Developing Across Differences: Addressing Everyday Racism
“But we’re not racist!”
“Racism doesn’t exist here.”
“We are color blind.”
Statements like these, despite often being sincere and even well-intentioned, dismiss the lived experiences of countless individuals who face subtle, yet persistent, racial discrimination daily.
This course raises awareness of everyday racism, the various roles that all of us (including racialized people) play in it at any given time, and, as a starting point for a more equitable future, explores how to overcome resistance to acknowledging racism and its effects.
Why should you attend?
This course is for those who work to help individuals and organizations develop across differences and can benefit from learning more about how to help stakeholders move beyond “Us vs Them” and start to discuss — using open and constructive dialogue — racism “not as a fight against white people but against systems that maintain white privilege” and are exclusionary.
Helping ourselves and stakeholders acknowledge and articulate their own fears, frustrations, and questions around race and racism — and learn how to sit with the vulnerability and discomfort that these topics often bring — can seem overwhelming.
This is especially true in communities where race may not be openly discussed or is avoided altogether — a denial which only perpetuates the already endemic problem.
But recognition of the issue and our role(s) in it is a pre-requisite for moving forward to a more equitable future. Guided, constructive conversations and dialogues can be important starting points in this process, noting that real change takes intention, time, practice, grace, and accountability.
Practical information
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Dates & location
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9 July 2025 Academy Building (Broerstraat 5) or Harmonie Building (Oude Kijk in Het Jatstraat 26) |
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Level
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PhD/Postdoc/Practitioners May be appropriate for some MA students; contact the organisers for consultation about eligibility |
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Fee |
€ 615 |
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Academic coordinators
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Drs. Charlotte Wekker |
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Contact
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ic rug.nl or info iddifferences.org
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Requirements
Participant profile
This course is for you if you are — or are helping those who are —
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Helping individuals and organizations develop across differences as a DEI or related practitioner and can benefit from learning more about how to initiate the topic of race / racism in ways that promote constructive engagement without alienating stakeholders in workplaces, classrooms, etc.
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A coach, mentor or otherwise work with people on their interpersonal development and want to feel more confident in conversations around race, e.g. when a coaching client or student you mentor or advice is experiencing racism.
Contact the organisers at ic rug.nl or info iddifferences.org if you have questions about the suitability of this course for your circumstances.
Level requirements
The DAD is for multipliers who help individuals, organizations and societies better recognize, appreciate and use differences as a way of better communicating, working and thriving together.
These are (in-house and external) trainers, educators, consultants, coaches, researchers, scholars, facilitators, HR staff, advanced-level (MA+) students, and professional development specialists with 5+ years of experience/study in the greater Differences field. Contact the organisers at ic rug.nl or info iddifferences.org for consultation about appropriateness and eligibility.
It is expected that the participants have a sufficient command of the English language to actively participate in the discussions and to present their own work in English.
Learning outcomes
LEARNING OUTCOMES
In this course, you will learn how to help yourself — and those you work — with so that you/they can better:
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Be aware about the existence and impacts of everyday racism.
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Help move beyond resistance to addressing racism by allowing for discussion about the reasons behind the resistance.
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Hold constructive conversations about race using the “Dear White Groningen” and similar dialogical approaches.
Workload
6 hours of in-class learning and active participation using experiential methods.
Upon successful completion of the programme, the Summer School offers a Certificate of Attendance that mentions the workload of 6 hours (28 hours corresponds to 1 ECTS). Students can apply for recognition of these credits to the relevant authorities in their home institutions, therefore the final decision on awarding credits is at the discretion of their home institutions. We will be happy to provide any necessary information that might be requested in addition to the certificate of attendance.
Course schedule
Sunday, 6 July
15.00-18.00 Optional networking event
Wednesday, 9 July
09.00-17:30
Learning approach
This course will blend input sessions and discussions about key concepts, research insights and evidence-based practices together with interactive skill-building exercises to help you develop your dialogical facilitation abilities.
Introduction to lecturer
Drs. Charlotte Wekker
Drs. Charlotte Wekker is a trainer, coach, researcher, and advisor in the field of equal opportunities. With work grounded in the fields of social work and education, her focus is two-fold: empowering marginalized groups and helping professionals in the field better appreciate the challenges that members of non-dominant groups encounter on a daily basis.
On faculty at the Hanze University (Netherlands), she specializes in helping stakeholders use dialogue to develop innovative solutions for complex social issues. Charlotte’s publications and methods are in wide use as practical resources by educational institutions.
Charlotte is a member of the University of Groningen’s external diversity and inclusion advisory board.
Application procedure
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Deadline for application
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Regular registration closes on 3 May 2025. Late registration closes on 1 July 2025. |
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Date of selection
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Within 72 hours following registration, you will be contacted directly by the organisers about your application.
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Application
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Participants submit payment and details about their interest at the link below (click the "Apply now!" button). They will be contacted directly by the organisers about their experience and the suitability of the course. |
Please note that as all courses are subject to meeting minimum enrolments, the DAD team will confirm on or before 19 May 2025 that your course is taking place. We strongly advise you not to book non-refundable travel until you have received this confirmation. In all cases, refunds for courses are not available except in the case of course cancellation by the DAD organisers. In the case that your preferred course is cancelled, you are welcomed to enroll in an alternative course or request a refund. You will be notified on or before 19 May 2025 if the DAD course is cancelled. This policy is different from that of other University of Groningen Summer School and Language Centre courses. Full details are available on the Developing Across Differences (DAD) Learning Lab & Community Week Terms and Conditions page.
| Last modified: | 03 March 2025 3.53 p.m. |