“It feels awkward to say ‘The White Community’, right? A reason for this is that whiteness is afforded the acknowledgement that white people are diverse in their cultures, thoughts, and realities. The actions of one white person, or a small group of white people, are not systemically positioned as representative of all white people. So why are we so comfortable saying ‘the Black, the Indigenous, the Asian, or the Muslim community’?” - @ancestorsfuture
As White folks, we often do not seek to understand what our role is in anti-racism, equity and inclusion, even in our own workplaces and community spaces. This training will help you understand the Eight White Identities and find your role in the ongoing work of racial and social justice in our communities. All learner types were thought of when planning this training, with times for individual reflection, small group work, and full group sharing. Join us to say no to white saviorism and commit to working toward being an ally and accomplice.
Topics include:
- Cultural, religious, and racial tensions
- Moving from indifference to action
- The eight white identities
- White savior complex
- Interpersonal vs. systemic discrimination
- Contradictions for white folks in racial justice work
- Interrupting dominant white culture
Learning Objectives:
- You will understand the levels of whiteness and identify where you are on your journey.
- You will hear stories of both marginalization and hope from MN communities.
- You will learn about white saviorism and understand your role in racial and social justice as a white person working toward being an ally and accomplice.
Event Details
This virtual event will take place on the Zoom platform. Your access link will be emailed to you the day before the event after 12 p.m.
This session will be recorded. The recording will be made available to registrants for 14 days after the live event.
Captioning is provided automatically through Zoom. For information on requesting CART, ASL, or another accommodation, please visit our
Registration Policies page.
To learn more about events, registration, and payment, visit our
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Speaker Information
Natalie Copeland, executive director, Unite Cloud, grew up in Central Minnesota and received her Music Education degree from Concordia College in Moorhead. She taught middle school choir in Georgia and worked in the church sector for over a decade. In 2015, she founded Unite Cloud, a nonprofit working to reduce racial, religious, and cultural tensions in Central MN. She is also a trainer with the CARE (Community Anti-Racism Education) Team at SCSU (St Cloud State University), and a member of the St Cloud School District 742 board, the United Way Community Impact Team, and the Welcoming America Content Advisory Board. Natalie loves to spend time with her husband and 3 children, making music and playing games.
Natalie's personal anti-racism statement: I understand that I will never truly know what it is like to be a person of color. Also, I know that, as a white person, my anti-racism allyship is an important part of the movement to ensure all can thrive in our communities through equal access and opportunity. I will continue to learn and grow and I will bring other white folks along with me on this journey.