United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and Partners Wrap Up Anti-Racist and Mindfulness Series
This summer, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley (UWGLV) launched Masterminds: Racial Justice & Community Healing, sponsored by PPL Corporation, DeSales University, Resilient Lehigh Valley and Courage to Care—a 4-part series to inspire action to create a more inclusive, safe and equitable environment in the Greater Lehigh Valley. The series featured national guest speakers that focused on racialized trauma and mindfulness.
“We are so grateful for our sponsors, PPL Corporation, DeSales University and Courage to Care, who brought this series to fruition. We are so grateful for your investment and deep commitment to this work,” said Marci Lesko, Executive Vice President, UWGLV.
The series began with two sessions on Historical Racial Trauma and Healing, featuring Resmaa Menakem, healer, trauma specialist and New York Times best-selling author of My Grandmother’s Hands.
Menakem challenged participants to think about how to heal and build bridges to make a more diverse, safe and equitable community. Bart Bailey, owner and principal consultant at Courage to Care LLC, facilitated the conversation with Menakem involving discussion that challenged the participates and encouraged deep reflection.
Sessions in July and August focused on The Inner Work of Racial Justice, featuring Dr. Rhonda V. Magee, Professor of Law, mindfulness teacher, social justice advocate and author of The Inner Work of Racial Justice.
Dr. Magee shared the RAIN (Recognize, Accept, Investigate and Non-Identify) mindfulness practice with participants to examine beneath the surface of their experience so they are able to pause and reflect before responding to racially charged situations.
About 300 attendees participated in the four virtual sessions. Participants included local law enforcement chiefs, community leaders and diversity, equity and inclusion experts. This collaboration offered a place for listening, understanding and learning and focused on creating solutions together at the local level.
Throughout the series, participants were encouraged to have candid and authentic conversations in breakout sessions around how racism impacts them and the communities they serve and how mindfulness practices can be used to create a safe space for bridge building with the police and Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. The breakout sessions offered a brave space where participants were able to speak their truth openly and confidentially.
Courage to Care’s Vivien Leung, a visual storyteller and Assistant Professor of Political Science at Bucknell University, created stunning depictions of the May and August sessions. Videos of these art pieces being created can be found on Leung’s Vimeo page: vimeo.com/vivienleung.
UWGLV believes that diversity of thought strengthens our ability to achieve its mission, vision, philosophy and values. United Way is committed to partnering with leaders and organizations who center equity and community voice in their work.