WVPL invites you to join us in
Building Racial Understanding: A Four-Part Series Toward Systemic Change
Our presenters are a team of educators dedicated to the work of social justice, diversity and inclusion.
They will guide our conversations to talk openly about several topics related to race and racism.
Our hope is that by engaging in these subjects,
we can all expand our capacity for racial understanding and learn to become agents of change.
OCTOBER 20. Part 3 : Implicit Bias and Microaggressions: When Our Brains Betray Us
This seminar takes a deeper dive into implicit bias and how it leads to microaggressions. Action steps are provided with strategies participants can use to move forward with identifying, combatting, and managing their own implicit biases.
Please register on Eventbrite (https://racial-understanding-3.eventbrite.com) to receive a link via email.
OCTOBER 27. Part 4: Empowering Kids: How to Talk to Children about Race and Racism
Please register on Eventbrite (https://racial-understanding-4.eventbrite.com) to receive a link via email.
October 27, 2021
About our Presenters:
Serita Lachesis Serita is a fifth grade teacher at a Quaker school in Philadelphia, where she serves on the diversity committee. For Serita combatting racism is deeply personal. Her parents were one of the first families in the United States to do transracial adoption, raising their five adopted children and biological children together. While it was joyful to grow up in a mixed race family, it was painfully apparent to Serita that she benefited from privileges that her siblings were not afforded. As Serita became older and had more opportunities to be an agent for change, she has been able to give these lifelong concerns a voice. Serita has a BA in History from Columbia University and MA in Education from Chestnut Hill College.
Megnot Toggia Megnot is a sixth grade assistant teacher at a Quaker school in Philadelphia. Growing up in Lehigh County, she was aware of a lack of diversity within the student body and among the faculty at school. While living and attending college in Philadelphia, Megnot was exposed to a diverse population of individuals, emphasizing for her the importance of recognizing every individual’s life experience. Megnot is committed to learning new ways to use her voice for social justice. She is a recent graduate from Temple University's Boyer College of Music and Dance with a B.M. and an M.M. in Voice Performance.
Jalil Pines Jalil is a sixth grade teacher at a Quaker school in Philadelphia and is faculty advisor for a middle school affinity group. He also serves on the middle school diversity committee. Fighting for social justice and being an activist is a priority for Jalil. From an early age, Jalil’s parents instilled in him the values of standing up for what is right and fighting for equality. Whether leading an affinity group in high school or planning marches, being an advocate has always represented much more for Jalil. He earned his BS in Business Administration from Elizabethtown College with a dual concentration in Management and Entrepreneurship.
AUGUST 25 PRESENTERS:
Serita Lachesis Serita is a fifth grade teacher at a Quaker school in Philadelphia, where she serves on the diversity committee. For Serita combatting racism is deeply personal. Her parents were one of the first families in the United States to do transracial adoption, raising their five adopted children and biological children together. While it was joyful to grow up in a mixed race family, it was painfully apparent to Serita that she benefited from privileges that her siblings were not afforded. As Serita became older and had more opportunities to be an agent for change, she has been able to give these lifelong concerns a voice. Serita has a BA in History from Columbia University and MA in Education from Chestnut Hill College.
John Mould John and his wife Margaret had the joy of raising Serita and six other children. Adopting black kids 30 years ago when it was unfamiliar and controversial added a depth and significance to our family life and our participation in our community. Having always been sensitive to racial justice it had become intimately personal. The uniqueness of our family brought media attention and with it an expansive platform but the uniqueness also brought the platform of many awkward experiences. Awkward is often a necessary impetus for change.
Previous presentations in this series
Part 1: White Privilege: The Benefit of Positive Assumptions
This presentation explores the definition of white privilege and how four types of racism - individual, institutional, cultural, and environmental - continue to hinder people of color in America.
Part 2: The Whens, Wheres, Hows, and Whys of Being a White Ally
This presentation describes different ways to be an ally to people of color. Participants will be called to action to use their privilege to create a world where everyone enjoys equal opportunities.
