April 28, 2022 (Warren, Ohio)– The Raymond John Wean Foundation is inviting community stakeholders to join them for their 2022 Racial Equity and Inclusion Workshop on May 10 and 11. Sponsored by the Wean Foundation, this two-day virtual training is hosted by ThirdSpace Action Lab and presented by the Racial Equity Institute.
“The REI training I partook in was amazing, well executed, thought out, thought provoking, and most importantly intentionally impactful. The organizers did a phenomenal job in executing the difficulty in explaining our past and how it has had a continuous lasting impact,” says Sonnie Provitt, child recruiter, Northeast Ohio Adoption Services. “What I took away from this was the exact knowledge I needed to continue to have these conversations.”
Committed to advancing racial equity and inclusion, the Wean Foundation has provided these REI Workshops to the Mahoning Valley since 2017. Initially offered in-person, the workshop shifted to a virtual format during COVID. To date, 669 community stakeholders representing 222 diverse organizations have participated in these workshops.
“If everyone took part in the Racial Equity and Inclusion Workshop, I believe our area would benefit tremendously,” says Emily Moran, who participated in the April workshop and is a planner in the Trumbull County Planning Commission’s office.
According to the Racial Equity Institute, the REI workshop is designed to develop the capacity of participants to better understand racism in its institutional and structural forms. Moving away from a focus on personal bigotry and bias, the workshop presents a historical, cultural and structural analysis of racism. With shared language and a clearer understanding of how institutions and systems are producing unjust and inequitable outcomes, participants should leave the training better equipped to begin to work for change.
“We cannot make any progress until we can have honest conversations about the documented causes and impact of racial inequality. Addressing the issue in the ‘safety’ of smaller groups can give one the courage to continue the conversation with a larger audience,” says REI Workshop participant, Stacy Costley, housing counselor at Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation.
In addition to the upcoming May workshops, the Wean Foundation will hold two more sessions in October and November. Attendees are asked to ensure that they can attend for the entirety of the two-day training before registering. Should an individual find cost be a factor in attending, contact the Foundation at 330.394.5600 x105 to learn more about sponsorship opportunities. For additional information, or to register, visit www.weanfoundation.org/get-involved/#events.