Details: The Anti Racist Cohort is a community of people working together to further develop their racial equity lens and practices. It is a durational commitment (intervals and length tbd) for 8 to 15 participants who will be supported by the facilitation of Rachel Siegel and her accountability and leadership team. 

Many Vermonters have a commitment to racial equity and are at various stages in their equity journey. Many of the same people have found themselves in situations when they were unsure how to respond to something that was or might have been racist. Most of us have made unintentional (micro)aggressions or even lost relationships because of racial insensitivity and harm. It is challenging to find places to be vulnerable and brave in this work to practice anti racism. One benefit of this cohort model is that participants have a space in which to do this critical learning, unlearning, processing, and practicing in community with others who will use this transformative, healing work, in similar situations. The Anti Racist Cohort will provide an opportunity that gives people the time and atmosphere where they can explore ideas, share information, and develop their own solutions.

The sessions include education, introspection, and conversation. We will create space to talk about race and racism, using an intersectional lens, practice making mistakes and recovering from them, figure out where we need to learn more, further develop our own racial identity, and work for the liberation of all. 

The cohort will meet weekly or monthly depending on the needs of the group for at least six two-hour sessions. Cohort members will each have a buddy who they are expected to connect with between each group meeting for at least a 15-minute check in. Additionally, each participant will have at least one 60-minute one-on-one meeting with the facilitator over the course of the program. There will be 1-2 hours of homework before each session.

The first sessions of the cohort experience will focus on education, including an opportunity for each member to present resources and ideas that are impactful to them. Topics covered may include identity, power and privilege, systems of oppression, racism, white supremacy culture, racial capitalism, vulnerability, and shame.

There will be time for introspection and personal growth which will lead into the creation of personal equity commitments and projects. Goals will be set, and the group will help hold each other accountable.

Over the course of the program, understanding, trust, and mutually supportive relationships will enable participants to continue to make progress on their anti oppression journey. The ultimate goal of the cohort is to support one another toward personal and collective liberation. We will build a community for holding one another accountable.

One expected takeaway is that participants will have ongoing relationships with other cohort members beyond our time together. This work is a journey that needs to happen in relationship with others.

* The cohort might be interracial or a white space to be determined based on the needs of the group and the assessment of Toward Liberation’s team.