Two Day HCLS Racial Equity Training (October 2021)

In the past eight months, more than 300 residents and community leaders joined Howard County Library System in its Brave Voices, Brave Choices initiative. This new initiative is aimed at shaping a reflective, inclusive, and solution-focused response to racism, bigotry, and hate as it appears for many members of the Howard County community.  We are heartened by the strong interest in the initiative and these trainings.

If you can't find available tickets at a time that works for you email racialequity@hclibrary.org to be on our mailing list for future offerings.

We are so pleased to extend the opportunity for you to join HCLS staff and community members as we deepen our understanding of racial equity principles with renowned trainers from the Racial Equity Institute, Soul Focused Group and Equity Matters. We are offering a series of two-day trainings during October.

In highly engaging virtual gatherings, free to individuals invited by the library and our partners, we will go beyond traditional diversity, equity, and inclusion training and incorporate the power of stories.

During our time together, participants will:

• Discover compelling research that illustrates the systemic nature of racism, the nature and impact of structural racism and what it looks like across institutions,
• Examine narratives around racial disproportionality and the fallacy of typical explanations often associated with particular racial groups,
• Learn processes to transform the way we communicate and begin to heal from racism,
• And, enhance empathy and understanding as we share, hear and make sense of our stories and the stories of those learning and growing alongside us.

Following training, participants will have the opportunity to apply what they learn and stay involved with HCLS’ Brave Voices Brave Choices initiative via orientation to systems learning and sense making sessions on education, public safety, housing, and health.

The details:

• Seats in specific trainings are available on a first come, first served basis.
• Please register for a pair of dates and plan to attend both sessions. Register for the first date of the two-day session and you will be automatically registered for both dates.

• Session #1: Tue, Oct 12 (9am-12pm) & Wed, Oct 13 (9am-4pm)
• Session #2: Sat, Oct 16 (9am-12pm) & Sat, Oct 23 (9am-4pm)
• Session #3: Mon, Oct 18 (9am-12pm) & Tue, Oct 19(9am-4pm)
• Session #4: Mon, Oct 25 (9am-12pm) & Tue, Oct 26 (9am-4pm)
• Session #5: Fri, Oct 29 (9am-12pm) & Sat, Oct 30 (9am-4pm)
• Note that the first day ends at noon and the second day ends at 4 pm.
• Login instructions will be emailed to registered participants a few days prior to the event.
• Please share this opportunity with community members from your network with interest in racial equity training, and whose increased education in these topics would benefit the community.
• Please note: We are working to build inclusive rooms of diverse individuals who are intentional about the learning. We are not sharing this opportunity via social media and thank you for refraining from that as well.

Each of us play a critical role in supporting and strengthening our community. We are so pleased to support your leadership and service with this high quality, free opportunity. We appreciate your commitment to building better community and look forward to your participation.

Contact us: If you need any assistance, or would like to let us know you are not available at these times but interested in the future, please reach out to us at racialequity@hclibrary.org