Racial and Social Justice Resources for Our Community
Community Collaboration and Collective Efficacy
Reflect: deepen your own self-awareness
Start by by reflecting on the following questions:
- What are the barriers that get in the way of community wellness?
- What are the training opportunities that our community needs?
- How am I currently addressing recurring community & historical trauma? What is a role I can play in caring for my community?
- How has my own cultural identity been a part of my strengths and how has it helped me to overcome obstacles in the past? What am I most proud of about my culture?
- What are those unique practices from my own family that helps keep me grounded?
- What are my own assumptions and implicit biases that I still need to surface and examine further?
- What more do I need to know to be a better ally?
Learn: learn the facts and be informed with the following resources.
Teaching Tolerance: This one of the best resources
TED Talk – How Studying Privilege Systems Can Strengthen Compassion: Media Addressing Race & Trauma
Stanford University Stereotype Threat: Offers definitions, research, and resources.
Racial Equity Tools: Offers articles, activities, and other resources for teaching about racism and justice.
Kirwan Institute for the Study of Implicit Bias: Research and resources for understanding implicit bias.
Theory of Aligned Contributions – An Emerging Theory of Change Primer: this theory lays out the conditions needed to move a complex problem from today’s reality to intended results
Racial Healing Allies focuses on adult SEL-based approach to racial healing and equity: a racial healing allies e-book
Racial Equity Resource Guide: download the TRHT Implementation Guidebook or a collection of resources on racial healing
Education Week – The Urgent Need for Anti-Racist Education
Act: take action and be involved in collective change.
- Take the Implicit Bias Test
- Use “Questioning Frame of Mind” to talk about race
(source)
- Seek clarity: “Tell me more about __________.”
- Offer an alternative perspective: “Have you ever considered __________.”
- Speak your truth: “I don’t see it the way you do. I see it as __________.”
- Find common ground: “We don’t agree on __________ but we can agree on __________.”
- Give yourself the time and space you need: “Could we revisit the conversation about __________ tomorrow.”
- Set boundaries. “Please do not say __________ again to me or around me.
- As you practice, take note of your responses and ask: How am I processing the experience? What body sensations do I have? What is my emotional reaction? Notice what triggers your response and how it manifests in your body.
- Reject color blindness to build relationships: it can be powerful to connect with students and families over similarities. Celebrate and acknowledge differences!
- Communicate positive intentions by explicitly communicating respect for the other person and commit to treat them with care.
- Avoid making assumptions or inferences about different racial or ethnic group based on bias and stereotypes.
- Listen with grace (listen to hear, not to respond)
- Foster community collaboration by developing collaborative working alliances with local communities and groups with aligned goals in addressing race and trauma.
Self Care
“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and it is an act of political warfare” – Audre Lorde
Physical Health and Nutrition
- Schedule regular time to exercise. Exercise can help alleviate stress & anxiety.
- Eat healthy/regular meals and stay hydrated. This will help with your energy level and keep you healthy.
Normalize your Feelings & Emotions
- Whatever you feel is OK and valid. Notice your feelings- whether it’s anger, frustration, anxiety, stress, sadness- they are all normal feelings.
Mindful “Breathe. Move. Rest”
- Take time to breathe and focus on your breath.
- Take regular pauses or brain breaks.
- Take a mindful walk and notice what’s around you.
- Get plenty of sleep.
Self-Coaching
- Self-talk and reframing toward the positive (train your mind to think on what’s positive vs. the negative).
- Use emotional distance when self-coaching by saying your name. (Ex: “Anne, you’ve encountered this before. What are other ways you can get through this situation now?”).
- Journaling can provide a healthy means for releasing anger/frustration.
- Practice daily gratitude.
Stay Connected with family, friends & allies
- Daily check-ins to connect.
- Lean on others when the load is too heavy.
Regulate information saturation from social media and the news
- Be informed and updated but manage over-exposure to the bombardment of the 24-hour news cycle.
Lean on Community of Artists for Inspiration and Connection
- During times of difficulty or stress the artists in our community can help us make sense of what is happening through art; paintings, photos, poems, lyrics, and dance can bring expression and connection to our collective experiences.
Seek Help: know when to reach out for help
Hope Cooperative Peer Support Line: feeling anxious and need support? Hope Cooperative’s Peer Navigators are available and ready to listen. Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm – 1 (855) 502-3224.
The Source Support Line for Youth and Caregivers: Feeling alone, stressed? Call or text 916-SUPPORT (787-7678) for 24/7 support.
Black Safe Spaces: A space for people who self-identify as being of African ancestry and who are experiencing racial stress, anxiety, and/or trauma. Adults/youth 14 yr+.
Mental Health America of California: resource guide for the African-American community
Youth Help Network for your older kids (16+): call/text available Monday – Friday 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Call: (833) 333-2YHN (2946),Text: (916) 860-9819; California Relay Service: 711
Text START to 741-741 or call 1-800-273-TALK (8253) for a confidential conversation anytime.
Additional support is also available through your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – contact MHN EAP at www.members.mhn.com and register with the code “sia”, or call (800) 227-1060.
California Surgeon General’s Playbook: Stress Relief during COVID-19
Additional Resources to Support Adult Learning and Growth
Mindfulness & Yoga
Digital Yoga, Mindfulness, & SEL for Adults at Breathe for Change
Headspace App
Self-Care
Daily Self-Care Calendar for June
Use These Daily Quarantine Questions to Navigate Each Day
Articles
National Museum of African American History & Culture: Being Antiracist
Barack Obama: How to Make this Moment the Turning Point for Real Change
Podcasts
Books
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi
How to be an AntiRacist by Ibram X. Kendi
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
The Pushout by Monique W. Morris