In the United States and around the world, there are widespread, unprecedented demands for racial justice. SURJ DC regularly seeks reading/action group participants and facilitators to participate in this racial justice movement.

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“We won’t all go together, and that’s ok, but none of us will go alone, and that’s crucial.” - Adrienne Maree Brown

What are reading/action groups?

• Ongoing small group discussions facilitated by skillful people who are committed to dismantling white supremacy, one conversation at a time. These groups also allow for skill-building around taking action in your workplace, neighborhood, school, and family. 

Who are reading/action groups for?

• White-identified people (primarily) who want to learn about racism and candidly reflect on their own internalized racism in a psychologically safe environment, without inadvertently causing harm to people of color during these discussions.

• All are welcome. We include everyone who feels called to this work: 

  • White people, people who don't identify as white, people who identify as white and also hold other identities.

  • People with a variety of learning and communication styles.

  • People with a variety of needs.

What is the philosophy and goal?

• Racism is a white problem, and white people’s active understanding and participation are required to solve it. For most of us, this requires a radical interrogation of who we are as white people, how we behave, and how we might change our behaviors to speak out and stand up for less privileged people and help move society toward racial justice.

• The goal of reading/action groups is to create spaces where people can learn, be emotionally open, acquire skills, and develop the capacity and courage to identify and confront racism in ourselves, others, and institutions, with the intention of bringing those insights into the rest of our lives so we meaningfully contribute to dismantling white supremacy in all of its interpersonal and systemic manifestations. 

How does this work?

• Meetings will be online unless or until groups choose to meet in person.

• Groups will meet once or twice a month, or whatever works for the group.

• The planning team will match participants with co-facilitators based on logistical considerations such as preferred meeting times and locations.

• Co-facilitators will select curriculum based on the interests of the group. Co-facilitators will share readings, podcasts, articles, book titles, etc. prior to each session so participants can read/listen/watch on their own.

• After initial sessions, interested participants can try their hand at facilitating alongside the co-facilitators.

• Want to participate with one or more friends? Please say so on the application form - and make sure you all apply, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.

What is the commitment?

• We ask everyone to attend at least 8 sessions.

• After 8 sessions, groups will continue or not, as decided by the group and individuals.

What's in it for you? 

• Deepen your own understanding of institutionalized white supremacy and racism toward becoming a more informed, more compassionate, and braver person. 

• Be part of meaningful anti-racism work by supporting people who are learning, listening, thinking, and reconsidering longstanding biases, beliefs, assumptions, and behaviors.

• Participate in a "brave space" in which everyone can learn, grow, and experiment with new anti-racist efforts.

• Join a supportive, healthy community of people who share your values.

• Participate in moving from theory into action via such actions as:

  • Serving as an accountability group for each other’s actions

  • Taking collective action as a group

  • Joining other SURJ actions, and

  • Other ideas generated by the group

 What did former participants say? 

• 88% hope or plan to continue meeting with their group.

• 86% recommend SURJ DC reading groups to others.

• 88% agree the readings, podcasts, and other resources were interesting.

• 77% developed valuable new insights.

• More than 8 in 10 agreed that the facilitators: 

  • effectively guided the group discussion.

  • ensured all members had a chance to participate.

  • “established an environment of psychological safety that gave me permission to share uncomfortable or shameful beliefs or feelings.”

Comments about facilitators:

• “Humble, smart, empathetic, patient, kind, accessible, empathic.”

• “Leads with love (and righteous anger).” 

• “They openly shared their experiences, thoughts and questions.”

• “They modeled how to be vulnerable. I liked how welcome they made us feel.”

• “They spent time at the beginning building the group into a community.”

• “Our group ended up sharing facilitation, so someone who was not one of the primary facilitators would take a role each month for part of the meeting/discussion. This felt very collaborative and also was welcome scaffolding to build my own ability to facilitate discussions on race.”

Questions? Email us at Surj.ReadingGroups@gmail.com