The Anti-Racism Commission's monthly newsletter goes out to all ARC supporters and training participants. Please forward it to others who might benefit from our resources and workshops. And check out our website for past articles, training information and ongoing resources.

Introduction to Systemic Racism

Sat. Apr. 25, 2026 from 9 am to 12 pm on Zoom

Fee: $20. Scholarships are available, especially for postulants and candidates for ordination. Email diopaarc@gmail.com.

This training explores the multi-layered manifestations of prejudice, privilege, race, and systemic racism. The next training will be Racism and Institutions on Jun. 27.

The Anti-Racism Commission's anti-racism training series is facilitated by Lailah Dunbar-Keeys, M.S., M.Ed. and designed to help participants understand the historic creation, preservation, and personal and institutional effects of a society built upon ideas of racial difference, which in turn support an unjust, racially based hierarchy.

Anti-racism trainings are mandatory for clergy and open to all. Completion of all 5 trainings over 2 years meets the initial clergy requirement for anti-racism education. For more information, questions or concerns, please email diopaarc@gmail.com.

The Souls Shot Portrait Project at Christ Church Media

The Souls Shot Portrait Project (SSPP) uses the transformative power of art to bring an end to gun violence. Artists, working with families, create portraits to honor the souls shot. By exhibiting the resulting artwork to the public, they invite the community to recognize what has been lost and to take action to end gun violence. Learn more.

Christ Church Media (311 South Orange Street, Media, PA 19063) is hosting SSPP through May 10. The exhibit is free and open to the public during the week by appointment. Call the parish office at 610-566-7525.

White People Confronting Racism (WPCR) presents their Level 1 Workshop

Wed. May 6, 2026 from 1 to 5 pm on Zoom

Thu. May 7, 2026 from 9 am to 4 pm on Zoom

Fri. May 8, 2026 from 9 am to 4 pm on Zoom

This training is designed for any white people who are interested in understanding and confronting dynamics of racism and white supremacy. This training is open to people of all ages, experience-levels, political affiliations, and backgrounds. Their Level 1 training is designed to meet everyone where they are, however experienced they are. The workshop is a deep-dive affinity space, and though it is held over zoom it is highly interactive and experiential. Learn more.

WPCR sees the work of dismantling white supremacy as primarily the responsibility of white people, with deep accountability to people who are Black, Indigenous and People of Color. Creating a space for white people is not the only means for doing anti-racist work — but they believe it is a precursor to cross-race work and a companion to it.

The workshop, co-facilitated by Playback For Change's Co-Director Sarah Halley, has a formal accountability relationship with an Advisory Board made up of BIPOC supporters of the work, including Playback For Change's Co-Director Pamela Freeman.

Download, print, and share this flyer with anyone you think would be interested in this training.

KUSANYA: "The Gathering"

The Anti-Racism Commission of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania is offering racial healing circles facilitated by Lailah Dunbar-Keeys, M.S., M.Ed.

Grounded in historical, cultural, sociological, and spiritual understanding, racial healing circles will provide a safe space for small groups of like-minded people to share their stories about the challenging realities of systemic racism. Learn more.

For questions about ARC's racial healing circles, or if you are interested in hosting a racial healing circle for people who identify as African American at your church, please email The Rev. Andrea Gardner (deaconandreagardner@gmail.com).

Interrogating Racism in The Episcopal Church

• Mission, Race, and Empire: The Episcopal Church in Global Context by Jennifer C. Snow
• The Church Cracked Open: Disruption, Decline, and New Hope for Beloved Community by Stephanie Spellers
• No Turning Back: The Black Presence at Virginia Theological Seminary by Joseph M. Constant
• Hallelujah, Anyhow!: A Memoir by Barbara C. Harris

Email diopaarc@gmail.com and let us know what resources would help you in your anti-racism work. Visit our website for more anti-racism resources.

The Anti-Racism Commission was created by diocesan convention resolution in 2005 with the mandate “to affect the systemic and institutional transformation in the diocese away from the sin of racism and toward the fulfillment of the Gospel and the baptismal mandate to strive for justice and respect the dignity of all persons.” Consisting of 12 members, a mix of clergy and lay and persons of various ethnic and cultural backgrounds, the commission aims to increase awareness of the history and legacy of racism in our country and to engage members of the diocese in dismantling its effects. To learn more about how ARC can help your parish engage in the work of racial justice and repair, email ARC co-chairs Ernie Dixon (marzelldixon@icloud.com) and The Rev. Ernie Galaz (frernie@christchurchmedia.org).