2021-2022 Teach-In Series Videos
The Advancing Racial Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (AREDI) Teach-In Series will bring together community champions & elected leaders to raise awareness of racial DEI opportunities in Southwest Washington to develop action & institute change.
Awareness
- Share existing efforts
- Explore lessons learned
- Identify current challenges
Action
- Centering BIPOC communities
- Create action strategies
- Root causes analysis
Change
- Sustainable shifts to successful diversity, equity & inclusion
- Accountability for achieving results
Month 1 | March 19, 2021
Rosalie Fish | Cowlitz Indian Tribe Member
Dr. Karin Edwards | Clark College President
Tanna Engdahl | Cowlitz Indian Tribe Elder
Message of Resilience: Running for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
Message of Resilience: Running for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
Mensaje De Resiliencia: Correr Por Las Mujeres Indigenas Desaparecidas Y Assesinadas (ES)
Rosalie describes her personal experiences with both racialized and genderized violence, as well as the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) and the severity of impacts that occur in Washington state. In her talk, she covers her struggles with mental health, the legislative and social issues that contribute to the erasure of Indigenous women, as well as a call to action to let listeners know how they can actively contribute to combating the MMIW crisis. Finally, Rosalie walks the audience through her own story and how she became an advocate at the age of eighteen.
- Commit to racial justice in public policy
- Use your platform for anti-racism
- Support the work of the Urban Indian Health Institute – UIHI.ORG
- Rosalie Fish Instagram
- Urban Indian Health Institute
- President Biden’s Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity & Support for Underserved Communities Through Federal Government
- Governor Inslee announces historic equity policy package
- State Board for Community and Technical Colleges leading with racial equity
Month 2 | April 30, 2021
Rashida Willard | Clark College VP of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Dr. Obi Ford III | Associate Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion WSU Vancouver
Advancing Equity in the Workplace
Advancing Equity in the Workplace
Formentar La Equidad En El Lugar De Trabajo (EN)
This session includes an overview of oppression on the internal, interpersonal, institutional and structural level. Participants lean into how these levels of oppression impacts employees, and how models of equity can be applied to advance equity in their workplace. You will be provided indicators, resources, and strategies to authentically advocate, advance, and actualize equity-mindedness across policies, processes, practices, and people in the workplace.
Facilitators ground the space such that each participant feels a sense of bravery to share their lived experiences and empowerment to activate their advocacy for equity-mindedness in the workplace and community at large. Through the use of slides, critical questions and prompts, and breakout rooms, participants engage not only the material, but also one another through intergroup dialogue and intercultural exchange.
- Use your platform for anti-racism Receive the information presented and consider at least one thing you will do to implement, embed & infuse equity-mindedness in your organizations across policies, practices, and processes to transform workplace climate, culture & community.
- Equity and Justice Resources Page
- WSU Definitions of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging and Justice
- Tips to Create a Workplace of Equity, Inclusion and Empathy
- Recommended Reading List – Black Authors
- Recommended Reading List – Dismantling Whiteness
- The Time is Always Ripe by Obie Ford III
- Dismantling Racism in Organizations
Month 3 | May 14, 2021
Rashida Willard | Clark College VP of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Equitable Decision-Making
Equitable Decision-Making
Decisiones Equitativa (ES)
Participants will learn how to use an equity lens to make equitable decisions, learn how certain decisions can have negative impacts on people that hold historically marginalized identities, and learn how to put tools into practice at work and home.
Companies, use these principles of equitable decision-making in your organization to:
-Discover disparate experiences and outcomes,
-Dismantle and mitigate White Supremacy Culture in the decision-making process to create an equitable and just environment, and
-Be intentional about equity in the decision-making process to produce intentional outcomes.
- Discover disparate experiences and outcomes
- Dismantle and mitigate White Supremacy Culture in the decision-making process to create an equitable and just environment
- Be intentional about equity in the decision-making process to produce intentional outcomes
Month 4 | June 25, 2021
Nickeia Hunter | Community Activist, Chair Legal Redress NAACP Vancouver Branch 1139
Brandon Lee | Community CONSCIOUS Policing Strategist
Ibsahu Ma'akmaha | MHA, YACEP, C.Qg. Reiki M. Saga Co-Founder
Community Solutions to Policing
Community Solutions to Policing
Soluciones Comunitarias Para La Vigilancia
Bringing the history of our communities to the front and providing the voices of those injured by the laws and those who enforce it. A background as to the history of police violence within our BIPOC communities and the systemic racism buried in the laws and those meant to protect and enforce the law was given.
By bringing voices of our community that have been affected by the profiling and undue racism in our community, we put a face to a story, creating empathy and a visual persona to these stories. In doing so the lived experiences of our community are finally heard and the goal is to educate others and push the narrative to allow growth and redemption in our communities.
- Contact your state elected officials (find your representatives here) and ask them to support the following state legislation that strengthens law enforcement accountability, provides civil remedies for those harmed by police misconduct, and strong state oversight and accountability for law enforcement.
- Become an ally and support local justice-oriented organizations
– Vancouver NAACP sign up for the newsletter by subscribing to the email list
– SWW League of United Latin American Citizens
– Washington Coalition for Police Accountability – Get Involved - Participate in monthly meetings of the City of Vancouver Community Task Force on Policing
– Topics include implementation of a police camera program, use of force policies, and implementation of the recommendations of the PERF report
- Learn more about how existing models of bringing the community to lead the process of creating policing models that center the needs of people most impacted by law enforcement. It includes 34 recommendations and examples of models in other cities.
- Order Community Conscious Policing: A Guide for People’s Justice and Law Enforcement Solutions or order wherever books are sold
- Diversity Trainings Usually Fail — Here’s What You Can Do To Create Lasting Changes – Interview with Brandon Lee in Forbes Magazine 2019
- Community Conscious Leadership interview (video) with Brandon Lee on the Corrections Community Podcast 2021.
- Ibsahu Ma’akmaha’s work in trauma healing and racial justice: https://sagahealing.com/
- Trauma and Social Location: The Adverse Childhood Experiences Pyramid: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/about.html
- Mapping Police Violence – A resource that breaks down various aspects of police violence and addresses myths about its relation to crime rates and accountability for harm.
- The ACLU Presents: Know Your Rights video
- City of Vancouver PERF Report
Month 5 | July 30, 2021
Diana Avalos-Leos| Founder/Ex. Director Clark County Latino Youth Leadership
Sarah Assem, MD | MD, Internist, Vancouver Clinic
Adriana Linares, MD, Dr.PH | Associate Program Director for Clinical Affairs, PeaceHealth Family Medicine SW
Adiba M. Ali, MPH | Epidemiologist, Clark County Public Health Department
Racism as a Public Health Crisis
Racism as a Public Health Crisis
El Racismo Como Una Crisis De Salud Publica
The COVID-19 pandemic has unequally affected many racial and ethnic minority groups. During this session, panelist will discuss their observations about this pandemic in the Southwest Washington. They will share current data about the inequities in testing, vaccinations, hospitalizations and deaths based on diversity demographics as well as their experiences for providing care for these diverse communities.
Panelists will explore the factors impacting health equity such as discrimination, healthcare access and use, housing, occupation, education, income and wealth gaps. Previous mistreatment and other experiences of racism lead to chronic stress that has negative physical and behavioral health outcomes. Across the country, local and state leaders are declaring racism a public health crisis or emergency. These declarations are an important first step in the movement to advance racial equity and justice and must be followed by allocation of resources and strategic action. During this session, panelist will discuss what strategic action would bring positive outcomes in our region.
- Learn about social determinates of health in Clark County, and explore how they are interconnected with your work, and the communities you serve. 2019 Community Needs Health Assessment
- Visit the Healthier Clark County Info Map
- Volunteer! Donate! Advocate!
- Check out the Slide Deck from the July 30 event
- For more on the history of racism in healthcare, check out the 1619 Podcast, Episode 4: “How the Bad Blood Started” or search your podcast provider.
Month 6 | August 13, 2021
Oscar Beltran Leyva | Youth Peer at Catholic Community Services
Tammy Pham | Student at Mountain View High School
Monserrat Padilla | Board Member of Somos, Seattle
Ezekiel Patterson | Student in Vancouver, WA
LGBTQIA+ Youth & Mental Health
LGBTQIA+ Youth & Mental Health
Juventud LGBTQIA+ Y Salud Mental
LGBTQIA+ youth are more likely to experience mental health concerns, inlcuding suicide and self harm due to stigma, trauma, and inadequate mental healthcare. In this session we’ll hear personal stories from local youth regarding their experiences with mental health and accessing care. We’ll also learn about the opportunities to take action to support young people who are navigating their identities and working for their rights.
- Support inclusive LGBTQIA+ curriculum & comprehensive sex ed in schools
- Vote for people who are working for LGBTQIA+ rights
- Volunteer and donate to Triple Point
- Support SB 5397 and SB 5209
- Responses to questions posted in the chat
- Follow up Q&A with Tammy & Zeke
- Further details on supporting LGBTQIA+ Youth:
– Become advocates for LGBTQIA+ inclusive sex education & history in schools, community settings, and online
– Ensure that school is a safe and accepting space for LGBTQIA+ students
– Talk to your own children and teens about sex and sexuality resources including Scarleteen and Sex Positive Families
– Work to remove state-level and policy barriers to LGBTQIA+ inclusive sex education and history and to require inclusive programs - No More Closets Report from United We Dream
- Local Washington Organizations:
– Pride Foundation
– Queer Youth Resource Center
– GSBA
– NAMI Southwest Washington Youth Resources - National Organizations
– Trevor Project
– GLSEN
– PFLAG
– Transgender Partners
– Human Rights Campaign - As we work to create more equitable communities, it is important to ground ourselves emotionally, energetically, and physically.
You can build on your own practice with the meditation we shared at the event
Month 7 | September 17, 2021
Yaser Carrasco, BA | Community Member
Oscar Ureno, PsyD | Clinical Psychologist
Octaviano Merecias-Cuevas MBT, HETC, MA | Founder, Emergente.us
"The Science & Story of Unconscious Bias"
"The Science & Story of Unconscious Bias"
"La Ciencia Y La Historia Del Sesgo Inconsciente"
Learn about the neuroscience of unconscious bias, it’s impacts on interpersonal dynamics because of race and racism, and hear reflections of this impact to people forming new communities in the US.
- Development of antiracism racism and training opportunities: Personal, Interpersonal, Structural, Systemic
- As providers of a diversity of services, what can you do to confront bias against immigrants?
- What information about the community you serve is important for you to know? For example, what are the reasons for your community members to leave their country of origin? What are the reasons for coming to another country?
- What can we, as a community, do to welcome those that have face the inevitable and left their country of origin?
Month 8 | October 29, 2021
Joseph Seia | Executive Director, PICAWA
Nora Frank-Buckner| Food Sovereignty Initiatives Director
Emma Johnson | Cowlitz Indian Tribe
Alyssa Fine | Wellness & Diabetes Program Coordinator, Cowlitz Indian Tribe
Ed Hamilton Rosales| President, SWWA League of United Latin American Citizens
"Food Sovereignty: Bringing Equitable Food Practices to the Table"
"Food Sovereignty: Bringing Equitable Food Practices to the Table"
"Soberania Alimentaria: Llevar Practicas Alimentarias Equitativas A La Mesa"
Participants will explore local food systems that work with our communities to regain the distinct nature of our own food supply system that is sustainable, eco-friendly and honors the land that grew the food. Participants will also learn about the different local, grassroots efforts working to mitigate food insecurity and increase access to healthy, culturally relevant foods.
- Take the lead of the 29 Tribes on land stewardship and integrate it into local land use policies
– The City of Vancouver Climate Emergency Action Plan
– Clark County Comprehensive Growth Management Plan
– Clark County Conservation Areas Acquisition Plan - Connect with your local landscape
- Donate to the organizations represented here today
–Pacific Islander Community Association (PICAWA)
– Cowlitz Tribe Community Wellness Garden
– SW WA League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) - Support the Federal Child Nutrition Act
- Build relationships with land stewardship organizations
- Slide Deck from PICAWA
- PICAWA Sovereignty Farm Videos from their Facebook Page
- Slide deck from Cowlitz Tribe and NW Tribal Food Sovereignty Coalition
- Slide deck from LULAC
- LULAC Video – The Hands that Feed
- Websites:
– Cowlitz Indian Tribe on Instagram
– NW Tribal Food Sovereignty Coalition Website and Facebook - Books:
– Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer
– Indigenous Food Sovereignty in the United States, by Devon A. Mihesuah - Cookbooks:
– Indigenous Home Cooking- Menus Inspired by the Ancestors by the Indigenous Food Lab in collaboration with Valerie Segrest
– The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen, By Sean Sherman - Workshop:
– Being an Ally in Indian Country - Article:
–A New Relationship: Yakama Nation acquires Inaba Produce Farms near Wapato - Ted Talks:
– Food sovereignty: Valerie Segrest from the Muckleshoot Tribe near Puget Sound.
– The (R)Evolution of Indigenous Foods with Sean Sherman, Oglala Lakota from the Pine Ridge reservation
Month 9 | November 19, 2021
Karyn Kameroff | Program Coordinator Pathways to Healing
Tanna Engdahl | Cowlitz Tribe Spiritual Leader
Mercedes White Calf | SW WA Advocacy Coordinator
Teresa Montana | Executive Director Wisdom of the Elders, Inc.
"Tribal Communities Facing History & Creating Healing"
"Tribal Communities Facing History & Creating Healing"
"Comunidades tribales enfrentando la historia y creando sanación"
The November 19th event, Tribal Communities: Facing History and Creating Healing, will cover history and current issues through the lens of indigenous communities and important resources for schools, employers, and others who want to support healing approaches through local engagement and policy change.
- Employers: consider adjusting hiring practices for formerly-incarcerated community member
- Encourage schools to use the “Since Time Immemorial” curriculum
- Learn more about MMIW and Boarding Schools; Support restorative justice for families
- Commit to allying and partnering with Native communities & organizations
- Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW)
– Highway of Tears: A True Story of Racism, Indifference, and the Pursuit of Justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. McDiarmid, Jessica (2019). New York, New York.
– Documentary. The Search: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women-Fault Lines (2019)
– Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women
– MMIW USA Website
– Savannah’s Act
– Study on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Highlights and Challenges (2018) from Non-Profit Quarterly - Boarding Schools/Cultural Genocide
– Boarding School History
– November 2021 News Story on Boarding Schools
– Disproportionality of Native American/Alaskan Native Children in Foster Care - Land Back Movement
– Hesapa, A Land Back Film
– Land Back Movement Website - Data & Research on Disparities for Native Communities
– Decolonizing Data Webinar – Seattle Urban Indian Health Board/Urban Indian Health Institute 2019
– Native Americans and Indian Health Services article on heath disparities
– Article on health disparity crisis in Native American populations
– Disproportionality of Native American/Alaskan Natives incarcerated - Other Resources
– Ally Bill of Responsibilities
– Documentary. Gather
– Gather Documentary website
Month 10 | December 10, 2021
Siobhanna McEwen | Equity & Advocacy Director, Council for the Homeless
Victor Caesar | Development Director, Vancouver Housing Authority
"Housing, Homelessness, Gentrification"
"Housing, Homelessness, Gentrification"
"Vivienda, falta de vivienda, gentrificación"
Explore the intersection of systemic racism, housing discrimination, and poverty. Attendees will learn about the historical contributing factors to homelessness for communities of color, such as the war on drugs, mass incarceration, the GI Bill, redlining, and more.
- Federal: Contact Senate offices to support the Build Back Better Bill.
- Federal: Support federal-level protections for at-risk communities in order to increase equitable implementation.
- State: Contact state elected officials to repeal the ban on rent control policies.
- State: Support Lead Legislative Agenda in WA state to be released soon by the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance: www.wliha.org
- City and County: Encourage local governments to meaningfully engage impacted communities and prioritize their needs.
- City and County: Support caps on annual rent increases.
- Movie
– East Lake Meadows: The story of an Atlanta public housing community raises critical questions about race and poverty. - Research
– Roots of Structural Racism from the Institute of Othering and Belonging. Includes an interactive mapping tool that illustrates the level of segregation in every city, region and neighborhood in the country, among many other tools
– Black Homeownership in the US: A look at homeownership rates and the racial homeownership gap by state and metro area.
– Racism in Housing Appraisal: Black homeowners routinely experience lower appraisal values than white homeowners.
– Reside Vancouver: Anti-Displacement Plan – recommendations for how the City can help to stabilize vulnerable communities—such as renters, people with lower incomes, and people of color—and support them as they move towards financial self-sufficiency over time. - Other Resources:
– Tenants Union of Washington State
– Mutual Aid Groups - Additional Legislation to follow and support:
– H. R. 5905 – To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend to Black veterans of World War II, and surviving spouses and certain direct descendants of such veterans, eligibility for certain housing loans and educational assistance administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Month 11 | January 21, 2022
Elizabeth Fitzgearld | Executive Director Clark County Volunteer Lawyers Program
Jasmine Tolbert | President NAACP
Vanessa Yarie | Deputy Director, YWCA Clark County
"Authentic Community Engagement"
"Authentic Community Engagement"
"Compromiso auténtico de la comunidad"
How to center & engage with communities without tokenizing.
- Review the calls to action from this series and look for opportunities to implement them.
- Explore the additional materials made available from each month’s teach-in.
Attending City Council meetings is a way to practice community engagement. You can search online for your city’s name and “council meetings” to find the page on your city’s website. Meetings are usually shared on local television and online through streaming services.
Here are a few to check out!
Month 12 | February 11, 2022
Carolyn Phinney | Artist-in-Residence, Middlebury College
Shandra Terry | President, Standing Ovations Entertainment
"Storytelling & Conversation: Building Our Resiliency to Practice DEI"
"Storytelling & Conversation: Building Our Resiliency to Practice DEI"
"Cuentacuentos y Conversación: Construyendo Nuestra Resiliencia para Practicar DEI"
This session is intended to draw together the learning from the last 11 sessions with inspiration and commitment to continue the work of Advancing Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Southwest Washington.
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