Unlearning Anti-Blackness 101

We would like to acknowledge that this event is taking place on the ancestral, traditional and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Skxwú7mesh, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations, on whose territories we live and organize. As stewards of these lands, we would like to recognize the tremendous labour that has gone into nurturing and protecting these traditional lands, and the many ways in which indigenous resistance has deeply informed our own activism.

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Unlearning Anti-Blackness 101 is a workshop for allies (white folks and non-black people of colour) to understand the ways in which anti-blackness is so violent and yet so pervasive in our society, especially in a city with such a small black population. This workshop is not an Ally™ badge / license to use the N word / an undoing of centuries of colonial and racial violence towards Black people. It is a small step in a life-long journey of unlearning anti-black racism and working towards creating communities that are safe and welcoming for Black folks. We invite you to join us for a facilitated conversation around unlearning anti-blackness.

**REGISTRATION IS CURRENTLY CLOSED**

We are at capacity for this workshop. If you have registered and can no longer attend, please let us know so we can open spots. We will be sending confirmation emails soon.

DATE: March 14th
TIME: 6PM-8PM
LOCATION: TBA (within Metro Vancouver)
COST: $20-50 (sliding scale)*
FACILITATORS: Cicely-Belle Blain, Ivan Leonce

*If you are able to contribute on the higher end of the scale, please consider doing so, so that other people, especially non-black people of colour are able to attend. Payments will go towards room rental, snacks, ASL intepretation and facilitator labour. Any additional donations would be much appreciated to reduce the cost of this workshop and future workshops.

*We have received donations to fully cover the cost of some spots for low-income/poor folks at this workshop. We are currently able to offer 6 FREE spots. Please let us know if you aren’t able to financially contribute at this time – no questions asked.

*Black folks are absolutely welcome to attend for free. We also want to acknowledge that unlearning anti-blackness necessitates the important naming, sharing and processing of emotions for non-black folks. If you do choose to attend, please let us know how we can best support you before and after the workshop.

For any questions, please email cicelyblain@gmail.com.

For any concerns around whiteness, that may not be appropriate to message the facilitators about, please contact the Critial Whiteness Network at criticalwhitenessnetwork@gmail.com.

***ACESSIBILITY***

The Gordon Neighbourhood House:
– is wheelchair accessible
– includes accessible, single stall, gender-neutral washrooms
– is scent-reduced
– has an elevator

More information here: http://gordonhouse.org/about-gordon-neighbourhood-house/accessibility-details/

ASL-English interpretation will be provided. We will be connecting with folks who have named this need about preferred intepreters and their specific needs later this week.

Refreshments will be provided. We will be including a form for you to let us know your needs around refreshments in the confirmation email.

We ask that folks help us maintain a scent-reduced environment by not wearing fragrances or scents to this event. You can find more information about how to attend scent-reduced spaces here: (http://www.brownstargirl.org/blog/fragrance-free-femme-of-colour-realness-draft-15).

There will be active-listeners available at the workshop if folks need someone to check-in with 1-on-1 about feelings that come up for them.

We are committed to making this workshop as accessible as possible. Thank you for naming your needs, we are currently working on getting them all met. If you have questions about accessibility or your needs have changed please email ivanleonce@gmail.com.