Moving Toward Antiracism in 2023

NEAFAST is recreating its successful yearlong book group, Moving Toward Antiracism: A Yearlong Guided Reflection through Layla Saad’s Me and White Supremacy to take steps toward recognizing unconscious racial bias and addressing systemic racism in our personal and professional lives. We will read Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla Saad.

"Create the change the world needs by creating change within yourself." — Layla Saad

Last Wednesdays of the Month, March 29-December 20, 2023; 12-1:30pm ET
Instructors: Kirsten Lind Seal, PhD, LMFT; Molly Brigham, LICSW; Jeremiah Gibson, LMFT
Cost: Free for Members; $80 for Non-Members
Cost for 15 CEs: $150 for Members; $180 for Non-Members

Program Dates: March 29, April 26, May 31, June 28, July 26, August 30, September 27, October 25, November 29, December 20, 2023

We will move away from the long tradition that white people can read their way out of trouble. We will shift from racial literacy to emotional literacy by working through a relational rather than individualistic approach. This group will begin by using the writing of Layla Saad and her book Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor and Me and White Supremacy: A Guided Journal. For more information about Layla Saad, visit her website. The group will move away from, “What do I think?” and toward, “What do I do?” with the hope of addressing our becoming a “good ancestor.” The course will provide participants with the opportunity to expand on their intellectual and emotional understanding of racism and white supremacy while doing the work to dismantle it.

At the conclusion of this program, participants will be better able to:

1. Describe three aspects of their intellectual and emotional understanding of racism and white supremacy
2. Identify three manifestations of white privilege and participation in white supremacy
3. Identify three changes that the profession of mental/behavioral health can make through the work of dismantling white supremacy by activating change within oneself

Schedule (all times in ET):

12-12:10pm: Welcome, introductions, and agenda for the day
12:10-12:25pm: Exploration of relational patterns that Saad describes
12:25-12:50pm: Break-out Session (small groups of 4-5): review and sharing of reflection question 
12:50-1:15pm: Larger group meeting: How do we challenge ourselves to move away from damaging relational patterns in our own lives and our professional work?
1:15-1:30pm: Review of readings for next session and review of group process for the day

Join us in 2023 as we continue to take steps towards becoming antiracist therapists and organizations. To receive the 15 CEs, you will be expected to attend all group meetings. If you need to miss one group, you will be asked to share your written reflections with the other group members.

Sign up for moving toward antiracism here!

This activity is pending certification by the New England Association for Family and Systemic Therapy (NEAFAST) on behalf of the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health & Human Services Professions for LMFT professional continuing education.

This activity is pending certification by the National Association of Social Workers Massachusetts Chapter on behalf of the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health & Human Services Professions for LICSW professional continuing education.

Please note: It is the participant’s responsibility to check with their individual state boards to verify CE requirements for their state.

This program is being offered independent of any commercial support or conflict of interest. Clinicians with any level of experience are welcome to participate.

Cancellation Policy: Please email us at [email protected] if you are unable to make it. We will give a full reimbursement for cancelations one month prior to the training.

Accessibility Statement: Participants will receive access to the Zoom link after signing up for the conference. Closed captioning can be provided through request.