Fall 2022: Antiracism Course for White Educators

In recent years, and now more than ever, we have seen a sharp uptick of progressive white educators who have begun talking about racism, using antiracist language, and acknowledging their own whiteness. And still, many white people are struggling when it comes to adapting their own actions when it comes to living out the changes that they want to be a part of.

1. To deepen white educators’ analysis of the structural impacts of white supremacy on the schools and communities they work in, and the role that they, as white educators, play in perpetuating white supremacy.
2. To equip white educators with the tools and support to identify and respond to racist actions, words, and policies within their schools and communities.
3. To grow white educators’ capacity to support, lift up, and act in solidarity with teachers, students, and families of color in their schools and communities.

Jonah Canner

Jonah Canner is an ambassador for the world we have not yet built. He believes in people, community, and the obligation we have to make positive change in the world around us. Jonah’s primary areas of focus include racial equity, restorative justice, experiential education, and working through conflict. In his free time Jonah is writing a collection of memoir essays that explore questions of grief, identity, ancestry, and place.

Jill (Yill) Ruchala

Jill Ruchala has been an educator, facilitator, and coordinator of educational programs, events, and gathering spaces for 20 years in the US and abroad. She’s passionate about cooperative learning models, adult education, antiracist education (in small and large scale), and language acquisition. See also: hiking, plants, and buy nothing groups/swaps. Yill lives in Washington, DC, on ancestral land of the Nacotchtank people, where taxation without representation is a daily experience. 

Dana Bennis

Dana is Director of Programs & Research at IDEA. He collaborates with others locally, nationally, and internationally to end white supremacy and colonization and to raise up and support education that is antiracist, that meaningfully involves young people and communities, and that is directed towards freedom and liberation. 

* This course was designed in collaboration with a multiracial group of educators. BIPOC guest speakers and conversation partners will join to provide additional perspectives, accountability, and critical analysis.

• Twelve two-hour-long video calls
• Weekly assignments
• Readings, videos, and podcasts to read/view/listen
• 1:1 conversations with another member of the course for more personal reflections
• 1:1 sessions with course facilitators
• Action steps to take throughout the course

White educators looking for support and accountability as they work to embody antiracism in their daily personal practices and at the schools/institutions they are part of.

Individuals in any role in education or work with youth: teachers at any level (Early Childhood, K-12, Higher Ed, Adult Ed), guidance counselors, youth workers, administration, social workers, staff at schools, camp counselors and staff, youth advocates, etc.

Twelve two-hour-long evening-sessions and an orientation starting September 2022 – January 2023.

While the course experience is unique to each individual, past participants report spending between 2-5 hours a week on homework that includes: 1-2 articles, a podcast or video, and some form of reflective writing or similar assignment.

Participants who complete this course will receive a certificate for 24 continuing education hours.

Modalities of learning will include: text based discussions of books, articles and audio; personal story sharing; examination of internalized habits and mentalities; mapping of systemic oppressions; and building an accountability practice.

IDEA’s antiracism coursework includes and stands on the shoulders of many activists, thinkers, ancestors, and leaders who have been pushing for racial justice, equity, and sovereignty including Bettina Love, Resmaa Menakem, Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, adrienne marie brown, Ijeoma Oluo, James Baldwin, Tawana Petty, Sandy Grande, Ibram Kendi, Vincent Harding, Tema Okun, Kenneth Jones, Bob Moses, Norma Wong, and Justo Méndez Arámburu. 

• Registration for this course is limited. The final date for submitting an application is Monday, August 15, 2022.
• Sliding scale fees from $550 to $1350. In order to make this course as accessible as possible, we encourage you to pay a fee that is in line with what you are able.
• Applicants will be informed of their acceptance the latter half of August.