UWSA Unlearning Circle

Join us as we wrap up our three-part series on Transformative Justice. We have explored what transformative justice is, the movement away from punishment as a solution to harm and a focus on the socialization of shame and blame which are embedded in us as individuals and in the oppressive systems we participate in. We explored our need for comfort and our conflation of comfort and safety through the tool of theater of the oppressed in somatic exercises.

In April’s ULC, we will be looking at transformative justice through the lens of relational accountability. What does it feel like to be in accountable relationships? What is the intersection between accountability and transformative justice? What could it look like when we are a part of an intact culture outside a racist paradigm, grounded in ways of sustaining ourselves without the violence of racism, independent of oppressive systems. What if we choose to act out of a different paradigm and could imagine that we are in a community we can trust where accountability feels like a hug? Join us as we explore these questions and broaden our understanding through dialogue and self reflection.

UWSA’s first Unlearning Circle in the winter of 2017 was created as a place for white people to do the work of reflection and community self-education. As we continue to gather to critically examine our own participation in cultures of dominance, we build our capacity to show up as individuals and as a city-wide community network for Black, Indigenous and people of color-led anti-racist efforts in a positive and accountable way. The Unlearning Circles are an opportunity for white identifying people to explore white supremacy culture and our role and responsibilities in undoing racism. We welcome and recognize the gift of the presence of any People of Color who choose to join us.