Popping on here to share about The Barnraisers Project
So what is The Barnraisers Project? It is a project started by organizer Garrett Bucks:
The Barnraisers Project coaches and trains white people to organize their friends, neighbors and colleagues for racial equity. We’re nobody’s saviors, but we’re committed to do our part to help build a better, more just world.
Operating from the premise that white supremacy was created by white people for the benefit of white people, we (white people) are therefore the ones who need to fix it. In our own community. For our own benefit. While in the abstract that can feel very overwhelming (dismantle white supremacy, me?) there are many ways into this work that can feel very doable.
I just completed Garrett’s winter organizing cohort and can’t say enough good things about the experience. Garrett combines solid, practical information (such as the difference between activism and organizing?) with unabashed confidence in our ability to make a difference. It is the perfect combination of empowerment and accountability that winds up being, yes, actually a very enjoyable experience. As he puts it:
It’s really easy to fall into an “all talk, no action” trap when you’re a white person who is learning how to be a more helpful, less-harm-causing community member. Phrases like “organizing for collective liberation” can sound super intimidating. It’s tempting to just retreat from it and start another book club. I get it. But.... what if learning how to do it was actually pretty awesome?
Garrett is currently taking sign-ups for his spring cohorts.
Details:
Cohorts kickoff the week of April 18th. Sign-up by April 2nd.
Meets every other week for 10 weeks (90 minute workshops) and involves homework in between.
Read more about the expectations and see if it is right for you: White Anti-Racist Organizing Cohorts: Additional Information and Participant Commitments
If you are interested in joining, you can sign up here: Barnraisers Project Organizing Cohorts (Enrollment Form).
If the timing isn’t right, you can subscribe to Garrett’s substack newsletter: White Pages to stay connected.
If you have any questions, I am more than happy to share about my experience. More to come!