How to be an Effective Anti-Racism Ally

Facilitated by Michaela Brown and Liz Moore

Thursday, March 9, 2023 – 12-1:30pm in Monroe Hall 207 WAGE Center Lounge

Co-sponsored by
The Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Committee of CAHSS
Women and Center Education (WAGE) Center & Gender, Women’s, & Sexuality Studies Program (GWSS)

All students, staff and faculty are welcome to participate in this workshop.

This workshop seeks to address the reality that white women often occupy much of the committees that lead on race equity on campus. Being an anti-racism ally takes more than good intention. Just as Harry Blackmun says “in order to get beyond racism we have to take account of race,” in order to get to allyship we have to recognize our susceptibility to collude with oppression.

Allies should consider how to better equip themselves so that they don’t cause harm to members of marginalized communities in their activism and contribute to dynamics that perpetuates the inequities they seek to dismantle. In this interactive workshop, participants will learn how white women’s experience with patriarchy can be turned into a window for them to understand how they can be more effective as an anti-racism ally.

Michaela Brown (she/her) is a deeply curious, over-thinking, heart-in-hand lover of people and history. Her background in collective impact organizing and commitment to advancing a world where everyone belongs has led her to serve in many community capacities focused on advancing individual and collective learning around diversity, equity, and inclusion (which includes her role as the Director of Community Learning for Excelerate Success, an education equity partnership, and in her roles as a race equity facilitator). Her formal education in history and leadership studies combined with her passion for multi-cultural education, identity development, and community healing has brought her to the JustLead Team ready to grow with and cheer on change makers across Washington state.

As a multi-racial woman, Michaela finds power in the ability to hold the complexities of our interconnected lives and leans on the mantra by adrienne maree brown: “Where we are born into privilege we are charged to unlearn any myth of supremacy, where we are born into struggle, we are charged with claiming or dignity, joy and liberation.” Emboldened by the brilliance of our ancestors as well as modern revolutionaries, Michaela in her wholeness seeks to cultivate learning spaces that are relational and transformative.

Liz Moore (she/her) has worked for racial justice, worker rights, and grassroots power for more than 25 years as an organizer, educator, and leader. Through her consulting practice (www.ConsultLizMoore.com), Liz works with unions and community-based organizations with a focus on organizing skills, popular education, and racial equity. In addition, Liz is the Executive Director of the Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane (www.peacejustice.org).

Liz began her activist life with PJALS as a high school student after looking up “peace” in the phone book. The Peace and Justice Action League engages everyday people to build a just and nonviolent world through community organizing, grassroots activist education, and supporting youth as leaders. In all that she does, Liz holds fast to the belief that everyday people have the power to build a just and nonviolent world.