Even if this is your first year hosting a BARWE group, we recommend that you start with this guide and use our previous series as supplemental resources. Our 4th Inquiry Series will be our best and most relevant yet, so we want you to access those resources first.
Don't forget to give us feedback!
Overview:
In August of 2018, BARWE began sending out a monthly inquiry series to encourage white educators to reflect on their own identity and biases, and interrogate the ways in which they show up in their classrooms. Last year we set the goal of deepening our understanding of our own identities, strengthening our relationships to our colleagues who are already doing this work, and building accountability to the communities we serve. Our focus was on dismantling white supremacy and cultivating Black joy. This year, we want to continue to deepen and broaden the work by continuing our multi-month dives into specific topics. Before moving into new topics and readings, we want groups to take the time to set the stage for the year to come. By affirming our commitment to this work, and its importance, we hope to embed the momentum needed to continue when things get challenging.
The purpose of September’s meeting is to build community among the folks in the room in order to grow your antiracist practices throughout the year. Some participants may have participated in antiracist work or BARWE before; others will be starting this work for the first time in this meeting. Regardless of experience, we believe this work is ongoing for everyone, and we all have the opportunity to grow and deepen our practice. We have created an agenda for this first meeting as a way for everyone to start on the same page and establish community as well as common understandings. As you schedule and plan your first meeting, consider how you and other regular participants might invite additional colleagues. We also recommend sending an email to your entire school to make sure that colleagues are aware that this group exists and that everyone is invited.
Primary Article:
How to be an Antiracist Educator by Dena Simmons
This short video can also be shown during your meeting, if time allows: 6 Ways to be an Antiracist Educator
Recommended Meeting Structure
Don't forget to give us feedback!
Overview:
In August of 2018, BARWE began sending out a monthly inquiry series to encourage white educators to reflect on their own identity and biases, and interrogate the ways in which they show up in their classrooms. Last year we set the goal of deepening our understanding of our own identities, strengthening our relationships to our colleagues who are already doing this work, and building accountability to the communities we serve. Our focus was on dismantling white supremacy and cultivating Black joy. This year, we want to continue to deepen and broaden the work by continuing our multi-month dives into specific topics. Before moving into new topics and readings, we want groups to take the time to set the stage for the year to come. By affirming our commitment to this work, and its importance, we hope to embed the momentum needed to continue when things get challenging.
The purpose of September’s meeting is to build community among the folks in the room in order to grow your antiracist practices throughout the year. Some participants may have participated in antiracist work or BARWE before; others will be starting this work for the first time in this meeting. Regardless of experience, we believe this work is ongoing for everyone, and we all have the opportunity to grow and deepen our practice. We have created an agenda for this first meeting as a way for everyone to start on the same page and establish community as well as common understandings. As you schedule and plan your first meeting, consider how you and other regular participants might invite additional colleagues. We also recommend sending an email to your entire school to make sure that colleagues are aware that this group exists and that everyone is invited.
Primary Article:
How to be an Antiracist Educator by Dena Simmons
This short video can also be shown during your meeting, if time allows: 6 Ways to be an Antiracist Educator
Recommended Meeting Structure
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Whole Group Discussion (10 minutes)
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Journal/ Reflect (5-10 minutes)
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After reading Dena Simmons’ starter guide for antiracist educators, what is your commitment to anti-racist education? How do you want to grow as an anti-racist educator this year? How can this group support you?
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Small group Discussion (20 minutes)
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Break into small groups and share what you wrote for the journal prompt. See our website for discussion protocols.
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Whole Group Discussion (20 minutes)
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Come back together as a whole group:
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Thank you all for your feedback so far, please keep it coming!
Pass The Hat:
In addition to being accountable to our colleagues and students of color, we believe it is important to be financially accountable to people of color who are doing this work on a daily basis. Each month, we will recommend an organization led by people of color, in education and beyond, doing the work of pushing for justice.
At the end of each monthly discussion, pass a hat (or a box) and collect donations for the designated organization. You can then have one group member go online and donate in the name of your school. If you want, you can add “Building Anti-Racist White Educators” after your school name.
This month, we encourage you to donate to LiberatED. LiberatED was founded by Dena Simmons. It is a social and emotional learning approach to racial justice and healing. It is a movement, a collective, and path towards liberation.
Pass The Hat:
In addition to being accountable to our colleagues and students of color, we believe it is important to be financially accountable to people of color who are doing this work on a daily basis. Each month, we will recommend an organization led by people of color, in education and beyond, doing the work of pushing for justice.
At the end of each monthly discussion, pass a hat (or a box) and collect donations for the designated organization. You can then have one group member go online and donate in the name of your school. If you want, you can add “Building Anti-Racist White Educators” after your school name.
This month, we encourage you to donate to LiberatED. LiberatED was founded by Dena Simmons. It is a social and emotional learning approach to racial justice and healing. It is a movement, a collective, and path towards liberation.