Mindfulness: Diversity and inclusion
A series of Professional Development days for Mindfulness Teachers to uncover the privilege and bias which marginalises groups based on race, sexuality, gender, income, ableism, religion and other signifiers of difference.
In the current political environment in the US and the UK, our increasingly diverse societies are becoming fractured and fragile.
Against this backdrop, the mindfulness movement’s predominantly white, middle-class profile has become more obvious.
Its efforts to improve access through bursaries and scholarships as well as the provision of ‘one-size-fits-all’ programmes to marginalised groups fail to acknowledge the root of exclusion. This means that as teachers, we risk unconsciously reproducing patterns of exclusion – despite our best intentions. Mindfulness provision, courses and teacher training remain unchanged.
Purpose
These training days focus on unveiling and unpacking prejudice, privilege and power with the aim of creating safer, appropriate teaching spaces that engage with difference as a pathway to community involvement and social change.
They are geared to empower participants to understand privilege and to affect behavioural change.
The days furthermore seek to foster change within the mindfulness community to build more diverse, inclusive programmes.
Course content
Day 1 will explore and uncover blind spots and unconscious bias.
We will learn how groups are marginalised, how unconscious bias and blind spots contribute to this, and how we can exercise our power and privilege differently to create inclusive spaces that build communities and empower citizens.
Days 2 and 3 will focus on how we can promote participation and community engagement.
We will also consider how the programmes we deliver reinforce exclusivity and individualisation, and how to change this.
These are practical, hands-on training days in which we will all participate fully through case studies, Q&A, exercises, team work and mindfulness practices.
Trainers
Ché Ramsden works in the international NGO sector. She has developed and run intersectionality and community organising training across the country.
Charlotte Nicholls is an Assistant Headteacher in a multi-academy trust. As an educator she promotes equality, diversity and inclusion through classroom practice, staff development and shared learning with other sectors.
Cathy-Mae Karelse is Director of Clear Mind Institute. She works closely with South African organisations to develop appropriate training programmes with special attention to social justice.
Next Steps
To join us for this unique first event, please respond to Tracey Cramond via the button below by 16th May 2017 to secure your place.
We look forward to welcoming you and working with you as we apply ‘mindfulness at the margins’ to increase social engagement and change.
This day has now passed.
If you would like to register your interest in the next event or discuss us running this day for you, please get in touch below.