I am the granddaughter of immigrants from Eastern Europe fleeing anti-Semitism. They arrived in the U.S. just as Jews became seen as white. Two quick generations later, I benefit from all that generational wealth-building offers: education, stable home, health care, family backing. Awakened to the harm the system of whiteness causes, I shifted my parenting, business concept, day-to-day decisions and avocational choices to address systemic racism.

It took several years of study, training, and conversation to identify that my most effective way of contributing to anti-racism is by leveraging my skills and privileges within my community: progressive, largely educated, mostly middle-aged white people. I turned the craft I honed as educator toward the delivery of engaging, impactful racial equity workshops for the white-identified. As my skills, experience, and relationships deepened, I began partnering with facilitators of color in group conversations with people across a spectrum of identities.

The more I step into this work, the more grateful I am for the teachers of color I’ve learned from—who do not shy away from the difficult task of engaging with us well-meaning white folks: Leticia Nieto, Pamela Taylor, Edna Sadberry, Annie Cole, Fernell Miller, to name a few. I’ve learned so much from white-identifying mentors as well: Paul Kivel, Judy Blair, james boutin.

I have a B.A. from The Evergreen State College in education, sociology and natural history, and a M.Ed. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education focusing on democracy in education. My career as an educator spans four decades and an uncommon range of experiences. I co-founded The Clearwater School, a profoundly democratic, non-ageist school for 4-19 year olds, taught qigong to people with cancer, managed child welfare improvement efforts, and led mountaineering courses for groups ranging from youth-at-risk (sic) to executives. These experiences, and more, bring texture and nuance to my current pursuits.

All the while, I keep learning.