The Comox Valley Chapter of BCCIC would like to share part of your day with you while exploring how we can expand our progress in being more inclusive as a community
Anti-Racism Response Training (A.R.T.) 2.5-Hour Workshop
Facilitators: Thanh Tazumi, Naomi L. Wolfe & Sanchit Mittal
This workshop guides participants in shifting from being frozen/silent bystanders to becoming active witnesses during racist encounters. What can I say or do when I hear racist or discriminatory remarks?
What are my response options when I witness discriminatory behaviour?
How can I participate in creating a safer and more inclusive community through becoming an active witness?
Background
Over the past months, racism has become front and center in the news. Many people are expressing outrage regarding both past and present incidents of racism and hate here in BC and beyond. And while we know that victims of racism can be traumatized by the inaction of bystanders, most people freeze up when they witness incidents of racism, often due to a lack of skills.
The ANTI-RACISM RESPONSE TRAINING Program (A.R.T.), developed by Dr. Ishu Ishiyama – and recently adapted and enhanced by your facilitators – uses a witness-centered approach to disrupting racism. This training is designed to encourage participants to shift from being frozen or silent bystanders to becoming active witnesses. In doing so, we can disrupt racism and build a safer and more inclusive community.
Key Takeaways:
Consider the impacts of being a passive bystander vs. active witness
Gain greater understanding of the harmful impacts of racist encounters
Review four levels of witnessing
Explore four key categories of active witnessing
Learn and practice a wide range of anti-racism responses and share some of your own
Virtual Workshop
This virtual workshop is highly interactive and involves experiential activities to develop and strengthen active witnessing skills. Over Zoom, we use a combination of chat box, slides, polls, video clips, scenarios, breakout room discussions and practice sessions, stories and readings, and whole group learning. Please come prepared for full engagement in the workshop by connecting via PC with video and microphone.
***Please watch for Zoom link and important handouts 2 or 3 days before workshop.
FACILITATORS:
Thanh (Do) Tazumi and her family immigrated to Canada as refugees in 1984. After graduating from university in 1996, she married her husband, and together they have 2 daughters. For 10 years, Thanh coordinated anti-racism, diversity, and organizational change projects. She has also co-facilitated workshops on intercultural communication, diversity & inclusion, and Anti-Racism Response Training. She is grateful for the opportunity to live and work on the traditional land of the We Wai Kai and We Wai Kum peoples.E-mail: suntantazumi@gmail.com
Naomi L. Wolfe (she/her/hers) is a settler Canadian from Saskatchewan who also spent 20 years in the USA and Guatemala. She is grateful to have spent the last 30 years living, working and raising two sons in Oyster River, Vancouver Island, traditional territory of the E’iksan People. During a long career as ESL faculty at North Island College, Naomi gained a deep understanding of the barriers faced by her diverse community. She facilitates Anti-Racism Response Training, intercultural communication, Theatre for Living, and Compassionate Listening (TCLP) workshops, and has presented at conferences in BC and internationally. Naomi greatly values collaborating with others to bring about a more just and inclusive society. E-mail: nlwolfe22@gmail.com
Sanchit Mittal (He/Him/His) holds two Master’s Degrees and has diverse experience working with various marginalized communities, including LGBTQ2+ and refugees. Sanchit deeply values Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (EDI), and is passionate about Truth and Reconciliation and social justice work, including Anti-Racism Response Training. Sanchit has co-facilitated workshops on many themes, including: LGBTQ2+ inclusion, intercultural communication, allyship, and microaggressions. Sanchit currently lives as an uninvited guest on the traditional territories of the Neutral, Anishinaabe, and Haudenosaunee Peoples (Ontario) where he is a Partnerships Manager at an Edu-Tech company. He is an EDI Consultant for Vancouver Island University, and serves as Vice-President for SIETAR BC. E-mail: mittalsanchitsudhir@gmail.com
For further information or help with registration please contact our coordinator at cvbccic@gmail.com
