In February we launched into learning all we can about racism and undoing racism. Side by side with this learning process, we are beginning to tend to how white supremacy is interwoven throughout Interhelp. Our hard-working little group of eight Interhelp Council members is our first laboratory for this effort.

In March we began our group study of How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi. We’ll never be done with the this topic, to say nothing of the needed implementation! Hopefully our study is providing a groundwork for all of our efforts.

Most of us are also engaged in practice groups using My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem. We are learning how trauma may manifest in our bodies, and in the bodies of others with different skin color journeys, and we are practicing skills of body awareness and self-regulation.

To avoid learning in a vacuum, we have been exploring anti-racism efforts in our communities, and we have chosen two organizations to support financially:

ACE: Alternatives for Community and Environment is based in Roxbury (a neighborhood in Boston); their mission is “building power for environmental justice,” with a particular emphasis on empowering young leaders in their racially mixed community. We are thrilled to be donating $500 to their efforts, and encourage all of you to learn about them and consider supporting their efforts by making a monetary donation as well.

Pending clarification of the legalities surrounding investment of monies by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we will be removing $1500 from our bank account and investing in Boston Ujima Project. A fabulous example of systems thinking and Gaian structure, they provide investment capital for Black-owned businesses. It’s simple to invest with them, and they also welcome donations. We encourage you to check out their work and consider making either an investment or a donation. For people with financial access, moving money in this way is an important way to work toward equality.

We have funds to donate and invest because, in our role as fiscal sponsor to the Work That Reconnects Network, we receive a small percentage of all monies donated to them. Thus we are taking a small step toward redistribution of resources toward equity.

In the works (watch for upcoming invitations):

• A day-long online training for our community with Donna Bivens and Paul Marcus of Community Change Inc. (CCI), to help us build a shared baseline understanding of how racism plays out in our society and by extension in Interhelp spaces. This day will begin an ongoing community exploration. We are excited to join CCI in their mission of promoting racial justice and equity by challenging systemic racism – and acting as a catalyst for anti-racist learning and action.

• A Tending and Mending Circle online practice session focused on racial microaggresssions. Pre-reading will be provided. Following a discussion of concepts, we will engage in role plays designed to support us in growing our anti-racist muscles. Sarah Pirtle and Aravinda Ananda will facilitate.

• A community-wide online meeting open to all in the Interhelp Network. We will focus on deepening in our anti-racism and better attending to how racism is showing up in Interhelp spaces.

We anticipate that these events will occur in late summer and early fall, and are early steps in a long-term commitment towards becoming anti-racist. We can’t know all of what that will look like, but our intention is to move forward together.

Interhelp Council is also looking into hiring a consultant to help guide us in proceeding effectively and inclusively in this multi-dimensional effort.