Springfield College Hosts Annual A Day to Confront Racism
The Springfield College Division of Inclusion and Community Engagement and the National Conference for Community & Justice (NCCJ) partnered to present two workshops in recognition of a “Day to Confront Racism 2023” on Tuesday, March 21. The goal of the event was to engage participants in discussions about developing an anti-racism mindset and an anti-racism skill set. March 21 is commemorated as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Both workshops were held in person in the Cleveland E. and Phyllis B. Dodge Room inside the Flynn Campus Union. NCCJ facilitators led the two workshops, that were attended by faculty, staff, students, and alumni.
The opening workshop titled “Developing an Anti-Racism Mindset: Foundational learning on bias, oppression, privilege, and ways to engage in action toward advancing equity,” focused on anti-racism community building, foundational work: creating a common understanding around race and anti-blackness, oppression, identity, intersections, and interactions, and working on creating a sense of belonging for every individual identity.
During the afternoon workshop titled “Developing an Anti-Racism Skill Set: Advancing personal mindset toward a collective skill set to disrupts and dismantles racism,” attendees explored topics in anti-blackness as the foundation to racism in the U.S., the necessity of joy in dismantling anti-blackness, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as the new foundation toward change.
