Study Groups

NEW! Study Group Toolkit

Check out our brand new Rural Racial Justice Organizing Study Group Toolkit! This collaboration with Out in the Open provides tons of info about our Study Group curriculum, facilitation ideas, materials, how-to guides, and lots more.

 

2020 Study Group: Intro to Antiracism

Join Lost River Racial Justice and Out in the Open for a six session Intro to Anti-Racism Study Group starting February 1, co-facilitated by Claire Halverson and Eva Westheimer. The Study Group offers a space for white people to learn and understand race and racism and to develop skills to challenge racial oppression. The group is limited to 15 people and the deadline to register is January 17.

There will be six sessions and it is expected that you are able to attend the first session and at least four out of the five remaining sessions. We will meet in downtown Brattleboro (exact location shared after registering).

Dates and Topics

  • Session 1: How Racism Shows Up in My Life
  • Session 2: Understanding Structural Racism
  • Session 3: Micro aggressions
  • Session 4: Building Skills to Intervene in Interpersonal Situations of Racism
  • Session 5: On Being a POC in Vermont
  • Sessions 6: On Being an Anti-Racist

2019 Study Group: Rural Racial Justice Organizing

Are you are interested in . . .

  • Learning about racial justice organizing in small towns and rural areas?

  • Connecting with others who are also invested in this work?

  • Taking collective action for racial justice?

If so, please consider joining Lost River Racial Justice (LRRJ) and Green Mountain Crossroads (GMC) for the 4th Annual Rural Racial Justice Organizing Study Group in 2019!

Click here to register and apply!

Please complete this application before 11:59PM on Sunday, January 6th.

 

More Information

Over the course of ten weeks of study, we will

  • Learn about racial justice organizing in small towns and rural areas in North America by looking at current and historical case studies of organizations with multiracial, POC, white, and queer leadership.
  • Build shared understanding of what has and has not been successful for other rural organizations, communities, and groups working for racial justice and discuss the dynamics of white supremacy in our local communities.
  • Participate in local racial justice organizing and learn about ways to stay actively involved.
  • Create lasting relationships for strong racial justice movements.

We are excited to dig in with an updated curriculum which includes our favorite readings from past study groups alongside new, timely material! There will be approximately 20 pages of “required” reading per session (sessions are 2 weeks apart) as well as many optional pieces. Homework will include articles, videos, radio segments, and personal reflection. We’re also asking each participant to attend at least one 1-3 hour racial justice meeting or event at some point during the ten-week session.

The study group is open to people across race and ethnic identities who are interested in learning and discussing strategies for rural racial justice organizing.  Participants must already have a basic understanding of structural racism (a short video explanation of that term).

WHEN: This is a six-session commitment spanning across nine weeks starting in late January. The first and last session will be four hours long to create a cohesive group dynamic and provide closure and next steps.  The other four sessions will be 2.5-hours on Tuesday nights and will focus on specific themes, and a majority of the time will be broken out into smaller groups. Availability to attend the sessions does play a role in participant eligibility.

  • Session #1: Sunday, January 27, 1:00-5:00pm
  • Session #2: Tuesday, February 5, 6:00-8:30pm
  • Session #3: Tuesday, February 19, 6:00-8:30pm
  • Session #4: Tuesday, March 5, 6:00-8:30pm
  • Session #5: Tuesday, March 19, 6:00-8:30pm
  • Session #6: Saturday, March 30, 1:00-5:00pm

WHERE: All sessions will take place at Hilltop Montessori Schoolin Brattleboro, VT. The space is wheelchair accessible. We will maintain the space as a fragrance-free and nut-free space. Transportation support is available as needed.

ACCESSIBILITY: Childcare, large-print and/or printed materials, and other learning or accessibility aids can be provided as needed (please request them on the application form as applicable). The study group is fragrance-free: group members’ participation in each session is contingent on their showing up without fragrance on their body, hair, or clothes. Please check out these additional resources onwhy and how to be fragrance-free.  Snacks will be provided.

COST: The study group is offered for free. Donations will be requested for use of the venue, photocopies/materials, childcare costs, and to support local racial justice organizing led by communities of color.  Nobody will be turned away, but gifts of any size have HUGE impacts.

HOW TO JOIN: Click here and complete this form to register by January 6th. For those with limited computer access, registration can be completed by calling us at 802-451-0508; leave a message and we will return your call.

Please email usor call us at us at 802-451-0508 with any questions!

 

Who We Are

Lost River Racial Justice is dedicated to small town and rural multiracial organizing to dismantle white-supremacy and transfer power and resources to people of color communities. We are based in Brattleboro, VT. We draw our name from the Abenaki name for these lands where we live and work.

Green Mountain Crossroads (GMC) connects rural LGBTQ people to build community, visibility, knowledge, and power. We are based in Brattleboro, VT. We envision a resilient community of communities that works toward the transformation of our economic, social, and political relationships. We believe that collective liberation for all people is possible and that rural LGBTQ people have a critical role to play in that struggle. More about GMC at www.greenmountaincrossroads.org.