1. society
2. racism

2015 schedule for the Day of Absence and Day of Presence:
Race. Comedy. Intersections...The Complexity of Identity
Day of Absence: Wednesday, April 8, 2015 (on campus event schedule)
10am-12pm
The Paradox of Race: It’s not biological yet it lives in our bodies: Film and discussion
Facilitators: Faculty members Carolyn Prouty and Pauline Yu
Location: Recital Hall in the Communications Building
This workshop will tackle two seemingly conflicting truths about race and biology: that there is no biological basis for race, meaning
that there are no biological markers for racial groupings, and yet clear differences can be seen in the health and bodies of people with
different racial identities. The workshop will begin with “Race: The Power of an Illusion”, a powerful film that examines the history
of race, science, and genetics. The film will be followed by a brief overview of how racism hurts our health, and a guided discussion
that will help untangle this paradox.
12pm-1pm
Sharing our Best Practices for Working towards Racial Justice Inside & Outside of the classroom
Staff and Faculty discussion
Facilitators: Faculty member Tom Womeldorff and Vice President for Student Affairs Wendy Endress
NEW LOCATION: CAB 301
Come together for a conversation about applying racial justice principles to our work at Evergreen. A short reading will be sent to all
faculty and staff in anticipation of this conversation. (Brown bag lunch)
1pm-2pm
Working Towards Racial Justice Inside and Outside the Classroom
Community Lunch and Roundtable Discussion
Facilitators: Tutors from the Writing Center and leaders of Student Organizations
NEW LOCATION: SEM2 E1107
Come together for a facilitated conversation about applying racial justice principles to our work as students at Evergreen.
Lunch provided.
2pm-5pm
Showing Up for Racial Justice: How White Allies can Support the Movement
Faciltator: Dara Silverman from SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice)
Location: CAB 301
Attend this interactive workshop to learn how while allies can support the national movement for racial justice and challenge
Institutional racism. SURJ is a national network of groups and individuals organizing white people for racial justice. Through
community organizing, mobilizing, and education, SURJ moves white people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for justice with
passion and accountability. Pre-registration requested. Other participants joining in on the day are welcome as space allows. Please
email [email protected]
6pm-9pm
Dear White People: Film and discussion
Faciltators: Faculty members Naima Lowe and Julie Russo
Location: Recital Hall in the Communications Building
A social satire that follows the stories of four black students at an Ivy League college where controversy breaks out over a popular
but offensive black-face party thrown by white students. This film explores racial identity in acutely-not-post-racial America while
weaving a universal story of forging one's unique path in the world. $1 dollar donation requested at the door. No one will be turned
away. Please participate in a facilitated discussion after the two hour film. This special night-time showing will enable members
from on and off campus daytime programming to join in and have a discussion about the film together as a whole campus.
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2015 schedule for the Day of Absence and Day of Presence:
(continued)
Day of Absence: Wednesday, April 8, 2015 (off campus event schedule)
9am-4:30pm
Vans will leave campus to our off-campus site
This year our retreat will take place at the Lacey Community Center at Woodland Creek Community Park.
6729 pacific Avenue SE (Call or email us if you want a ride, 867-6467 or [email protected])
9:30………….. Tea and coffee
10-11:30……...Getting to know you activities
11:30-12:30…. Potluck lunch
12:30-1:10……Movement
1:20-3:20…... Workshop on resilience from damali ayo
3:30-3:45…... Closing
3:45………… Cleaning and prep to leave
4:15………….Vans will leave back to campus
It’s time for a new approach to activism, social change, and tough topics. We have to conquer fear
and work from a place of love. I am invested in making this shift in our culture. My presentations and the way I share my experience
honors the whole human being. I share stories about how we think, how we feel, how we learn, how we fight, how we love, and how
we fight for what we love—and most of all—how we are transformed. My presentations share my journey as an artist, writer, and
activist who grew from a place of fear and anger into a place of courage, love, and transformative action. I help everyone I meet find
that journey within themselves and latch onto hope, affirmation, and a positive way forward into the future
we create not alone , but together. –damail ayo
Day of Presence: Friday, April 10, 2015 (all events on campus)
9am-11am (one of two concurrent workshops)
When Good Intentions Were Not Enough
Faciltators: Faculty member, Heesoon Jun and her students from the Multicultural Counseling Program
Location: SEM 2 D1107
Students in the Multicultural Counseling Program will share stories of times in their life when they thought they were being
conscious and aware of racial and social dynamics but ended up behaving in a way that perpetuated oppression and privilege. The
students will deconstruct how and why in an open and honest space. This interactive workshop will offer strategies towards
prevention of unintentional harm by promoting awareness of multiple identities and their intersections, holistic thinking, and
transformative learning.
9am-11am (Second concurrent workshop)
Political Economy of Racism and Racial Inequality
Faciltator: Faculty member, Peter Bohmer
Location: SEM 2 E1107
In this workshop, we will analyze the current institutional forms of racism in the United States, focusing on changes and continuities
from earlier forms. A particular focus will be the political economy of racism, the relation between contemporary racism and the
U.S. economy today. We will conclude with strategies to challenge racism. Data will be presented and discussed on racial inequality
in income, wealth, incarceration, health, poverty and unemployment rates.
11:15am-12:45pm
Come have lunch with us...
Everyone invited
Location: LIBRARY 1326
Come together for a potluck lunch and a chance to discuss the topics talked about this year.
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2015 schedule for the Day of Absence and Day of Presence:
(continued)
Day of Presence: Friday, April 10, 2015 (all events on campus)
1pm-3pm
Keynote speaker: Richard Benjamin, author of “Whitopia”
Location: Recital Hall in the communications building
Rich Benjamin is a scholar, ideas builder, and entrepreneur. His social and political commentary appear regularly in the media,
including on NPR, The New York Times, MSNBC, Fox News, C-SPAN, and Salon.com. Rich is the author of
Searching for Whitopia: An Improbable Journey to the Heart of White America, selected as an Editor’s Choice by Booklist and The
American Library Association. He is also Senior Fellow at Demos, a nonpartisan, multi-issue think tank based in New York City.
He has held teaching and research positions at Stanford University, Brown University, and the Columbia University School of
Law. Rich earned a BA in English and political science from Wesleyan University and his PhD in Modern Thought and Literature
from Stanford University.
Rich's Keynote Address is titled: The Color of Tomorrow: Who is America, Who is ‘You’?
Scholar-adventurer Rich Benjamin packed his bags in 2007 and embarked on a two-year, 26,909-mile journey throughout the
heart of white America -- some of the fastest-growing and whitest communities in our nation. Rich will talk about his search to
unlock the mysteries of “Whitopia,” a journey that took him from the inner sanctum of the White House to the gorgeous Pacific
Northwest—and many points in between. How is national identity reflected and refracted in individuals and, conversely, how do
people/communities shape the nation’s identity? Rich will explore with you how important parts of identity—socio-economic class,
national origin, religious affiliation, gender, sexual orientation—are shaped by race, and how all forms of identity shape each other. And what does our demographic future look like? This presentation will also unpack privilege, exclusion, and inclusion in the
21st Century. @RichBenjaminUSA
3:30pm-5pm
A Faculty Conversation about Best Teaching Practices
Faciltator: Faculty member Tom Womeldorff
Location: SEM 2 E1107
Faculty are invited to share our best practices for structuring curriculum and classroom environments to teach about privilege and
power in ways that meet all our students needs. In the process, we hope to continue developing our skills for effectively teaching
about privilege and power across all areas of the college’s curriculum. (Everyone is invited to attend this event.)
7pm-9pm
Comedian: Aamer Rahman
(Also, special guests from The Evergreen State College will open the show)
NEW LOCATION: THE LONGHOUSE
Aamer Rahman is an Australian stand-up comedian of Bangladeshi descent. Formerly one half of the award-winning cult comedy
duo, Fear of a Brown Planet, Aamer Rahman is a Melbourne comedian concerned with politics, racism, the War on Terror and
Batman. He has performed sold-out shows at some of the world's largest festivals such as the Melbourne International Comedy
Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe. In 2014, Rahman supported legendary comic Dave Chappelle on his Australian tour, as well as
performing sold-out runs of his debut solo show, The Truth Hurts across the US and UK, where he was named one the Guardian's
top 10 live comedy shows of the year. Evergreen students can attend for free but need to pick up a ticket at the Greener Store to
reserve their space. Students must show an Evergreen ID to pick up their free ticket (limit 1). For all others, tickets to attend this
show will cost $5/$10 at the door. Non-student tickets can be obtained at the Greener Store or on the First Peoples website beginning
Monday, March 30.
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