Anti-Racism Response Training (ART)

CAGS Workshop Series for Graduate Students and Postdocs: Anti-Racism Response Training (ART)

• Event Date: Tuesday, 28 February 2023
• Event Time: 12:00 - 3:00 PM (ET)
• Online via Zoom

Back by popular demand, CAGS is pleased to offer another round of this important and timely 3 hour workshop designed to build awareness around issues of race and racism in Canadian higher education. This workshop will introduce attendees to the concepts of active versus passive witnessing, and help to instill a better understanding of the impacts of racist encounters on both victims and bystanders. The workshop is premised on the active-witnessing model, in which participants will learn enhanced techniques for intervening and disrupting racism in their institutions and in their daily lives. Participants will have the opportunity to learn and practice a wide range of anti-racism responses, and to share their own experiences. The workshop will be held over Zoom for a three-hour period in the afternoon on Tuesday, 28 February. The facilitators will conduct the session in English.

Developed by Dr. Ishu Ishiyama – and recently adapted and enhanced for virtual modes of presentation – the ART Program uses a witness-centred approach to disrupting racism. This training is designed to encourage participants to shift from being frozen or silent bystanders to becoming active witnesses and, in doing so, to help disrupt racism and build safer and more inclusive communities.

In honour of Black History Month and in keeping with the commitments laid out in our Call to Action for an End to Racism in and through Graduate Education (2020), CAGS is making a limited number of tickets available to Graduate Students and Postdocs from within our community of member institutions. Tickets will be sold for $50.00 CAD (no tax), and will include participation in the three-hour training session and all associated materials. CAGS is a registered charity, and all ticket proceeds will go towards covering the costs of the workshop series.

Tickets are available to graduate students and postdoctoral researchers from CAGS member institutions, and will be sold until the capacity of the workshop has been reached.

Registration closes on Sunday, 26 February at 9:00 PM (ET).

Meet the Facilitators

Thanh Tazumi (she/her) and her family immigrated to Canada as refugees in 1984. She worked for a multicultural organization for 10 years, coordinating anti-racism, diversity, and organizational change projects. Thanh coordinated the first anti-racism walk in Campbell River, in 1997 and formed an interagency committee to continue this annual event until 2006. She has co-facilitated workshops on intercultural communication, equity & inclusion, and Anti-racism Response Training. Recently she and her daughter developed and delivered an anti-Asian racism workshop to audiences across Canada. Thanh also worked with marginalized youth and families for 15 years. She is grateful to live on the traditional territory of the Wei Wai Kum, We Wai Kai, and the E’iksan-K’omoks peoples. She is aware of the history of racism in Canada and many of its impacts on Indigenous and other racialized peoples. She is committed racial justice, and is actively working toward reconciliation and healing.

Sanchit Mittal (he/him) came to Canada as an international student and holds two Masters degrees. He has over eight years of diverse experience in working with various marginalized communities in Canada and India. Living as an uninvited guest on the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit peoples, Sanchit deeply values Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (EDI), and and is passionate about Truth and Reconciliation and and Anti-Racism work. Sanchit has also co-facilitated workshops on LGBTQ2+ inclusion, Communications in Intercultural classrooms, Allyship, Microaggressions. Sanchit has worked with Vancouver Island University’s International Education and EDI offices, and served as the Vice President for SIETAR BC. Currently he is a Partnerships Manager at an Ontario-based Edu-Tech company.

Kathie Landry (she/her/hers) is a white European settler Canadian. She is very grateful to live on Quadra Island, the unceded traditional territory of the Salish E’iksan, Tatpu’us. Yayaqwiltah, Komokwe and the Laich-Kwil-Tach We-Wai-Kai Nations. During her 12 years as a settlement worker and then Executive Director of a local immigrant services organization, Kathie became acutely aware of the barriers, overt racism and systemic racism faced by immigrants and racialized people. She developed numerous programs to support immigrants and co-created, hosted and facilitated anti-racism, inclusion and cultural capacity building workshops for community service providers including A.R.T. Moving on to work as an Employment Counsellor, she specialized in assisting immigrant and Indigenous job seekers. After 13 years, she recently retired and is committed to continuing to educate herself about the harms of racism and colonialism and is enthused about providing tools to increase equity and inclusion through A.R.T.

Participant Testimonials

“The Anti-Racism Response Training is engaging, eye-opening, and educational. The facilitators' approach of presenting factual information paired with sharing personal stories helped to capture their diverse audience. Reflection exercises not only encouraged participants to examine themselves and racism, but they also prompted open discussions among participants. Highly recommended for anyone and everyone wanting to start taking steps against racism.” - Instructor, Vancouver Community College

“A white, settler woman with significant privilege, I knew that I had a lot to learn about racism in Canada and what I could do about it. Participating in this well-designed and delivered training exceeded my expectations over and over! Not only did I learn so much about racism in Canada, past and present, I also learned from the presenters and participants about how these experiences have impacted them so significantly. In the training we learned and practiced effective skills to respond to witnessing or experiencing racist encounters. I will no longer be a bystander, wishing I had the words or confidence to act when I see racism in any form. I can now stand-up and speak-out to address the issue at the time or when it is safe to do so. We must all make the decision and take action to stop racism and the Anti-Racism Response Training program provides the practical skills and confidence to do so!” - Executive Director, Volunteer Campbell River

“This training was so interesting and important and should be offered in all workplaces and institutions. If it is important to you and your organization to truly understand the history of racism, its implications today, and what to do and say to combat racism, I highly recommend this training.” - Instructor, Vancouver Community College