore:
- History and construction of white racial identity
- Community building within white spaces
- White culture and values and how US national culture reflects and largely rests on white culture, practices and values
- Manifestations of white supremacy and privilege
- Cross-racial communication, conflict, and relationship building
- Activation of white solidarity and accountability
Individuals are responsible for purchasing a copy of the book – eReader, audiobook, and print versions are available. We encourage you to obtain a print version from a local bookseller; we provide recommendations and discount codes once you are registered.
Local bookseller, Left Bank Books, offers a 20% discount on the book. Use http://www.left-bank.com/book/9781607092575 to order. The link is hard-coded to take the 20% discount at checkout. You can go in to pick up your copy after an online purchase, or it can be shipped to you using their currently available options.
Facilitator Resource Section
Documents, presentations and files needed to help facilitators conduct sessions can be found here.
A password is required to access these documents. Please speak with program coordinator for password.