Overview & Scheduling

Our Workshops, Presentations, and Institutes for Racial Healing supply facilitators, materials, and activities that invite groups to participate in a cognitive and affective program of learning, sharing, and processing in a multicultural setting.

We work with organizations and businesses to provide workshops or presentations that that fit their schedule. We also offer several courses open to the community. view course schedule...

Questions? Contact program@ethnicdiversity.org or (616) 846-9074.

Models and Purpose

The curriculum for both Institutes and Workshops focuses on guiding participants through four components of understanding and eliminating racism: Inheriting our History > Current Realities > Perpetuating Factors > Tools for Change.

Our Institutes DO...	Our Institutes Do NOT...
focus on dialogue and discussion	focus on presenting information
fit the group's needs	come in a one-size-fits-all format
build a common knowledge of history and awareness of issues	tell people "the right things to say or do" when interacting with others
explore how stereotypes affect everyone's choices	reinforce existing or create new stereotypes
provide participants with pro-active tools to eliminate racism	leave participants feeling guilty or helpless about racism that exists
encourage honest, real dialogue	police participants' thoughts

Institute for Racial Healing
Through facilitated dialogues and activities, individuals are immersed in an educational and interactive program of learning, sharing, and processing within a multi-cultural group.

The Institute examines the inheritance of our history and explores current realities. Participants join the movement to create a new future for our families and community.

This model has been proven to establish profound insights and valuable relationships while providing a support network for continued understanding.

Time is provided intentionally between each session to allow participants to digest information from one week and share their reflections/questions with the group the next week. A 2-Day model (participants meet for eight hours for two consecutive days) is also available upon special request.

Recent Institutes:

• 2011 Summer Women's Institute...
  
• 2011 Spring Community Institute...
• 2010 Fall Community Institute...

Diversity Workshops & Presentations
These workshops are specifically designed for the number of hours a client has requested and are often tailored to include industry-specific information.

Presentation Topics:

• Cross-Cultural Communication
• Understanding Unintentional Bias
• Aversive Racism: Lifting the Fog on Contemporary Bias
• The Impacts of Stereotyping
• How to Talk to Kids About Race
• Race & Child Development
• Historical Perspectives on Race
• Housing Discrimination & Segregation
• How Race Affects Employment
• Business Case for Workplace Diversity
• Then & Now: Disparities through Time
• The Role of White People in Healing Racism
• The Global Village: Changing Demographics
• Cross-Cultural Mission Trips
• Is Anyone Truly Colorblind?

Simulations:

• Archie Bunker's Neighborhood simulates how institutionalized and housing discrimination affects neighborhood quality and opportunities for residents.
• BaFa BaFa simulates the experience of encountering and trying to communicate with an unfamiliar culture.
• History of Wealth Building leads participants through the story of two families and explores how discriminatory laws and practices continue to influence the opportunities of generation after generation.

Participant Feedback

"One of the most informative, eye-opening and life-changing courses I have ever participated in .. [it] has left an impression that will always remain a part of me. I consider the tools and information I learned priceless."

"I realized, as a teacher, I have the responsibility to address comments from students and identify bias in materials."

"I learned not to devalue others' experiences of racism by trying to excuse the behavior or find another possible reason. I have had at least six diversity trainings - this was by far the best."

“Some of the best experiences I have had; very honest, safe, welcoming.”

"I learned involvement in the community and advocacy is critical to break down walls that hate built by racism."

"My behavior has changed; as I am more conscious that I need to stand up against [racism] when I encounter situations were minorities are being discriminated."

"This experience has helped me continue to develop a sensitivity especially to the unconscious nature of racism ... My view of the urgency of doing something about racism and my personal responsibility has changed."

"A safe and confidential place to talk about wounds that I've carried."

"I realized there is a lot of local pain in the community that I have not personally seen or felt."