Seeing White: A Necessary Perspective for Understanding the Racism
As coaches, we support our clients' transformation. Yet until we are aware of our own biases and unconscious beliefs, we may miss opportunities to see our clients’ full selves and actively create positive change. In our current climate of awakening to social injustice and racism, what better time to take action to bring our own unseen racist conditioning into the light of healing and change? Doing so sets us up to bring our full presence in service to racial justice. And what’s possible then? Perhaps more doors will open for coaches to act as agents of both individual and social transformation.
In this MeetUp we will discuss our reactions to a series of episodes from the podcast called “Seeing White.” Then we will explore how to untangle ourselves from the systems that give white people power and benefits, and instead act as agents of transformation for ourselves, our clients and the communities where we live and work.
In preparation for this MeetUp we ask that you listen to the first four episodes of the Podcast “Seeing White” presented by Scene on Radio.
http://www.sceneonradio.org/seeing-white/
This MeetUp will be hosted by Maine Coaches Connection Executive Committee Member Barti Bourgault, MA, PCC, CMT-P and facilitated by Lisa Cohen, EdM, ACC.
Presenter: Lisa Cohen, EdM, ACC
Lisa Cohen, EdM, ACC, is a certified professional coach based in Alexandria, Virginia, working with mid-career women in global or non-profit careers. She specializes in supporting women in transition and those with loud inner critic voices, all the while seeking to expand her clients’ vision of what is possible. Lisa spent 25+ years in international education and intercultural exchange, leading the global training area at each AFS Intercultural Programs in New York and later US Peace Corps Headquarters in Washington, DC. At Peace Corps she co-founded the Intercultural Competence, Diversity & Inclusion initiative. Lisa currently serves on the board of Cultural Vistas, co-hosts a monthly roundtable on race and belonging, and has a daily yoga and meditation practice.