Welcome to the Journey!

(a 10 minute reflection)

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To get started, push the “Present” key in the upper right and click on through!

Dyresha Harris, BYM, May 2016

tinyurl.com/stridepage

Welcome to the Journey!

(a 10 minute reflection)

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Thanks for your interest in joining us. In STRIDE we believe this work goes best when you have a balance of action and reflection. The following is a sample reflection that the STRIDE groups have done together.

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This particular one is about the power of narrative and includes a 3 min clip and a number of queries. We encourage you to join us in reflecting on these questions for STRIDE, BYM, and any other organizations you are a part of.

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We have included some of the responses STRIDE members gave to the queries. You can see them as you go or at the end. This is not an “answer key” as these questions have no one answer but rather an opportunity to join the conversation.

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Dyresha Harris, BYM, May 2016

tinyurl.com/stridepage

Walking the Talk

In STRIDE, we want to talk the talk and walk the walk...

..that’s why

narrative (or the ways we describe & understand our work) is so important...

Dyresha Harris, BYM, May 2016

tinyurl.com/stridepage

Who’s walk? Who’s talk?

Click this link and watch: “Nice White Lady” (make sure it pops up in a separate window so you don’t lose your spot!) If link doesn’t work google title and “MAD TV”. There may be a 3 second commercial first.

Dyresha Harris, BYM, May 2016

tinyurl.com/stridepage

Dig Deeper

• What are your first thoughts & impressions about this clip?
• What is this satirizing or poking fun at?
• What does the clip suggest about the lives of the students? What does it suggest is the solution to their problems?
• What other narratives in media or in your real life have you seen that remind you of this narrative?

Click here for select STRIDE members responses.

Dyresha Harris, BYM, May 2016

tinyurl.com/stridepage

So sure, this example is a satire, so it’s a little over the top...

...But the reason it’s funny is because it’s a narrative we are all familiar with.

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We didn’t create it. We didn’t ask for it, but, it’s a narrative that is all around us...

Dyresha Harris, BYM, May 2016

tinyurl.com/stridepage

Walking...into the Middle of an Ongoing Narrative

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In Media...

& in our lives of service...

Dyresha Harris, BYM, May 2016

tinyurl.com/stridepage

Bringing it Home

As we think about the work that we are doing in STRIDE and in the rest of BYM, we are clear that we DON’T want to perpetuate this narrative. However, it’s important to notice where the work we do could be pushed into this narrative if we are not careful.

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What about our work could lend itself to “The Nice White Lady” narrative if we are not careful?

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Click here for select STRIDE member responses.

Dyresha Harris, BYM, May 2016

tinyurl.com/stridepage

So how do we flip the script?

What narrative about our work might be more accurate, equitable, and empowering?

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How can we help reinforce that narrative in all of our communication and interaction?

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Click here for select STRIDE member responses.

Dyresha Harris, BYM, May 2016

tinyurl.com/stridepage

STRIDE Responses:

unpacking the clip

• Characterization of youth:
• They are not inherently interested in learning.
• Their families/parents don’t care for them.
• Kids all have horrible struggles and their lives are terrible and nothing is good ever until they met the white lady.
• Showed them something they were “never aware of” like human feelings and compassion.
• “Your Welcome” at the end shows a one way (and smug) interaction.
• Students are not a part of creating the change that happens. It happens to them.
• Assumes becoming like the white lady is the goal. Their lives will be better.
• White lady doesn’t need any particular skills or training or knowledge about her student’s lives or experiences. (“No books or rules”) Just being herself is enough to benefit these young people.
• Stereotypes about being in poor neighborhood.
• The idea that people of color need to be fixed.
• Structural inequality is never talked about. If anything, things like unequal access to resource is downplayed. The solution is the white lady.
• The story is about the white lady. The changes the students make or only really there to illustrate how great a teacher she is.

BACK TO PAGE

Dyresha Harris, BYM, May 2016

tinyurl.com/stridepage

STRIDE Responses:

Where it hits home

What elements of the work we do could lend itself to this narrative if we’re not careful?

• Camp is mostly white with lots of very nice ladies (and men and non-binary folks).
• We are raising money for families that can’t otherwise afford it.
• We are assuming that these young people will be better for having been at camp. (Whether or not this ends up being true, it is always good to look at the assumption.)
• We are asking campers to acclimate to an environment that is built on white culture.
• It could be easy to get into the mode of patting ourselves on the back for this “service” (You’re Welcome).
• Some campers and families we work with do have big challenges in their lives.

BACK TO PAGE

Dyresha Harris, BYM, May 2016

tinyurl.com/stridepage

STRIDE Responses:

Flipping the script

What’s a more accurate, equitable, and empowering narrative?

• We are asking people to invest in creating a more diverse and inclusive community NOT to “give money to poor black kids”
• We have always believed in scholarships to make camp accessible, now we are just expanding the pot
• This program is not just for these particular campers. Diversity benefits everyone.
• The training and assessment work we do in the organization is just as important as recruiting campers.
• We have access to resource and it's our responsibility to share it more equitably (vs. “we are so great because we are doing charity”)
• The young people and families we link to camp have a lot to contribute.
• All young people benefit from nurturing communities and connection to nature (not just inner city kids)

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How/where do we communicate and live that?

• When talking to people about the program in presentations or informally
• In all publications: articles,flyers, facebook pages etc.
• Being mindful of where an interaction might be for me to feel good and not genuinely for the other person
• Acknowledging/accepting when things feel awkward at first (it’s going to be part of the process until it’s not) and digging in to figure out what makes a person a unique individual rather than tokenizing.
• Questions about discipline are not only relevant to campers of color. Making sure we do not fall into stereotypes (either coddling with low expectations or being unfairly harsh) and show our values consistently in redirecting behavior with all campers.
• Making space for campers and families to contribute, take leadership, share their strengths and shine.
• Doing activities together for more genuine connection.

BACK TO PAGE

Dyresha Harris, BYM, May 2016

tinyurl.com/stridepage