Arc 1 - Affinity Groups: what are they, what resistance might you meet, what are various types?
Arc 2 - Identity Development: what is it, how does it affect "how people show up" in affinity groups, how does it impact intra-group dynamics?
Arc 3 - Facilitating Conversations: what are common challenges, how do we frame, how do we intervene?
3. Agenda
Basic Definitions
Sources of Resistance
The Value of Affinity Groups
Launching Affinity Groups
Overcoming the Resistance
Identity Development
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
4. Basic Definitions
The term affinity group is used as a
bringing together of people who have an
identifier in common, e.g. race, gender,
religion, family status, etc. Affinity groups
are for individuals who identify as members
of the group and can speak to the
experience of being a member of the group
from the “I” perspective.
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
5. Basic Definitions
The term alliance group is used as a
bringing together of people who have a
common commitment to an identifier group,
e.g. race, gender, religion, family status,
etc. Alliance groups are for individuals who
identify as members of the group and/or as
people who support and stand in solidarity
with that group.
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
6. Basic Definitions
The term interest group is used as a
bringing together of people who want to
learn about, share, and engage in a special
interest, e.g. hobby, skill, topic, etc.
Interest groups are for individuals who want
to gather to teach, learn, and share.
Membership can be fluid and changing.
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
7. Why Affinity Groups Are Great
Safety and Comfort to be
Authentic
Affirmation
Critical Mass
Identity Socialization
Building Resilience
Preparing to Engage
Deeply with Other Groups
Empowerment Toward
Action
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
8. Why Affinity Groups
Meet Resistance
Unacknowledged Fear
of Assembly
Unacknowledged
Resistance to
Empowerment
Desire to Stay Ignorant
of Issues
Privilege
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
9. Forms of Resistance
• False Parallels
• Inverting the Injustice
• Outright Dismissal
• Minimization
• Righteousness
• Colorblindness
• Jealousy
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
10. Stage 1: Identify the Need
Gather data around the
school’s population
Gather research on the
challenges groups face
Gather research on the
benefit of affinity groups,
explicit conversations
Gather data around need
and desire
CONNECT TO YOUR
MISSION
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
11. Stage 2: Determine Format and
Definitions
Affinity, Alliance, or Interest?
Identities/Identifiers
Timing
Space
Facilitators
Group Goals or Mission
Statements
Curriculum
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
12. Stage 3: Communicate and Invite
Initial Communication from
Head
Communicate the Need, the
What, the How, and the Who
Communicate Definitions,
Goals, and Missions
FAQs
Faculty/Staff,
Parents/Guardians
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
13. Stage 4: Facilitate Groups
Identity Pride
History
Positive Change and
Activism
Opportunities and
Challenges
Strategies for Success
Supporting Each Other
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
14. Stage 5: Wash, Rinse, Repeat
Assess Effectiveness
Make Improvements
Re-Launch Every Year
Utilize Family Voice
United Front
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
15. Possible Affinity Group Curriculum
Culture Share
Celebrations of
Holidays/Events
Identity Exercises
Current Events
Movies
Field Trips
“What Do I Do If…”
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
16. Factors Leading to More Success
Pride > Struggle
Deflection of Blame
Inclusive of Full Spectrum
Who’s in the Room
Participant Driven Curricula
Opportunities to Share
Collective Action
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
17. Factors Leading to Less Success
Lack of Consistency
Lack of Budget
Lack of Curricula
Reinforcement of
Stereotypes
Chauvinism
School/Facilitator Agenda
Visitors and Gawkers
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
18. Talking Points for Affinity Groups
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
19. “Affinity Groups” We Already Have
• Gendered Bathrooms
• Faculty Meetings
• Tracked Classes
• Financial Aid Allocation Meetings
• Sports Teams
• Divisions and Grades
• Casts of School Plays
• Faculty/Staff Rooms
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
20. Equality versus Equity
Everybody gets a shirt versus everybody
gets a shirt that fits.
Giving everybody some insulin in
equality. Giving only people who are
diabetic some insulin is equity.
What is “fair”?
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
22. Privilege
“Privilege exists when one group has
something of value that is denied to others
simply because of the groups they belong
to, rather than because of anything they’ve
done or failed to do.”
[as described by Peggy McIntosh and quoted by Allan Johnson]
Privilege is SYSTEMIC. It drives the
systems that dominate our societies.
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
23. Situational Advantage
There are prime parking spots and seats
reserved for people with disabilities. People
with disabilities are often first to board
planes and other transportation vehicles.
These advantages are situational and do not
balance out systemic oppression.
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
24. Identity Development Models
• All Models Have Some
Value
• All Models Have Some
Limitations
• Models Are Linear;
Experiences Are Not
• Some Models May
Apply Across
Identities
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
25. Innocence and Self Esteem
Encounter and Self Doubt
Assimilation to the Majority
Immersion into Identity
Emersion
Integration
Identity Development:
Marginalized Identities
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
26. Innocence and Self Esteem
Encounter and Confusion
Attempt to Reintegrate
Re-Encounter and Guilt
Acceptance and Action
Immersion and Emersion
Integration
Identity Development:
Privileged Identities
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
27. Debrief: My Identity Journey
What are some of your
earliest memories about
your own identity?
Who/What were the
strongest influences?
Were there events that
precipitated a change in
understanding for you?
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
28. Parallel
Regressive
Crossed
Progressive
Symbiotic
R.T. Carter’s Model:
Racial Identity and
Social Interactions
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
29. Effect of Varying Identifications
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
33. Schools Have ZPDs, Too!
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
Status Quo:
Reliance on what the school
does already and naturally
Zone of Proximal
Development:
Mindful and strategic change
toward the next stage of
growth
Too Much, Too Fast:
Unrealistic demands on the
community
34. Getting There From Here:
Life Cycle of Initiatives
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
Abe Wehmiller, NAIS Summer Diversity Institute
37. Fears and Anxieties that Keep Us
from Having Conversations
Offending
Losing Face
Tokenism
Professional Risk
Bursting the Bubble
Rocking the Boat
Conflict
Lack of “Authority”
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
38. Pitfalls and Obstacles that Keep Us
from Conversing Again
Outbursts
Silence
Denial
The Good Talk
Teacher vs. Facilitator
Personal Attacks
The Quick Fix
Leadership Oppression
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
41. Safety Versus Comfort
Safety: I feel that, in this space, I can ask questions without
fear of judgment. I can voice my perspective and know that
I will be validated for the fact that that is my truth. Others
may challenge my ideas, but that challenge is in the spirit of
greater shared understanding and growth.
Comfort: I feel that, in this space, my reality will be agreed
with, validated, and unchallenged. I don’t have to explain
myself to be understood, and I don’t have to justify my
perspective, as everyone shares it.
True dialogue happens in an environment where everyone is
safe but not always comfortable...
SO THAT THEY CAN LEARN AND GROW.
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
42. Moving Conversations
from Safe to Brave
Controversy with Civility
Ownership of intent and impact
Challenge by choice – with reflection
Respect in all its multiplicity
Pointed challenges, not personal attacks
Mindfulness of the true source of emotions
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
43. Resources
Full resources, web links,
downloadable documents, and more can
be found at:
https://sites.google.com/sitesgsprofessionalo
utreach/affinity-group-resource-page
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
44. Presenter Information
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee
6th Faculty and
Professional Outreach
Seattle Girls’ School
2706 S Jackson Street
Seattle WA 98144
(206) 805-6562
rlee@seattlegirlsschool.org
http://tiny.cc/rosettalee
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)