LYNDON CTR.; VT. ~ Racial justice educator and author Debby Irving is coming to the Northeast Kingdom to lead a candid conversation about race, culture, identity, and privilege. Her program, “I’m a good person! Isn’t that enough?” takes place Thursday, September 22 at 7:00 pm at Lyndon State College in the Moore Community Room (ASAC 100). It is free and the public is invited. Lyndon State College presents the event with Lyndon Institute.
Irving will talk about her own journey of seeing the world through her white-skewed belief system to questioning the racial disparities she could see around her. Using historical and media images, Irving will explore how she spent decades silently reaffirming harmful, archaic racial patterns.
“Debby’s honesty is refreshing. She doesn’t call people out but rather calls people in,” notes Patricia Shine, professor of Human Services at Lyndon State. “She invites those of us who are white to challenge our assumptions and to look at our lives through a different lens. And she does so in a funny, engaging, and thoughtful way.”
As she explores this internal path, Debby works to support people in making the paradigm shift from ‘fixing’ and ‘helping’ those believed to be inferior, to focusing on internalized white superiority and its role in perpetuating racism at the individual, interpersonal, institutional, and cultural levels. The workshop includes pauses for reflection, dialog, and Q& A.
“At LI we believe in developing knowledgeable, thoughtful, and engaged citizens. It is our hope that hearing from Debby about her misjudgments and selective seeing will offer our students the opportunity to reflect on their thoughts and actions,” notes Lyndon Institute’s Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator Raquel Majeski. “Promoting this sense of curiosity and giving our students the skills to collaborate around these topics will assist us in preparing our students to reach their intellectual and creative potential and the promise that our community will be safe and caring.
To learn more about Irving’s talk “I’m a Good Person! Isn’t That Enough?” contact Patricia Shine at Patricia.Shine@LyndonState.edu.
Lyndon State College balances liberal arts and nationally recognized professional programs that integrate theory with hands-on experiences to prepare individuals for personal and professional success. Nestled in the beautiful Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, the college of 1,200 students is known for preparing students for career success as well as its tradition of community. Learn more at www.lyndonstate.edu.
Lyndon Institute is a comprehensive, independent high school for grades 9-12, providing thoughtful and rigorous preparation for the students of the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont and beyond to reach their intellectual, creative, and physical potential. To learn more about Lyndon Institute, please visit www.lyndoninstitute.org