We create a space where you can begin to do the work of shedding the heavy coat of white supremacy culture, and explore other ways of being that are more life-giving. We focus on tilling the soil of our minds, hearts, and bodies to uproot what is no longer serving, and begin to nourish the roots that allow the collective ecosystem to thrive. This involves both rigorous excavation, and compassionate tending.

This Course Might be for You if:

• You identify as white or white-bodied.
• You are hungry to learn how you might be perpetuating racism.
• You’d like to move past shame around your whiteness.
• You’ve done a fair amount of reading, researching, podcasting about racism and white supremacy, and are eager to go deeper into the more personal accountability and internal work.
• You’d like to engage with other white folx around this challenging self-reflection work in a way that welcomes vulnerability and imperfection.
• You find yourself pushing away or harshly judging other white people, and would like to develop more capacity to “see yourself in them” with humility.
• You’re interested in examining the way your own personal shadows are connected to white supremacy culture, and want to move towards developing the antidotes to unconscious thoughts and behaviors, so that you may deepen your resiliency and clarity around what and how you are choosing to be in the world.
• You want to become more integrated/connected in your heart and body, release the fear that keeps you feeling rigid, and instead be pulled by a vision for the future that is more liberatory for everyone.

Course Explorations

As a pathway toward uprooting and reprogramming ourselves, we will practice answering the following invitations, in many different ways:

• What parts of myself do I need to HEAL, TEND, LISTEN TO?
• What parts of myself do I need to LET GO OF, SHED, DISMANTLE?
• What parts of myself do I want to CULTIVATE, GROW, PRACTICE?

The above thematic questions support a process that is often quite non-linear. They are not in an inherent order, and will often overlap.

What to Expect 

• We use different configurations to process the course material, including: small groups, dyads, large group discussion, time to journal on your own, as well as time for drawing or movement. (For more non-linear/creative components, it will be up to the participant to choose how they engage.)
• We incorporate somatic exercises, as well as short meditations and visualizations that we have developed, which will always be framed in a way that encourages your autonomy to customize to your own needs, or opt out.
• We also occasionally include short segments from different teachers and educators to contextualize a theme, or inspire a prompt.
• We will occasionally provide additional resources or prompts as opportunities to go deeper in the time outside of weekly sessions.
  
• Layla Saad’s “me and white supremacy” (MWS) book and journal prompts will be a required aspect of this course that happens outside of course meeting times with a buddy. See below for more information about this directly below.

We invite you to choose someone from your personal life to do a weekly check-in on the “Me and White Supremacy” journaling prompts. If you do not have someone to do this with, we will connect you with someone in the Rise Up Rooted cohort, based on schedule alignment.

• Why is MWS a required component?  Layla’s book is incredibly useful in locating how we perpetuate and personally participate in the system and culture of white supremacy. We have witnessed the way doing the book’s journaling prompts changes the lens so to speak, and transforms people’s relationship to anti-racism in a profound way.
• Why buddies? We are not meant to do this work in isolation. Having built-in community will allow your learning process to be far more dynamic, and you will be able to integrate the material in a more effective way. This connection provides the needed social and emotional support for staying committed when the going gets tough.

Buddies FAQ  ~ ~ ~ 

• Q: Can I make a “small group” of buddies?
  • A: Of course. Whatever will be best for your learning/relating style.
• Q: What happens if I don’t know anyone from my personal networks who can be my buddy?
  • A: Reach out to us via email, and we will connect you with others in your cohort who are in the same situation. Even if there is an odd number of people, we will figure it out.
  • Q: How long should we spend connecting about MWS journal prompts every week?
    • A:You and your buddy can decide how long to chat during the time between group meetings.
  • Q: What if I’ve already completed a MWS book group?
    • A: That’s great. Your buddy can serve as a partner in going deeper with the book’s prompts. 

Meeting Details and Time Commitment

We will be meeting via Zoom once a week for 10 weeks, and there will be two cohorts this season for each participant to choose from (8 participants in each cohort):

Cohort 1: Sundays 1-3pm Pacific Time
{September 12, 19, 26; October 3, 10, 17, 24, 31; November 7, 14}

~~or~~

Cohort 2: Tuesdays 5:15-7:15pm Pacific Time
{September 14, 21, 28; October 5, 12, 19, 26, November 2, 9, 16}

Cost & Investment

Redistribution of Funds: 10% of ALL donations and course fees go into our equity fund, which goes to local Folx of Color.

• COURSE FEE OPTIONS FOR FALL 2021
  
  • $ 600 to $ 1000 – SUPPORTING  means you are comfortable and able to meet all your basic needs. // You have access to financial savings. // You can afford vacations and taking time off from work. This option helps support those who are in need of scholarships. 
    
  • $ 500 – COVERING COSTS means you are able to meet your basic needs. // You have some expendable income. // You can take an annual vacation without financial burden.
  • $ 400 – PARTIALLY SUPPORTED means you may stress meeting basic needs but still regularly achieve them. // You have limited financial savings.
  • $ 300 – LARGELY SUPPORTED means you frequently stress about meeting basic needs and don’t always achieve them. // You have no or very limited expendable income. (If $300 is not doable for you even with a payment plan, you can fill out a scholarship application here).

*Because we are a shoestring organization we prefer one full payment, but if you need a payment plan we are happy to accommodate that.

• MATERIALS ~ you will need:
  • If you don’t have a copy of Layla Saad’s “me and white supremacy,” you will need to purchase one.
  • Journal for writing or drawing.
  • Access to WiFi is preferable for video capabilities on Zoom.

I want to participate ! ~~~

What are my next steps?

1. First, fill out the application form here. (The application form is two pages long, consisting of: basic personal info, and 3 short answer questions.)
2. Once you’ve submitted the application, you will receive an email confirmation from us within a week.
3. Once you have received our email confirmation, you may make your payment.  (If you need a payment plan, please email us at info@riseup-rooted.org.)

Note: There are limited spots, and your payment will secure your spot in the course. We highly encourage you to apply sooner rather than later.

Feel free to email us at info@riseup-rooted.org if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you!