ANTI-RACISM INTEREST GROUP (ARIG)

A group of parents initiated CEE’s AntiRacism Interest Group (ARIG) in the fall of 2020 as an inclusive, safe space for adults in the CEE community to uncover and consider our contributions to systemic racism as individuals and as a construct in our broader school community. CEE parents, faculty, staff, grandparents, adult alumni, alumni parents, and invited guests attend regular meetings to educate themselves on what contributions to systemic racism look like and to ‘unlearn’ negative behaviors and biases. Through workshops and small group discussions in breakout rooms of 4-5 people, ARIG invites participants to examine their own biases and behaviors. Members meet via Zoom to reflect, share, practice, and ask questions in small and whole-group settings.

Since November, with over 400 participants joining, the group has explored:

• Practicing constructivist listening and how to have hard conversations • How to create a script to slow down a transgression or racist comment • Awareness of what a ‘ single story ’ is and how dangerous they can be • How stereotyping can affect our actions and how we can change our own script to make different choices • Stories about how racism and hate crimes affect everyday life • How to be a better ally and co-conspirator

Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith joined to moderate two of the group’s meetings. Alongside the parent group leaders, Dr. Briscoe-Smith helped ARIG members begin and contextualize brave conversations on race. The meetings have been fulfilling gatherings with lots of connection, dialogue, learning, and unlearning for diverse groups of parents, faculty, staff, alumni, grandparents, and friends alike. ARIG looks forward to building upon its successes this year into the future.