Engage in a monthly, text-based discussion focused on understanding race and uprooting systemic racism along with other, converging forms of oppression. Each virtual session features a different faculty facilitator who selects texts and guides group dialogue around themes related to racial justice. This guide includes event details, registration forms, selected readings to prepare for each facilitated conversation, as well as supplementary texts. 

• Open to all current Sonoma State University students, staff, and faculty, as well as the wider regional community.
• All discussions will be held virtually on Zoom.
• Meetings are not recorded.
• Most selected readings are freely available to those with a SSU affiliation.

The following Community Agreements will be observed during each discussion session: Ground rules or group agreements provide a set of expectations for all discussion participants. Each session will be a facilitated discussion of selected texts, led by a faculty member whose research interests offer a particular lens with which to unlearn systemic racism. Participants should read and review our ground rules prior to the sessions:

• Seek first to understand, then to be understood.
• Share “air time.”
• If you are offended or uncomfortable, say so, and say why. 
• Speak for yourself, not for others.
• One person speaks at a time, use your Zoom 'raise hand' function to avoid encroaching on claimed speaking time
• Personal stories stay in the group, unless we all agree that we can share them.
• Create a space for multiple truths and norms
• Be kind and brave: Remember relationships first, speak your truth and be open to feedback, especially from those who own the experience
• We all share responsibility for making the conversation productive.
• We encourage the use of an optional strategy called progressive stacking when asking questions or making comments.
  Progressive Stacking: If you choose to publicly identify as BIPoC (Black, Indigenous, and/or a Person of Color), please add ** (two asterisks) in front of your Zoom name. Chat questions or raised hands by BIPoC will be prioritized.
  
  To adjust your Zoom name: 
       1. Click on the “Participants” button at the top of the Zoom window.
       2. Next, hover your mouse over your name in the “Participants” list on the right side of the Zoom window. 
       3. Click on “Rename”.
       4. Add ** before your name
       5. Click "OK"