Self-Reflection Conversations
about white privilege, structural racism, decolonisation and allyship
The next series will start on May 25 at either 12.30 or 6pm, depending which time suits most participants, then continues for a further three weeks – June 1, 8 and 15. The group can hold up to 12 participants. Please let us know which time suits you best.
To become good allies in the #BlackLivesMatter movement, to be a part of making real change in this space, the first thing white people need to do is look hard at ourselves and our culture. Listening to and learning from First Nations peoples and people of colour is important, but our culture is the one that needs to change.
To do this we need to start with reflecting on our understanding and attitude surrounding significant events impacting on Aboriginal people and our own beliefs and values – white privilege, structural racism and cultural bias. It is only when we have some knowledge and critique of our own culture and its systemic racism, and our own ingrained and often unacknowledged white privilege that we can go with open hearts and minds to find ways to work with and support Indigenous people and other people of colour.
Facilitators
Leanganook Yarn’s Natalie Moxham, in collaboration with John Bonnice, is offering our community a series of facilitated Self-Reflective Conversations for local people to start this difficult work. John is currently the Co-Chair of the Bendigo Reconciliation Committee. Having facilitated cultural self-reflection sessions for over 10 years, he has built an understanding of what inhibits/enables non-Aboriginal people to explore issues around culture, white privilege, racism and reconciliation.
Sessions
Four two-hour conversation sessions will be held over four weeks for a maximum of 12 people. The expectation is that participants attend all four sessions. Reading and minimal homework is given.
Community of Practice
There will also be train the trainer opportunities to build a ‘Community of Practice’ so that others are able to take forward this important work and facilitate SRC sessions in the future.
Cost
The cost for participation is on a self-selecting sliding scale. The highest price points also allow subsidization for the lowest. We encourage bartering/exchange.
The price points are A$550 – B$350 – C$150 – D$50
Consider this:
A is pitched as a fully waged high income / organisational rate;
B is fully waged medium income/ NGO rate;
C is self-funding rate on a low or part-time income;
D is all categories of unwaged and student, and subsistence living.
We encourage people to pay at rates A and B if you are able as then we can invest more in the following: Facilitators will be paid, then any other income will be used to Pay the Rent (25%), and the balance set aside to provide learning and training opportunities to build our Community of Practice in anti-racism work and/or for First Nations people, as they become available or are requested.
Register your interest
To express your interest in participating in Self-Reflection Conversations, please email Emma King at reflectionconversation