ConR Updates by Irene Lietz
First ConR Library Series Successful
We have completed the first 3-session Conversations on Race Library Series, with many thanks to The Library Network for their sponsorship. We had between 26 to 28 Zoom participants at each session, and 21 participants who completed all three sessions with us. That is a great start! We also had about 14 experienced ConR conversationalists helping out as facilitators of the breakout groups. Fantastic!
The participant evaluations of the sessions were very positive and indicated that we did achieve our goal of helping people increase their skills for difficult conversations on race, racism, and anti-Blackness. Over the three sessions, the top-ranking skill achievement was that the attendees now “Seek to be open to discussing topics of race and racism, accepting the tensions,” followed by their belief that they are better prepared to “Help build, develop, and nurture a supportive and stimulating multicultural community.” Two more popularly identified achievements were being able to “Recognize and respond to the meanings of emotions that emerge in race talk,” and “Support and facilitate discussion of such feelings in race talk.” The complete list of skills were derived from the ConR Core Values, a direct link to the focus and work of the parent Conversations on Race group.
Thanks to all the ConR members who helped facilitate the breakout rooms, provided resources, contributed to Facebook, recruited and spread the word. We hope the Conversations on Race at the library has opened the door for more people to step into building the community’s capacity to have these difficult conversations and ultimately, to begin to undo racism and increase equity for us all.
One of our big learnings, which is the planned focus of our February 13 regular ConR meeting, is the understanding that Whiteness is predictably influencing and shaping our Conversations. We found ourselves deep into conversation about “white-centering,” meaning White people’s tendency to value, uplift or protect White people’s experience or feelings.
To grow in our antiracism and to meet our mission, we agreed we White people must be more aware of our tendency to center ourselves and our needs over those of Black, Indigenous and other people of color. And we White people need to increase our understanding and awareness of how to de-center ourselves and center Black.
Come help us grow! Meet the challenge of Conversations on Race Library Sessions with us. Hone your skills and awareness! We invite our experienced facilitators as well as anyone else who has been to ConR meetings or the Library Series to be part of the next two series. Register for the next in-person Library Series in March at Huntington Woods Library and in April at the Farmington Community Library (downtown) at https://tln.org. And continue to come to the regular ConR meetings (details for March 27 and May 8 will be in the next newsletters).
Come grow with us and build a more equitable community.
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