“Loving yourself is a political act. We are taught not to love ourselves, and from that place we are easily manipulated...Love yourself so much that this love changes the world.” --Rita Shimmin, UNtraining co-founder |
UNtraining White Liberal RacismWe explore what it means to be white, bringing awareness to white conditioning and privilege that we did not choose as children, but that we can take responsibility for as adults. NEW Phase 1 Groups start Feb 2025 LEARN MORE & APPLY! | People of Color UNtrainingWe explore how to communicate authentically and compassionately with each other about issues of race, and how to heal the effects of trauma resulting from being the targets of racism. Email pocgroup@untraining.org | Beyond Black and White: Being Chinese in AmericaWe explore the interface of internalized racism and our own cultural conditioning with others of Chinese descent to bring healing for ourselves and others. Special event for Chinese group alumni | Jewish and White in AmericaWe will explore together the complexities of Jewish and white identities—target and privileged—with openness, intensity, and deep respect. THIS PILOT PROGRAM IS NO LONGER BEING OFFERED |
Harnessing the power of story to celebrate the UNtraining’s community-based, radical self-exploration as a critical approach to achieving social justice. Check out the brief documentary on the UNtraining and its impact—this is a taste of the kinds of personal narratives this project will highlight. Mari Amend and Cliff Mayotte (left) are the producers. Watch video here
What Participants Say
The UNtraining changed my life. It helped me move past shame and start to look at how I could drive change - for myself, for those around me, and for my community. It gave me an incredible amount of hope and made it possible for me to be a true support and co-conspirator with BIPOC colleagues and friends.” |
Doing this work in community is one small and incredibly important aspect of disrupting the ways in which white supremacy separates all of us, especially us white folx from each other, preventing us from collectively recognizing, understanding, and healing our white conditioning.
| I learned to be more real and to experience and manage many different feelings and reactions simultaneously. I am much more able to stand in your shoes, whoever you are, because I learned to stand in my own. |
The support and compassion that existed in the group, as modeled by the facilitators was amazing and freeing. I got an opportunity to begin a deeper journey into my relationship to white privilege and racism.
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