The Kinship Activity of North America is hosting racial awareness and support groups. We are pleased to share that Gulrukh Patel is joining as a host of Racial Affinity Groups.
We are inviting anyone interested in supporting each other as we negotiate the impact of race and racism to join a contemplative inquiry group. These groups are designed to nurture the awakening to our racial conditioning and, for BIPOC, to provide support and learn from each other. In the spirit of kinship we see the movement toward dismantling racism as an integral experience and application of engaged spirituality.
This program will consist of 2-hour monthly zoom calls beginning in September.
A choice of days and times is available:
· second Monday of the month, from 7-9:00 pm EDT (hosted by Rabia Povich). This group will begin September 14. (This time is almost full!)
· last Saturday of the month, from 1-3:00 pm EDT (hosted by Gulrukh Patel and Sab Bonfonti). BIPOC groups may find greater affinity here. This group will begin September 26.
Various guests and hosts will also be involved. A 9-month commitment is requested. Registration closes on September 9. To Register Click Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/registration-for-inayatiyya-racial-affinity-groups-tickets-116468367021
Are you wondering why a spiritual organization that honors unity would divide by race? Please read:
Benefits for People of Color https://arrow-journal.org/why-people-of-color-need-spaces-without-white-people/
Benefits for White People https://arrow-journal.org/going-to-the-root-how-white-caucuses-contribute-to-racial-justice/
Description of Sessions:
Each month we will begin in a hosted large group for a brief embodied meditation and attunement toward a specific contemplation. We will then move into smaller Racial Affinity Groups for reflection, sharing and discussion. Participants will meet with the same affinity group each month to build a field of trust and continuity of reflection. Participants commit to safe communication guidelines, including confidentiality, respect, and compassion.
Because reflection on our racial conditioning and experience is difficult work and can cause unintended harm for people of different racial/life experiences, this work is best done when the container feels safe enough for participants to be vulnerable, allowing us to be unedited and to examine our stories around race. This is the reason we place together folks of similar-race and gender experience (i.e., white men, bi-racial/mixed race women, etc.).
The design and title of these discussion groups is credited to Ruth King, an African American Buddhist teacher and author of Mindful of Race, who has spent decades providing diversity training and guiding racial awareness groups. (We have made some modifications in the structure of the groups.) We encourage people to read the book.
We honor your desire to build a most just and equitable world, starting from inside ourselves and working out.
Best,
Rabia, Gulrukh and Sab
Kinship Inayatiyya, North America