I find myself in the Active-Advocate categories. I have a work position where I'm creating programs serving mostly children of color in underserved communities. I'm white and I started the work of Aware-Active as I was finding it very hard to find people of color in my profession to interview for the positions necessary to do the work. I've had to really question my whole profession and have been learning and reflecting and getting involved. I teach at a major university and run a non-profit program. Those positions of privilege and power give me opportunities to create educational workshops for white people and to try to elevate voices that may not be heard. I reflect on white saviorism and am trying to constantly check myself and my employees on that. I joined the DEI working group made up of program directors, faculty and board members. I attended protests in Brooklyn, brought my daughter and am actively trying to educate she and other white kids. I struggle with not wanting my black friends and colleagues to feel like they have to take an active role in educating me or giving me feedback and yet I value their feedback so much. I don't want them to feel that we have to talk about race but I don't want them to feel that it is ever off limits. I'm trying to be transparent and not make this work about me, to find the best resources and share them but really focus on my own education. This training has been so helpful.
