Honouring Diversity as Spiritual Practice

Program fee: $250

Ages: 18+

Time: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm PT

This daylong workshop offers individuals and organizations an opportunity to take our discussions of diversity, equity, and inclusion to a deeper level. How might we engage in the gloriously challenging work of acknowledging and celebrating diversity? What does it mean to do this work intersectionally with an awareness of the many identities and experiences people bring to our beloved communities? How do our own identities, histories, and beliefs shape and inform our capacity to do this work? And how might engaging in this work with courage and honesty be a profoundly spiritual practice?

We will explore these questions together through a series of exercises and courageous conversations, and we will identify action steps for our own work moving forward.

Through this workshop, participants will gain a deeper understanding of what they personally bring to this work, explore intersectional approaches, discuss what microaggressions are and their impact, and identify steps for further action.

Topics covered will include:

• Who am I in this work? The importance of “reflexivity”—how our own identities,
  histories, and beliefs, shape and inform our understandings of gender diversity
• Should we really talk about ___? An exploration of why we need to talk honestly and
  openly about difference, as well as the potential harm in not doing so
• What about intersectionality? -exploration of the vital importance of looking at the
  intersections of transphobia, racism, ableism, and other systemically oppressive systems
  in diversity work
• What about microaggressions? — exploration of microaggressions, what they look and
  sound like, and the impact they can have
• Why is this a spiritual practice? –exploration of honoring diversity as a deeply spiritual
  practice
• What next? identifying concrete and specific action steps we might take as we continue
  in this work moving forward.

Participants will leave this workshop with:

• A deeper understanding of what they personally bring to diversity work
• Awareness of intersectional approaches to diversity work
• Knowledge of microaggressions and their impact
• How to apply diversity work as a spiritual practice
• Identified steps for further action