Call #7 Nov 4, 2021

 

Call #6 Oct 7, 2021

To do before the next call: OWN work between now and November 4 is to read or listen to Section Six of Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson through the end of the book. It is on Amazon and Audible as well as a variety of other sources.

Part Six is about “Backlash” and Part Seven is about “Awakening” and the Epilogue is “A World Without Caste”. Here are some questions to ponder as you engage with the chapters in this section:

• What is the price we pay for not confronting caste?
• How would you see reparations being enacted in your country and the world?
• What is your vision for a world without caste?

Full Team for December Deep Dive:

Senior Coach – Dr. Minette Riordan
Main content facilitator – Valerie Sheppard
Lead Facilitator – Whitney Gordon Mead
Event Co-lead Facilitators – Kerri Hummingbird, Naomi Carmona Morshead
Content Facilitator – Dr. Ganz Ferrance
Sevador – Eva Medilek, Rodney Flowers
Matamaha – Nicola Grace, Mary Muia

 

Call #5 Sept 2, 2021

To do before the next call: OWN work between now and October 7 is to read or listen to Section Five of Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson and Chapters 25-27 of Section Six. It is on Amazon and Audible as well as a variety of other sources.

Part Five is about “The Consequences of Caste” and Part Six is about “Backlash”. Here are some questions to ponder as you engage with the chapters in this section:

• Do you see evidence of the Euphoria of Hate?
• Do you see the psychological measures that subordinate caste people have adopted generationally to survive?
• What are you seeing in the collective as caste is revealed and challenged?

Please click here to see the chat file

Full Team for December Deep Dive:

Senior Coach – Dr. Minette Riordan
Main content facilitator – Valerie Sheppard
Lead Facilitator – Whitney Gordon Mead
Event Co-lead Facilitators – Kerri Hummingbird, Naomi Carmona Morshead
Content Facilitator – Dr. Ganz Ferrance
Sevador – Eva Medilek, Rodney Flowers
Matamaha – Nicola Grace, Mary Muia

 

Call #4 Aug 5, 2021

To do before the next call: OWN work between now and September 2 is to read or listen to Section Four of Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson. It is on Amazon and Audible as well as a variety of other sources.

Part Four is about “The Tentacles of Caste.” Here are some questions to ponder as you engage with the chapters in this section:

• How does the caste system shape our individual and family identities to keep the system in place by keeping “the status quo” and avoiding challenging the system or “rocking the boat”?
• What are some of the repercussions you’ve seen for people who challenge caste? How does fear of these repercussions keep the system in place?
• In what ways can you engage the system, and leverage your expanding clarity and compassion around unconscious biasto support transformation of that system for the greater good?

Please click here to see the chat file

Full Team for December Deep Dive:

Senior Coach – Dr. Minette Riordan
Main content facilitator – Valerie Sheppard
Lead Facilitator – Whitney Gordon Mead
Event Co-lead Facilitators – Kerri Hummingbird, Naomi Carmona Morshead
Content Facilitator – Dr. Ganz Ferrance
Sevador – Eva Medilek, Rodney Flowers
Matamaha – Nicola Grace, Mary Muia

 

Call #3 July 1, 2021

To do before the next call: OWN work between now and August 5 is to read or listen to Section Three of Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson. It is on Amazon and Audible as well as a variety of other sources.

Part Three is about the “The Eight Pillars of Caste.” Here are some questions to ponder as you engage with the chapters in this section:

• How is caste built into the fabric of society? What things have you taken for granted in your environment that are actually the fabric of a planned caste system?

• In our session on July 1st, Kerri gave the example from Peru of the Inca chakana symbols on rooftops being replaced by Christian crosses and the sacred alpacas being replaced by Spanish bulls. Centuries later, how many people remember that crosses and bulls were symbols of the conquerors?

• Can you see how the pillars of caste create a self-sustaining system of repression of some people while also elevating others?

• In what ways can you engage the system, and leverage your expanding clarity and compassion around unconscious biasto support transformation of that system for the greater good?

Please click here to see the chat file

Full Team for December Deep Dive:

Senior Coach – Dr. Minette Riordan
Main content facilitator – Valerie Sheppard
Lead Facilitator – Whitney Gordon Mead
Event Co-lead Facilitators – Kerri Hummingbird, Naomi Carmona Morshead
Content Facilitator – Dr. Ganz Ferrance
Sevador – Eva Medilek, Rodney Flowers
Matamaha – Nicola Grace, Mary Muia

Call #2 June 3, 2021

To do before the next call: OWN work  between now and July 1 is to read or listen to Section Two of Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson. It is on Amazon and Audible as well as a variety of other sources.

Please click here to see the chat file 

Full Team for December Deep Dive

Senior Coach – Dr. Minette Riordan
Main content facilitator – Valerie Sheppard
Lead Facilitator – Whitney Gordon Mead
Event Co-lead Facilitators – Kerri Hummingbird, Naomi Carmona Morshead
Content Facilitator – Dr. Ganz Ferrance
Sevador – Eva Medilek, Rodney Flowers
Matamaha – Nicola Grace, Mary Muia

Call #1 May 6, 2021

To do before the next call: OWN work – read first section of “Caste”, authored by Isabel Wilkerson – write down your reactions and work with it.  To become aware and share on the next call – Thursday, June 3rd 2021

 

Please click here to see the chat file 

CLICK HERE to download the Social Advocate Pledge v2-April 2021

Key points:

“Dialing In Clarity and Compassion: Preparing To Be A Social Advocate” Deep Dive Dec 2-4, 2021 in Costa Rica

Intentions:

1. Gain clarity around your own individual relationship to race and racism.
2. Strengthen your capacity for courageous self–awareness without judgment and self-recrimination.
3. Demonstrate to engage more confidently in racially-charged conversations and situations.
4. Love the aspect of you that has the bias while you transform it.

Get a copy of “Caste”, authored by Isabel Wilkerson – it is required reading

Reticular Activating System (RAS): we are aware of something and then suddenly, when we choose to stay conscious, we all of a sudden notice it everywhere.

RAS: Noticing is the 1st step. Next: Amplify the Notice. Next: In that difficult situation, are you able to say something? You might consider saying “…that last conversation was really uncomfortable. Where is that coming from? Why do you feel that way?

The white patriarchal society is disempowering to women in general.

Why do they see it that way when it’s clearly this way? – find on  YouTube, Valerie hump day video

“My container of Love can hold your Hate.” Valerie Sheppard

Full Team for December Deep Dive:

Senior Coach – Dr. Minette Riordan
Main content facilitator – Valerie Sheppard
Lead Facilitator – Whitney Gordon Mead
Event Co-lead Facilitators – Kerri Hummingbird, Naomi Carmona Morshead
Content Facilitator – Dr. Ganz Ferrance
Sevador – Eva Medilek, Rodney Flowers
Matamaha – Nicola Grace, Mary Muia

 

Deep Dive Event, day 1:

Key points

Just breathe to relax and keep your heart open. If you notice you’ve closed yourself, know that we are holding open hearts to help you find your way back.

Essence: Accept the part of yourself that has unconscious bias as you work to change it.

OWN it for yourself. How can this help you do what the rules are engagement and commitments are in this work, so you can discover yourself and who you are being when you think you are being you.

There’s no wrong way. We all have unconscious bias

We’re all at different stages of awareness.  Don’t judge self or others.

This is long term work. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

This is a marathon and not a sprint.

What did you notice about the doctrine of White Supremacy? What did you find that indicates this is an undercurrent or substructure of what you’ve been living in?

“Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.”

Arthur Ashe

Noticing what’s going on inside.

Model minority is the name given to Asians.

Get to know that this stuff is rolling around underneath the surface. There’s nothing wrong.

It starts with: I will hold you.

Let your friends of color know that you are in it with them.

Say something.  When you don’t it raises questions.

The entry point for this work is: Whenever.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1PFpK7V2DFTB2E9m6pRVvqndhfzJ5mHJT9Di-138ytDA/edit#gid=0

https://ebcouncil.com/race-resources-bipoc-action-committee-for-diversity-equity-and-inclusion/

Unconscious incompetence – I don’t know what I don’t know.

Conscious incompetence – I know what I don’t know.

Moving into the step of conscious incompetence opens space to be curious

And it’s embarrassing to be in front of BIPOC and not know

And how is it possible that after all that’s happened, there are some that still don’t understand and even deny it! 🙁

Frustration and anger are appropriate as part of the perturbation process. We are being respectful, and not necessarily “nice”.

Whatever we choose to be and do is evolving.

Just keep going.

Understand that we have bias and always bring them into our interactions.

White Supremacy was created for financial gain through enslaving people based on skin color to support Westward Expansion.

“The second bullet is why I use White and not Caucasian to identify.  Caucasian originated from the separation of Caucasoid, Mongoloid, and Negroid – Caucasoid were considered the ‘angelic’ race that was ‘allowed to procreate’” Megan Fuciarelli to Everyone (10:13 AM)

If you look up the definition of “white” and “black” in the dictionary, you may also find those definitions support this definition that Valerie is sharing.

TEAM – Kerri Hummingbird to Everyone (10:19 AM)

“Caste: The Origins of our Discontents” by Isabel Wilkerson

What angers me is that I did know everything that was in in the video. I’ve read. “Learning from the Germans” “Caste” Warmth of Other Suns, Just Mercy, etc. I took Black Studies courses in college and grad. school. I’ve gone to gatherings of the Freedom Riders. And yet  it doesn’t seem to change anything. There are still stories that I didn’t know, and all the knowledge in the world doesn’t seem to change the situation.  My mother used Jane Elliott’s experiments in her teaching and as guidance counselor. My deepest frustration are the dog whistles and the police shootings. It seems hopeless and frustrating and angering. And I am a white woman.”  Laura B

So that my last sentence is not misunderstood, I meant as a white woman, I am not directly affected. How must it be for our brothers and sisters who have suffered under this and dealt with it for over 400 years?  Also, how can we make it end? When will it end?

Most of the people in the structure do not know.

They are bound, living it, and perpetuating it.

Racial Creed of the Southern People – Thomas Pearce Bailey.

Thomas Pearce Bailey born 1867 died 1949 (after the Civil War)

It started as an economic engine. It is now a psychological system.

One of takeaways from Caste was how Germans made reparations to Jews in post-Nazi Germany

We break the hierarchy by making a commitment to keep striving for equity, no matter the cost.

Dr. Wini I hear what you are saying.  Also as a born and raised proud southerner, it is time for people to stop relegating racism to the south.  It is present ALL over.

Difference between being not-racist and being anti-racist

Trying to disown it is what keeps it perpetuating.

Demolition of the architectures of privilege.

Understanding this topic is not a bystander role. It’s immersion.

Just a reminder: It’s good to make sure you’re drinking plenty of water throughout these conversations.

If you keep people apart, then there is no unity.

Intent is not what it’s about, it’s about the effect of your behaviour on the person

Skeleton dance

Put blocks of color on a page that are like an emotional landscape that we’re feeling.

What is the name of your landscape?

What most surprised you as you were drawing?

What was the hardest part of doing this?

Look at your landscape again, hold it away from you and really look, what do you notice?

We’re anchored and rooted in some not so pretty things that have happened, and yet here we are ascending. – Valerie

Ganz – There’s richness in the experience, even if isolation is hard.

“They tried to bury us, but they didn’t know that our blood was seed.” Annonymous

Our biases are as different as our perspectives.

Need to “get it right” and not offend anyone

Be courageous enough to stumble – Dr Ganz

Valerie on Optimal vs Right… “Is it serving me at an optimal level?”

The concept of “right” is dictated by “being white”. SO the more you can let go of that concept and go to what’s optimal in this moment given all the things presenting, the more you’re moving to the unconscious competence.

Maybe the pause will give us the insight of what’s next to do.

Love is omnipresent. It’s everywhere.

We are all love.  It’s like a light.  When you turn it off, electricity is still there.  They are just disconnected.

We must connect our light.

We are free to create new. We honor by listening to our ancestors. We have lots of help to change, especially butterflies. Choose to see compassion and love in the trees. There has always been love. Rainbow children are here to demonstrate all colors of the rainbow are beautiful.

Were I to release myself from judgment about how I do it and how the other person might feel…and just do it…  and just step in… what might I learn? What might I find?

https://ebcouncil.com/race-resources-bipoc-action-group-for-diversity-equity-and-inclusion/

Black exhaustion also shows up as silence.  Too tired to keep talking about racism.

The trap is “you’re out of love.”

When you’re in the place, you’re not focused on the harm that the other person is experiencing.

One of the ways you notice is if the person whose harmed, told you that you hurt them and then you are offended.  It is a way of saying “sitting down and shut up.”  Ask “why.”

Accepting the other’s position and emotions instead of telling them how they should handle themselves, think or deal with what’s going on with them

Seek to understand instead of judge

Caste: The Origins Of Our Discontents  by Isabel Wilkerson

The fight/flight behavior… the ignoring behavior is keeping us anchored in the very thing that we want to stop.

We need to be more robust if we want to be partners in healing.

“I get to decide what you need and when you need it” A way white supremacy reveals itself.

Make sure that you are in lock-step about how they want that allyship to unfold.

Movie The Best of Enemies”

We need to be aware of other people’s experiences, and that does color the conversation. See who others are as fellow humans.

Watch your assumptions based on how things are portrayed in the media.

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/what-happened-99-years-ago-in-the-tulsa-race-massacre

If you want to know more about the Tulsa massacre that was mentioned in the video, view the above link.

It’s in the discussion that you get a chance to see what’s so and what’s not so.

Book “White Fragility”

Book “They were her property”

https://www.amazon.com/They-Were-Her-Property-American/dp/0300251831/

Deep breaths and lots of water!

I will not allow someone else to change who I am. You are responsible for whether you choose to pick up the mantle and stay in the race.

Perturbate on this for the rest of your life.

OWN Work: Practice Self Care, Do not numb out

Movies to keep you stimulated on this topic ok

Take a long warm bath with Epsom salt and baking soda

Think about these questions and be ready to come back tomorrow for part two.

CHAT:

 

Pre event Deep Dive Call:

 

Key points

“Love the part of you that has that unconscious bias.” Valerie Sheppard

Perturbation: In order for the system to change, it goes into a state of flux through chaos and upheaval. This helps the system establish a higher level of organization.

Consciously observe what’s going on with you.

This is a practice of engagement with you.

Revelation moment of seeing a different self that was ever imagined inside of each of us.

So what… now what?

Notice what you’re noticing and then notice some more.

What are the “whys” that take us deeper into the journey?

Write with non-dominant hand – slower, brain press

We are making the unconscious conscious so we can be aware of it. We have been born into a system we did not create that has been running in the background and creating what we have been experiencing.

Who am I being when I think I’m being me?

Ava DuVernay – 13th documentary

Give yourself permission to have your initial reactions but then OWN those reactions so that you can have a different reaction.

Get up and keep going! You’ll catch yourself, and then catch yourself before you do it, and eventually you won’t do it at all.

We won’t let anyone hurt each other but we need to be open and honest.

Stay curious

If you’re already full, you can’t learn anything.

Share from your own perspective using “I feel” rather than using “you” when you really mean “I”.

Chat about your OWNwork during the breakout.

CHAT:

00:34:54 Team – Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Well everyone. We are so excited to see you.
00:35:41 Team – Kerri Hummingbird: Welcome everybody!!
00:35:52 Team Valerie: Greetings all! Grateful for your presence!
00:35:58 Naomi Carmona: What a good looking bunch!
00:36:32 Team Valerie: Yay Dr. Minette and Team!
00:45:56 Teresa de Grosbois: Many time award winner of EBC awards!!!
00:50:05 Team – Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Love the part of you that has that unconscious bias.
00:51:24 Team – Kerri Hummingbird: Type your answers into the chat here…
00:51:36 Team – Dr. Wini Curley: 1-3
00:51:36 Naomi Carmona: 1-3
00:51:39 Team – Shelley Hempsall: None
00:51:41 AV Team – Pam Bayne: 4-6
00:51:42 Jill Fischer: 1
00:51:45 Team – Kerri Hummingbird: 1-3
00:51:45 Ellen Rogin: 1-3
00:51:46 Megan, US2Consulting: 10+
00:51:46 Pat Duckworth: 2
00:51:51 Teresa de Grosbois: 3
00:51:53 Team – Heidi Larson: none
00:51:54 Team – Whitney Gordon-Mead: 4-6
00:51:55 Team – Dr. Ganz Ferrance: 10
00:51:58 Debbie Lynn Grace: 1
00:52:02 Team – Dr. Minette Riordan: 1-3
00:52:35 Debbie Lynn Grace: I have a chat box
00:52:44 Naomi Carmona: I have a chat box
00:52:47 Megan, US2Consulting: It might be helpful to ensure everyone has the most updated version of Zoom
00:52:51 Ellen Rogin: I have chat too
00:52:51 Megan, US2Consulting: That might be the issue
00:52:54 Megan, US2Consulting: I am not a team….
00:53:05 Megan, US2Consulting: Part of the team – sorry – that is what I meant
00:53:21 Team – Dr. Wini Curley: Not only the team. If you are in full scree mode you may need to exit to see the chat box icon to open it.
00:53:25 Megan, US2Consulting: Depending on Zoom version, there are options to support with the work…
00:54:07 Megan, US2Consulting: I am just going to type and see if this might help some people…. There should be 3 dots – that would allow for chat (if you don’t have the chat icon)
00:54:49 Team – Dr. Minette Riordan: Thank you Megan
00:55:16 AV Team – Pam Bayne: Check to see if you have the chat now
00:55:42 Frances Pitt: 110 plus
00:56:53 Team – Rodolfo Carrillo: None = 6
1 – 3 = 12
3 – 6 = 5
6 – 9 = 0
10+ = 5
00:57:02 Frances Pitt: 10
00:57:45 Team – Kerri Hummingbird: All questions are welcome.
00:59:34 Team – Kerri Hummingbird: Perturbation: In order for the system to change, it goes into a state of flux through chaos and upheaval. This helps the system establish a higher level of organization.
01:05:25 Team – Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Consciously observe what’s going on with you.
01:05:47 Team – Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: This is a practice of engagement with you.
01:07:50 Team – Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Revelation moment of seeing a different self that was ever imagined inside of each of us.
01:08:04 Team – Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: So what… now what?
01:11:06 Team – Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Notice what you’re noticing and then notice some more.
01:12:09 Team – Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: What are the “whys” that take us deeper into the journey?
01:13:31 Team – Kerri Hummingbird: We are making the unconscious conscious so we can be aware of it. We have been born into a system we did not create that has been running in the background and creating what we have been experiencing.
01:15:18 Team – Kerri Hummingbird: Who am I being when I think I’m being me?
01:21:56 Teresa de Grosbois: Yeah – Really profound documentary! Totally shifted my paradigm!!
01:22:00 Naomi Carmona: Eva Duberne Document “13”?
01:22:29 Teresa de Grosbois: It’s on the Resource List Dr. Ganz put together for EBC – really useful list!!! Thank you Dr. Ganz!
01:22:50 Team – Kerri Hummingbird: We will be sure to share that Resource List with everyone here.
01:24:10 Team – Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Ava DuVernay – 13th.
01:27:35 Team – Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Give yourself permission to have your initial reactions but then OWN those reactions so that you can have a different reaction.
01:28:37 Team – Kerri Hummingbird: Get up and keep going! You’ll catch yourself, and then catch yourself before you do it, and eventually you won’t do it at all.
01:29:27 Team – Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: We won’t let anyone hurt each other but we need to be open and honest.
01:33:31 Team – Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Stay curious.
01:33:45 Team – Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: If you’re already full, you can’t learn anything.
01:34:01 Team – Kerri Hummingbird: Share from your own perspective using “I feel” rather than using “you” when you really mean “I”.
01:37:42 Team – Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Chat about your OWNwork during the breakout.
01:38:24 Team – Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: For example, it can be about how you felt when you got the assignment?
01:38:36 Team – Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: The work began when you signed up for the Deep Dive.
01:39:11 Team – Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: You have 10 minutes to share in your pairs. Be mindful of your speaking time.
01:50:49 Debbie Lynn Grace: Thank you Dr Lucia 🙂
01:54:09 Team – Kerri Hummingbird: Evolve through it!
01:54:24 Team – Kerri Hummingbird: If you’re touched by someone’s share, feel free to use the Heart emoticon.
02:02:54 AV Team – Pam Bayne: Bye everyone