A DJS Journey

Last year around this time, Dr. Kathy Obear, an expert on triggers, was on our campus.   She presented a day-long workshop on naming and navigating triggering events, especially triggering events based on a subordinated group identities. I was a key organizer of the event, so my participation in the actual workshop was limited.  But I know that over 220 higher education professionals, students, and community member’s worlds’ were ROCKED because Kathy challenged everyone to think about not only naming triggers, but also responding to our triggers in ways that are conducive to understanding and reconciliation.   My default, when triggered, is to shut down.   For instance… Once, while staying in Vegas, some friends of mine, all White, began to share that upon check in, there we all given the option to upgrade to a suite.   And in one instance, the upgrade was free of charge.   This happened not to one of my friends, but all of them.   Six different White folk

About a year ago today a group of students and staff meet in the dCenter to participate in a social justice workshop lead by the Campaign for Racial Equity.   The workshop was a follow up to our visit to the RACE: Are we so different? exhibit at the Pacific Science Center and offered an opportunity for us as a group to dialogue about racism and brainstorm ways we can dismantle institutional racism.   Check out the segment.