Ep. 170: Ep. 170: Fostering Sisterhood Cross Culturally w/ Kimberlee Yolanda Williams

EQ: How can white women and women of color actively work towards a sisterhood that furthers a more inclusive and equitable society?

In this episode of IWL, Kimberlee Yolanda Williams, co-founder Engaging Across Differences, unpacks her recent book "Dear White Women, Please Come Home:  hand me your bias and I’ll show you are connection”. The book explores the concept of being seen and centered, the idealization of sisterhood, microaggressions, and the search for genuine connections. Looking ahead, Kimberlee shares her hopes for changes in conversations around race, sisterhood, and equity. She envisions positive change and recommends resources for deeper exploration of the topics. The discussion wraps up with a mention of Kimberlee's new book project and information about Engaging Across Differences' offerings.

Related Sources:

• Dear White Women Podcast

• Kimberlee’s Instagram Page

Do Your Fudging Homework:

• Hope: In the new year, recommit to learning and unlearning…to being part of the greater sisterhood.

• Kimberlee: Look out for those moments happening around you and develop a toolkit for what to say–to interrupt the moment that is happening in front of you. Become part of my second book project! Send a message to women of color. 

Ep. 104: Interrupting Whiteness One Zoom Session At a Time

EQ: Why do we need racial affinity groups to combat racism and how do they lead to sustainable change?

Guests: 

• Emily Meadows is an LGBTQ+ consultant and published author specializing in international schools. If you missed our conversation on creating inclusive spaces, go download Episode 99.

• Tamara Friedman is a NBCT, school leader, and classroom teacher. She works towards implementing culturally relevant and anti-racist pedagogy in her classrooms and currently teaches 4th grade at The American School of the Hague.

In this episode we discuss the distinctive ways that racism and white supremacy manifest in an international school context. While commonly appearing in the form of deflection because the school is “diverse”, explicit anti-racism work is long overdue. Our guests, Emily and Tamar,  share their journey to establishing the Whiteness Accountability Group for International Educators including how it is rooted in volunteer participation, leading through vulnerability and story-telling, and collective leadership. Additionally, they discuss the need for accountability to each other, group participants, and to people of color.

To understand the purpose and framing of racial caucusing, check out the following documents: 

• Overview/Handout

• Racial Affinity Grouping

• Roots for Justice Racial Caucusing

• Anti-Racism Consultants for International Schools

Do Your Fudging Homework:

• Hope: Racial Equity Tools & Culturally responsive Leadership, Me & White Supremacy by Layla Saad

• Megan: If you work in a school, make sure you know what your School’s Culturally Responsive Teaching policies are and know who the leadership team is that is responsible to implementing those.

• Tamara: Franchise Kendall Understanding White Privilege and Harvard Implicit Bias Test

• Emily: Join our group by emailing us; Learning for Justice Standards; 

Ep. 77: Racial Healing Is A Crucial Component for Achieving Equity

EQ: Why is racial healing a crucial component for achieving equity in our schools and communities?

Guest: Tovi Scruggs-Hussein is “a visionary educator, author, and award-winning urban high school principal with over 25 years of emotional intelligence training.” Her work on self-transformation and  healing through courageous leadership development can be found at Ticiess. Highlights from our discussion include recognizing that educators can be smart and dedicated but still be racist (and uphold racist infrastructure in schools).  We further discuss how to make long term change, and grow our compassion for colleagues and students. We cannot serve our students unless we are more balanced in our own personal lives and truly understand our racial and cultural identities. In education, we often ignore that both teachers and students experience educational trauma. It’s only through acknowledgement of this trauma and pursuit of healing that we can achieve equity for all students. 

Additional resources:

• The Ethic of Radical Empathy

• Healing-Centered & Trauma-Responsive Leadership & Classrooms 

Do Your Fudging Homework:

• Annie: Do some additional research about radical empathy!

• Hope:  Go read about Racial Healing Allies--download the ebook & sign up for an e-course

• Tovi: Please pace yourself (white folks!) and do not burn out.

Follow us on Twitter @IWL_Podcast or Facebook: Interchangeable White Ladies Podcast

Don’t forget to pick up your copy of The Body is Not an Apology for the #readlessbasic book club