‘Courageous Conversations’: Resources for talking about race 

Numerous resources exist to help school officials increase equity for all students. The following is a small sample of the organizations and publications that governance teams may wish to consult as they explore the effect of institutional racism.

Training

Pacific Educational Group; www.pacificeducationalgroup.com

PEG consultants design and deliver individualized, comprehensive support for school districts in the form of leadership training, coaching and consulting as to how to meet the needs of students of color. Equity training usually begins with a two-day workshop, “Beyond Diversity,” designed to help teachers, parents and administrators consider the implications of racism, exclusion and prejudice on student learning.

Enidlee Consultants Inc.; www.enidlee.com

Enid Lee consults with school organizations to provide anti-racist professional development, develop curriculum and organizational manuals from an anti-racist perspective, and conduct equity audits of schools and classrooms. Enidlee Consultants also offers multiday equity institutes.

The Equity Center at the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory; www.nwrel.org/cnorse

The Equity Center is one of 10 regional equity assistance centers in the nation funded by the U.S. Department of Education. At the request of school boards and other responsible governmental agencies, the Equity Center provides training and technical assistance on issues related to equity
in education.

Readings

“Courageous Conversations About Race: A Field Guide for Achieving Equity in Schools,” by Glenn E. Singleton & Curtis Linton;www.pacificeducationalgroup.com

Used as a primary text in the Pacific Educational Group’s equity training for school leaders and staff, this book is designed to help lay people embark on the difficult discussion about the impact of race in our society.

“White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack,” by Peggy McIntosh; http://seac.org/readings/winter09/unpacking_knapsack.pdf

A checklist of conditions in white privilege is a highlight of this article, which is now considered a classic by anti-racist educators. It has been used in workshops and classes throughout the United States and Canada for many years.

—Kristi Garrett