[This is a Virtual Ruby event. Nonmembers are welcome to join; please donate if you are able! This event will take place over Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83100686554?pwd=MWFRaTNJYjJjYTVMd0FwNlpVVWJSZz09 ]

In conversation at June 4th’s #blacklivesmatter forum, many Rubies mentioned Layla Saad’s workbook Me and White Supremacy as a great starting point for more anti-racist discussion.

This 28-day challenge was designed to walk white people and NBPOC step-by-step through the work of examining:

Your own white privilege
What allyship really means
Anti-blackness, racial stereotypes, and cultural appropriation
Changing the way that you view and respond to race
How to continue the work to create social change

We’ll be reading & journaling with each week’s prompts on our own, then coming together once a week to discuss what we’ve read in small groups. (If there is interest, we may divide the group into white and POC groups.)

We'll meet on Wednesdays in July, from 7:30p to 9:00p PST.

July 1st — Introductions & Norms, workbook overview

July 8th —Week one (Prompts #1-7)

July 15 — Week two (Prompts #8-15)

July 22 — Week three (Prompts #16-21)

July 29th — Week four (Prompts #22-28)

August 6th -- Where does the Ruby go from here?

How to get the workbook:

It seems like most physical copies of the workbook are sold out, so for now, we recommend accessing an e-book of the workbook & then supporting Layla Saad on Patreon. The workbook is available for instant download here on Hoopla through SFPL. If you don’t have a library card yet, you can sign up for one online here. If you’d rather buy it, you can find it as an e-book here or an audiobook here. No matter how you get a copy of it, we strongly recommend you also support Layla on Patreon!

Ground rules for discussions:

Nothing in these conversations is to be repeated outside of them without express permission.
Listen deeply and respect other people’s realities/experiences even if they are not your own.
If you tend to dominate conversations, be aware of how much space you are taking up and be willing to step back. If you tend to be quieter, challenge yourself to share your ideas.
We are all learning and growing together. No one is an “expert.” It is okay to ask questions!
Be compassionate!

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*While we shelter in place during the Covid19 pandemic, The Ruby's physical location will be closed. As a collective, we'll continue to gather online for virtual workshops, events, and discussions. All are welcome to join us for these events. * For those who can afford it and would like to support The Ruby during this uncertain time, we are offering 3 tiers of virtual membership: $5/week, $15/week, and $25/week. (Though we have some money in our emergency savings account to get us through the next little while, we're pretty nervous about the future, and how long this might go on for.) Please help only if it's feasible for you. If you're in a tough time financially right now, we absolutely get it. Please, take care of yourself and stay connected to this community so we can help.

Here are the tiers of virtual membership (use these links to sign up):

$5/week - https://www.joinit.org/o/the-ruby/aRsJyABygL4FvvEJT

$15/week - https://www.joinit.org/o/the-ruby/o56ggrnNNx9rzn6AA

$25/week - https://www.joinit.org/o/the-ruby/q37HfmWSQMoLzPt4p

Want to make a one-time donation of more or less? We can still accept donations through last year's GoFundMe. Link is here.

Our Virtual Ruby calendar will be updated as events are added.

[Virtual Ruby] Me and White Supremacy Discussion Group