Mindfulness and White Privilege

This seminar blends mindfulness practices with an engaged exploration of racial conditioning to help white people practice anti-racism with intention and self-understanding.

Through this course, participants will:

• Learn how US racial history and government policies have shaped laws that have resulted in the systemic oppression of people of color;
• In a supportive environment, lessen the grip of anger, fear, and guilt, embracing discomfort to foster self awareness and honesty; and
• Become aware of white peoples’ role in the construction and maintenance of oppression and explore ways to counteract this oppression in non-harming ways.

This program is intended for white people, and this also excludes those of Asian or Native American heritage. It is also intended for those with some familiarity with mindfulness meditation practice. If you would like a refresher on that practice, one is available at 4:00 p.m. on Friday.

Leader(s)

Deborah Cooper, M.Ed., has been a counselor for 35 years and is the former coordinator of the Friends Counseling Service. She has a small private psychotherapy practice in Mt. Airy, PA. Her chief interest for the last 14 years has been mindfulness meditation. She trained to teach mindfulness meditation at Jefferson, teaches several meditation groups, and sits a month-long silent retreat annually. She is a member of Germantown Monthly Meeting.

Pamela Freeman, LCSW, has been a psychotherapist for over 25 years, working with individuals, families, and couples. She is also a long-time social activist working on issues of gender, race, class, and antiviolence in many places around the country. A graduate of School of Playback Theatre and founder of Playback for Change in Philadelphia, Pamela also founded the Philadelphia Black Women’s Health Project.

A practitioner of mindfulness meditation, she co-leads the People of Color sit in Philadelphia and serves on the Insight Meditation Board of Directors. Pamela is also a graduate of the Aboriginal Indigenous therapy program.

Financial aid may be available. If you are seeking funds to participate in this program, click to review and complete our Financial Assistance Application and a Pendle Hill staff member will follow-up with you shortly (please do NOT register online). Thank you for your interest.

Travel directions to Pendle Hill. FAQs about Short-Term Education Programs (please read before calling). Click to view the flyer.