Richmond Pledge to End Racism

Category: Announcement

  • Small Group Facilitator Training April 2, 2023

    Small Group Facilitator Training April 2, 2023

    Want to take a new step in fulfilling your pledge to end racism? Need a refresher on what it means to facilitate a small group in the workshop? Curious about the changes we’ve made to the curriculum in the past couple of years? Need a boost to re-engage with the Pledge?

    We are holding a training session on April 2, 2023 from 1:00-2:30pm at First Unitarian Universalist Church. It is intended for both those who haven’t facilitated small groups in a while but would like to re-engage, as well as those for whom facilitating will be a new experience. The only prerequisite is that you have completed the twelve-hour Living the Pledge workshop.

    We will provide box lunches in advance of the training (please indicate you would like one when you register). The training will include:

    • a brief overview of the modules, highlighting what has changed since we last offered the workshop in-person
    • our philosophy around small group facilitation and your role in participants’ learning
    • opportunities for experienced facilitators to share some of what has worked (and hasn’t worked) for them
    • dialogue around scenarios that have come up in past small groups and how one might approach them (e.g. one individual who dominates the conversation).
    Register for April 2 Facilitator Training

    In making small group assignments for a workshop, we pair an inexperienced/newly trained facilitator with someone more experienced, as we believe the best way to learn and grow your confidence is on-the-job training. You already have the commitment to end racism; this facilitator training will simply allow you to further develop your skills and confidence.

    Our next Living the Pledge workshop will be offered April 15 & 29, 2023 (in-person!!), and we hope that many who attend this facilitator training will be available to facilitate (in-person!) at this workshop. If you can’t make it to the training but are able to facilitate the April 15 & 29 workshop, please let us know using the same link above.

  • Living the Pledge Workshop in 2022

    Living the Pledge Workshop in 2022

    Our next workshop series has been scheduled for 2022 and registration is now open!  It will take place Monday evenings, 6:30-8:30pm via Zoom starting January 24 and running through March 7 (we’ll take February 14 off) and is open to anyone who lives in the Greater Richmond, VA, area.  (If space allows, we are happy to have those from outside the Richmond region participate – add your name to our waitlist and we’ll stay in touch!)

    Each week participants will be asked to prepare by reading articles and watching videos that cover the major topics of the module.  Participants will be assigned to a small group that will meet each week as part of the two-hour session.

    Sessions will also include large group presentations and conversations. We will use Mentimeter, an interactive presentation software accessed via a web browser window, throughout the various sessions to help us share insights with one another and build community.

    NOTE: Each participant from a household will need to register separately AND will need their own computer or large tablet with an enabled web camera to fully participate in the small group work.  You will find a second device such as a smartphone helpful in accessing Mentimeter.

    Space is currently limited to 21 participants.  Should the workshop fill up, we will maintain a waitlist and those on it will be first in line to register for the next offering.

    Hope you will help us spread the word, and if you haven’t yet had a chance to participate in a Living the Pledge workshop, please make plans to join us!

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  • Our next Living the Pledge Workshop of 2021 begins June 16!

    Our next Living the Pledge Workshop of 2021 begins June 16!

    Our next workshop series has been scheduled for 2021 and registration is now open!  It will take place Wednesdsay evenings, 6:30-8:30pm via Zoom starting June 16 and running through July 28 (we’ll take July 7 off) and is open to anyone who lives in the Greater Richmond, VA, area.  (If space allows, we are happy to have those from outside the Richmond region participate – add your name to our waitlist and we’ll stay in touch!)

    Each week participants will be asked to prepare by reading articles and watching videos that cover the major topics of the module.  Participants will be assigned to a small group that will meet each week as part of the two-hour session.

    Sessions will also include large group presentations and conversations. We will use Mentimeter, an interactive presentation software accessed via a web browser window, throughout the various sessions to help us share insights with one another and build community.

    NOTE: Each participant from a household will need to register separately AND will need their own computer or large tablet with an enabled web camera to fully participate in the small group work.  You will find a second device such as a smartphone helpful in accessing Mentimeter.

    Space is currently limited to 21 participants.  Should the workshop fill up, we will maintain a waitlist and those on it will be first in line to register for the next offering.

    Hope you will help us spread the word, and if you haven’t yet had a chance to participate in a Living the Pledge workshop, please make plans to join us!

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  • Workshop Facilitator Training

    Workshop Facilitator Training

    Want to take a new step in fulfilling your pledge to end racism? Need a refresher on what it means to facilitate a small group in the workshop or, better yet, step up to a role as a leader? Based on the recommended practices due to the virus and our focus on keeping you safe, we will be offering virtual training via Zoom. This time we are offering you two choices! We hope that you will find one that fits your schedule: Thursday, May 6, 6:30-8:30 pm OR Saturday, May 8, 9:00-11:00 am. We are looking for a minimum of 5 participants in each session.

    • The only prerequisite is that you have completed the twelve-hour Living the Pledge workshop.
    • If you have never participated in the facilitator/leader training, consider this an invitation to take your commitment to end racism to the next level by taking a facilitator role.
    • If you have taken the training but have yet to serve as a facilitator, or it’s been a while since you served, or you have some concerns about facilitating a virtual session, consider this an invitation to refresh your skills and recommitting yourself to act as a facilitator.
    • If you are interested in being a large group leader of a workshop, please join us and get to know what the role involves and how it might fit your strengths. You might be surprised.

    Our approach to facilitating the workshops is we will pair an inexperienced/newly trained facilitator or leader with someone more experienced. The best way to learn and grow your confidence is on-the-job training. You already have the commitment to end racism; this 2-hr facilitator training will simply allow you to further develop your skills and confidence.

    We are looking to expand the number of workshops offered each year. As such, the demand for facilitators and leaders grows each year. In fact, our next workshop will be offered in May/June.  If we are to achieve our goal of expanding the workshop to other faith groups and communities, we will need your help. Plus, we guarantee you will learn something new both about the material and about yourself.

    Please register here.

    If you just can’t make it this time, we are going to offer additional facilitator/leader training later in 2021. Those dates will be available on the website soon.

     

  • First Workshop of 2021 begins February 9!

    First Workshop of 2021 begins February 9!

    The first workshop series has been scheduled for 2021 and registration is now open!  It will take place Tuesday evenings, 6:30-8:30pm via Zoom starting February 9 and running through March 23 (we’ll take March 2 off) and is open to anyone who lives in the Greater Richmond, VA, area.  (If space allows, we are happy to have those from outside the Richmond region participate – add your name to our waitlist and we’ll stay in touch!)

    Each week participants will be asked to prepare by reading articles and watching videos that cover the major topics of the module.  Participants will be assigned to a small group that will meet each week as part of the two-hour session.

    Sessions will also include large group presentations and conversations. We will use Mentimeter, an interactive presentation software accessed via a web browser window, throughout the various sessions to help us share insights with one another and build community.

    NOTE: Each participant from a household will need to register separately AND will need their own computer or large tablet with an enabled web camera to fully participate in the small group work.  You will find a second device such as a smartphone helpful in accessing Mentimeter.

    Space is currently limited to 21 participants.  Should the workshop fill up, we will maintain a waitlist and those on it will be first in line to register for the next offering.

    Hope you will help us spread the word, and if you haven’t yet had a chance to participate in a Living the Pledge workshop, please make plans to join us!

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  • Next Virtual Pledge Workshop begins October 10!

    Next Virtual Pledge Workshop begins October 10!

    Our second virtual workshop series has been scheduled and registration is now open!  It will take place Saturday mornings, 9:30-11:30am via Zoom starting October 10 and running through November 21 (we’ll take October 31 off) and is open to anyone who lives in the Greater Richmond, VA, area.

    Each week participants will be asked to prepare by reading articles and watching videos that cover the major topics of the module.  Participants will be assigned to a small group that will meet each week as part of the two-hour session.

    Sessions will also include large group presentations and conversations. We will use Mentimeter, an interactive presentation software accessed via a web browser window, throughout the various sessions to help us share insights with one another and build community.

    NOTE: Each participant from a household will need to register separately AND will need their own computer or large tablet with an enabled web camera to fully participate in the small group work.  You will find a second device such as a smartphone helpful in accessing Mentimeter.

    Space is currently limited to 21 participants.  Should the workshop fill up, we will maintain a waiting list and those on it will be first in line to register for the next offering.

    Hope you will help us spread the word, and if you haven’t yet had a chance to participate in a Living the Pledge workshop, please make plans to join us!

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  • Promoting the Pledge

    Promoting the Pledge

    Are you interested in spreading the word about the Richmond Pledge to End Racism? We have a couple of tools you can use to make more people in RVA aware of this effort.

    Yard Signs

    Yardsign

    Double-sided yard signs with the Pledge logo and website are now available for you to display at your home or church.  We are requesting a donation of $12.50 apiece (about half of the cost). You can place your order here.  If you’d like to have a sign but aren’t able to pay for it at this time, let us know and we can provide one.

    Postcards

    Are you willing to hand out cards with the pledge to inform people you meet about this effort?  Would you like to have some available at your church for folks to pick up?  We also have an electronic version you are free to distribute for those gathering virtually.  Get in touch with us on how you plan to use the postcards and we’ll make arrangements to get some to you.  There may be opportunities at anti-racism rallies/protests or other anti-racism focused events to distribute postcards.  Be sure to check with organizers, if any, to make sure it is appropriate.

    Postcard front and back

  • Virtual Pledge Workshop Registration Now Open!

    Virtual Pledge Workshop Registration Now Open!

    We are offering the first-ever virtual version of our 12-hour Living the Pledge Workshop, taking place via Zoom on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:30pm starting August 12 and running through September 23 (we’ll take September 2 off).

    Each week participants will be asked to prepare by reading articles and watching videos that cover the major topics of the module.  Participants will be assigned to a small group that will meet each week as part of the two-hour session. NOTE: Each participant from a household will need to register separately AND will need their own computer or large tablet with an enabled web camera to fully participate in the small group work. Sessions will also include large group presentations and conversation.

    Space is limited.  Should the workshop fill up, we will maintain a waiting list and those on it will be first in line to register for the next offering.

    There will also be an optional session on the evening of August 5 to help folks familiarize themselves with Zoom and Mentimeter, an interactive presentation software accessed via a web browser window.  We will use Mentimeter throughout the various sessions to help us share insights with one another and build community. More details to follow.

    Hope you will help us spread the word and make plans to join us!

    Learn more and register.

  • Save the Date! Virtual Pledge Workshop

    Save the Date! Virtual Pledge Workshop

    We are in the process of creating a virtual version of our 12-hour Living the Pledge Workshop.  It will be offered Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:30pm starting August 12 and running through September 23 (we’ll take September 2 off).   Each week participants will be asked to prepare by reading articles and watching videos that cover the major topic of the module.  Participants will be assigned to a small group that will meet each week as part of the two-hour session.  Sessions will also include large group presentations and conversation.  We plan to open up registration in early July and space will be limited.  Hope you will help us spread the word and make plans to join us!

    • August 12: Module 1 – Foundations for Understanding
    • August 19: Module 2 – Pledging to Recognize and Confront Bias
    • August 26: Module 3 – Speak Up Against Microagressions
    • September 2: Break
    • September 9: Module 4 – Structural and Institutional Racism
    • September 16: Module 5 – The Movement for Black Lives
    • September 23: Module 6 – Personal Commitment to Ending Racism
  • March 28 & April 4, 2020 workshops postponed

    March 28 & April 4, 2020 workshops postponed

    Health officials are advising all of us to escalate social distancing in order to limit the spread of the coronavirus and reduce the likelihood of overwhelming our healthcare systems. Additionally, Richmond Hill, our host for these workshops, has announced it is closing to outside guests and groups through at least March 25. Therefore, we have decided is it in the best interest of our community and for everyone’s health and well-being to postpone the March 28 and April 4 Living the Pledge workshop.

    We will work to reschedule them for later in the spring and will be in touch with all registrants as to their options once those dates are set. Know that we do have workshops scheduled for August 8 & 22, 2020 and October 10 & 24, 2020 at First Unitarian Universalist, 1000 Blanton Ave. Registration will begin in early summer.

    We are disappointed at not being able to offer this training to you at this time, but are excited about your interest in working to end racism. We need anti-racists to help fight racism in all its forms.

    Take care of yourself and one another. And wash your hands.