Let's Talk About Race In America

The people of America and the world watched in horror as a police officer knelt on the neck of George Floyd and listened as he begged for his life. His death, like the deaths of countless other people of color at the hands of police and white citizens, caused an outcry for change. But something shifted with the death of Mr. Floyd as more and more white citizens came forward and began to ask questions about what they could do.

In answer to this question, we have developed a 7 week workshop specifically for the white community to break the cycle of generational racism and white supremacy. Cyclebreakers become agents of change by first committing to a process that allows them to experience change within themselves, thereby changing the spaces they occupy through micro and macro actions. Our methodology is not to tell white people what to do but rather to encourage white people to look within themselves, to reflect on their lives and identify a path forward that is authentic and empowering.

If you want to break the cycle of historical racism, this resource is for you. If you want to disrupt systemic racism, this resource is for you. If you are open to self reflection and being an agent of change in your own life, this resource if for you. If you want to play a key part in realizing race unity in America, this resource is for you.

Meet The Creator

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Adalia Ellis-Aroha

OMI Creator, Curriculum Developer and Facilitator

Adalia Ellis-Aroha, the Director of Aroha Arts Collective; founder of the Convergence Symposium, an arts and social action initiative; and Francis Marion University professor combined her expertise and years of grassroots social activism to create a unique program for the white community. Using her Masters in Teaching and 20+ years combined as an educator, she has crafted a scaffold-ed program that balances inquiry, reflection and self transformation. As the eldest daughter of five children of mixed heritage who grew up in rural South Carolina, Adalia is uniquely positioned to offer an opportunity for white people who want to deepen their commitment to anti-racist efforts. Being raised by a white mother while navigating a world that saw her as black, questions and conversations around race, racism, and systemic racism were a normal part of life.

Adalia Ellis-Aroha lives with her husband and son in Florence, South Carolina where she is also the Director and Lead Instructor of her dance organization Aroha Afro-Latin Dance. Drawing on her expertise as a dance instructor, program designer, and educator, she crafted and taught two African Diaspora centered courses for Francis Marion University; the History of Afro Latin Dance and Music and Hip-Hop: An American Story. These interdisciplinary courses used dance and music to follow the history of racial inequality, were the first of their kind to be taught at the university.

WHAT GRADUATES ARE SAYING.

Effective

"The training provides an effective outlet to practicing how to learn, listen, and speak about racism and role of the individual. Too often it can feel like one person can not make effective changes but the training highlights how small interactions can positively or negatively impact interactions.

It is important to always learn, listen, and speak with understanding."

Participant-

Our Moral Imperative

Transformative

'Participating in Our Moral Imperative was transformative for me. The group helped me to see how important it is to work with and talk to white people about racism, to shift from guilt and shame about my own biases into honest sharing and positive action, to actively engage in reflection, and to create personal action plans and work with supportive groups to stay engaged for the rest of my life. This class felt like the first steps in working with white folks to create a new, antiracist white culture. Adalia is a wonderful teacher- she's sculpted curriculum that effectively moves people from well-intentioned white people to engaged allies."

Sara, Participant-

Our Moral Imperative

Understanding

"I really enjoyed the training and it allowed me to understand how I can be passively contributing by not speaking up and out. It provided me understanding of when to speak and a great understanding of how micro-aggression can be loudly discouraging."

Participant-

Our Moral Imperative

Beneficial

"The greatest benefit for me in taking this training is to stop my urge to save others. I will learn to embody justice in how I care for my soul, in how I speak to injustice with other white people and how I stand with oppressed Americans who want me beside them."

Elizabeth, Participant-

Our Moral Imperative

ORIENTATION