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Frequently Asked Questions 1

Heart 2 Heart: Southern California Racial Justice

Dialogue Institute Frequently Asked Questions

What will I learn in this program? Taking part in Heart 2 Heart: Southern California Racial Justice Dialogue Institute will provide participants with knowledge and skills to design and facilitate racial justice dialogue circles for cross-racial identity and shared racial identity groups. Participants will explore conceptual frameworks and practices related to: group facilitation, trauma sensitivity, racial identity formation, Restorative Justice, structural Racism, intersectional analysis, and intergroup dialogue. In addition, participants will be asked to engage in deep self-reflection about their own personal position within Racism as a defining structure of the United States. Participants should prepare themselves for rich learning experience on multiple levels. What do “cross-racial identity” and “shared racial identity” groups mean? During the program, participants will participate, design and facilitate racial justice dialogue in both cross-racial identity and shared racial identity groups. In shared racial identity groups, also known as affinity groups, participants gather with others who share a racial identity with each other for the purpose of exploring similarities and differences in experiences with racial identity and Racism. For example, shared racial identity groups can help uncover the ways internalized Racism harms People of Color, or the impact internalized racial privilege has on White/European Americans. Cross-racial identity groups bring together people of many kinds of racial identities in order to explore with honesty the impact racial identity and Racism have on dialogue participants. For example, a cross-racial identity group can help People of Color share the harms they have experienced from White/European American members of their community. For the Heart 2 Heart: Southern California Racial Justice Dialogue Institute, participants will be asked to join one of the following groups for the program’s duration: American Indian/Indigenous; Bi/Multiracial; Black/African

Frequently Asked Questions 2

American; Latinx; Middle Eastern/North African; Pacific Islander/East /South/Southeast/Central Asian; White/European American. (Note on terms: These racial identity terms are used for the purpose of creating shared understanding so participants can engage in dialogue. The program’s goal is not to find “perfect” terms – because they don’t and can’t exist given how racial identity is so complex and shifting from person to person, context to context. Adding in the origins of the idea and system of race – to divide humanity into artificial categories for the purpose of elevating Europeans to a position of dominance over all other humans – highlights the need for participants to engage through critical lenses.) “Racism” is a word with many different meanings. How is it being used in this program? For the Heart 2 Heart: Southern California Racial Justice Dialogue Institute, Racism is understood as a collection of historically rooted policies, cultural norms, stereotypes, violence and traumas that together give power, resources, and protection to White/European Americans as a class of people. While this definition is different from more dominant versions that limit Racism to only hate-driven attacks from extremists or individual acts of prejudice between individuals; using this definition is central to understanding the historical and contemporary reality of the United States. What is the time commitment for completing the program? The program is approximately 100 hours over 6 months, with a large portion of that time taking place in the overnight Retreat in February 2020. The remainder of time will take place in nine-hour meetings held one Saturday a month. Additionally, in preparing for the participant-planned Racial Justice Practice Circle, participants will also need to invest time outside of structured meetings. What prior experience do I need to be accepted into this program? The program is designed for people who have already invested time in understanding their personal connection to structural Racism, and have clarity about their role and responsibility for working towards racial justice. While the program will include sessions and activities designed to build participants’ knowledge and understanding of racial justice, it is not a “101” or “beginners” experience. Folks who are just beginning their racial justice journeys will likely find the program to not be the best fit for their needs.

Frequently Asked Questions 3

What is the cost of participating in this program? This program is provided at no charge to participants thanks to funding from W.K. Kellogg Foundation as part of their nationwide Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) initiative. In exchange for being accepted into the program, participants are asked to invest back into the program their time as well as consistent, honest and active participation. I want to apply, but have some scheduling conflicts. Should I still apply? To successfully graduate from the Heart 2 Heart: Southern California Racial Justice Dialogue Institute, participants must attend one of the Information Sessions in October, the National Day of Racial Healing Circle, the Retreat, the practice Racial Justice Dialogue Circle and at least 4 of the remaining 5 sessions. Participants who might need to miss more than 1 session, should contact program coordinators to discuss their situation. I want to apply, but have specific dietary needs. Will these be accommodated? Program coordinators will do their best to meet participants’ dietary needs when notified in advance. We are able to accommodate dietary needs including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, citrus-free, etc. We are unfortunately unable to accommodate requests for kosher or halal meals at this time. Where will the Retreat be held? What will the lodgings be like? The Retreat will be held at a professionally-managed camp site at a wilderness site in Southern California. Lodging is in heated cabins equipped with bunk beds, storage and access restrooms. Housing accommodations can be made for participants with accessibility needs. Participants are housed according to their gender identity, with a gender neutral option. Gender neutral housing means that participants of all gender identities who chose this option are housed together in the same cabin with the same expectations for respectful participation. Will there be shared transportation to the Retreat site? CCEJ will organize a charted bus transportation from Los Angeles and Long Beach to safely and comfortably bring participants to the Retreat site. Case by case allowances can be made for folks wanting to drive on their own to the Retreat site depending on room for cars at the camp site. CCEJ can also help participants form shared carpools if coming from regions outside of Los Angeles or Long Beach.

Frequently Asked Questions 4

Where will the monthly sessions be held? Monthly sessions will be held in various sites in both Los Angeles and Long Beach. Participants will be given written guides to meeting sites at the Retreat. Meeting sites will range from community centers, to houses of worship, to offices of community groups. After completion of the program, what opportunities are available for graduating facilitators? Participants that successfully complete the program will become part of the growing network of TRHT facilitators across the United States working to advance racial justice in their families, communities, workplaces, and faith communities. CCEJ has a robust volunteer program that Heart 2 Heart graduates will be eligible to participate, including Building Bridges Camp for 9th – 12th grade students and Healing Harms Restorative Justice Youth Diversion program.