“Research shows that mindfulness practices help us focus, give us greater control over our emotions, and increase our capacity to think clearly and act with purpose. Might mindfulness assist police and other public servants in minimizing the mistaken judgments that lead to such harms? Might they help the rest of us—professors and deliverymen alike—minimize our biases as well?"
Rhonda Magee, Professor of Law, University of San Francisco
DAY TWENTY
Reflection
Welcome to the final reflection of our 21-Day Equity Challenge! We thank everyone for remaining with us this far into the challenge. For the last reflection, we ask that you explore with us how mindfulness and awareness can defeat racism. 
READ
There might be a solution to implicit racial bias, argues Rhonda Magee: cultivating moment-to-moment awareness of thoughts, feelings, and surroundings.
 
Unconscious, implicit racial bias—rather than individual, White supremacist action—plays a role in nearly every stage of a person’s life. Americans, including people of color themselves, hold a range of unconscious biases against people of color. However, research on mindfulness-based interventions provides grounds for optimism and potential long-term solutions.
ENGAGE
Anti-Black racism is the core wound of American culture, and we each have a role to play in fighting racism, a medicine to bring to these times. This talk explores how we can offer an honest and courageous presence to key domains of this suffering. We then look at affirming that Black lives truly matter with our dedicated and wise action.
 
Join Kelley Palmer for this free guided meditation to help you sit with discomfort as you commit to the work of dismantling white supremacy within and around you.  
WATCH
Jon Kabat-Zin and Rhonda Magee share their thoughts. From Wisdom 2.0 2017 in San Francisco.
 
Sharing his own lived experience along with compassion, Emmanuel Acho helps us learn about important issues to have more constructive conversations about race - and ultimately lead to change.
REFLECT

  1. What are my identities and in what ways have my identities impacted my life? Are there identities of mine that have provided me higher social capital or privilege in certain environments?
  2. What were some of my assumptions about race and racial inequity before I started this Challenge? In what ways have these assumptions been challenged? In what ways have they been reinforced?
  3. Where have I seen evidence of inequities and systemic and structural racism in my community?
  4. What 2-3 shifts, changes, or actions can I take to create a more inclusive and equitable environment in my home, workplace, and community?
CONNECT
Who's in your feed?
National Alliance to End Homelessness - NAEH | Twitter | Facebook
PUT IT TO USE
 
Read the article "5 Mindful Habits to Fight Bias Every Day" and learn how to employ the following mindful strategies to fight bias:
  1. Emotional awareness
  2. Decentering from negative thought patterns
  3. Loving kindness
  4. Mindful media consumption
  5. Mindful listening and speech
United Way of Thurston County solves complicated issues by convening community stakeholders and collaborating to develop short and long-term strategies. United Way is an excellent steward of donor dollars and is committed to transparency, accountability and sound fiscal management. United Way mobilizes the caring power of our community. Learn more: https://www.unitedway-thurston.org/