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 blog site for past articles, training information and ongoing resources. | | |
Sat. Sep. 13, 2025 from 10 am to 1 pm at St. Michael's Yeadon
813 Longacre Blvd, Yeadon, PA 19050
Free and open to anyone who self-identifies as African American
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Sat. Oct. 4, 2025 from 10 am to 1 pm at Calvary St. Augustine
814 N 41st St, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Free and open to anyone who self-identifies as African American
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Sat. Nov. 8, 2025 from 10 am to 1 pm at St. Augustine of Hippo
1208 Green St, Norristown, PA 19401
Free and open to anyone who self-identifies as African American
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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.
In our current cultural climate, with sweeping legislation that undermines centuries of Civil Rights policies and social justice practices, many people find themselves grasping for meaning. With the support of the circle facilitator, participants will be provided the tools to listen, reflect, and gain understanding.
This racial healing circle is for an African American affinity group (i.e., people who identify as African American). We will convene a multicultural healing circle in the future.
Questions you may be asked to consider are:
- What does it mean to be African American today?
- How do you navigate systemic racism in our current cultural climate?
- How does your faith support you in overcoming these challenges?
| 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). | | Download, print, and share this flyer with anyone you think would be interested in racial healing circles. | | ARC Anti-Racism Trainings | | |
Sat. Sep. 27, 2025 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 ways in which systemic racism informs our personal identity, behaviors and outcomes. We will develop a sociological understanding of the concepts colorblindness, colorism, cultural appropriation, unconscious bias, micro-aggressions, White fragility, and White privilege. The next training is Racism and Active Accountability on Oct. 25. | | |
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.
| | Download, print, and share this flyer with anyone you think would be interested in anti-racism training. |
| Around the Diocese of Pennsylvania | | Telling Our Stories: Healing the Wounds of Racism, Becoming Beloved Community | | |
In 4 interactive sessions of theater and discussion, participants see themselves in one another’s stories of race and racism as they are brought to life on stage by members of Playback For Change, a multi-racial, improvisational theatre company based in Philadelphia dedicated to using Playback Theatre as a vehicle for social change.
Audience members’ real stories become the source material. The performance is spontaneous - it is theater created through a unique collaboration between performers and audience. Someone from the audience tells a story or moment from their life, chooses actors to play the different roles, then watches as their story is immediately recreated on “stage.”
The goals of the performance series are to foster ongoing understanding and self-reflection about how racism is experienced, resisted, and repaired in people’s lived experience (not just intellectually studied) and to create relationships of support in ongoing anti-racism work.
Two sessions will use the practice of race-specific affinity spaces to prepare participants to have a deeper, braver and more honest conversation.
Participants are encouraged to set up accountability partners and to engage in reflection and dialogue between performances.
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Each session costs $15 per person or $50 for a group of 5 or more. Tickets for each of the 4 sessions are sold separately through Eventbrite. Financial assistance is available. Email diopaarc@gmail.com.
For any questions about the Telling Our Stories series, Playback For Change, or Playback Theatre, please email The Rev. Barbara Ballenger (stpeter654rector@gmail.com).
| | Download, print, and share this flyer with anyone you think would be interested in our Playback Theatre workshop series. | | |
Embracing Diversity
Sat. Sep. 20, 2025 from 2 to 4:30 pm at Trinity, Swarthmore
301 N Chester Rd, Swarthmore, PA 19081
An initial foundational performance for everyone, to introduce the Playback Theatre format, to affirm the power of diversity and our common humanity, and to build interest for participating in the racial affinity performances.
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Telling the Whole Story
Sat. Oct. 11, 2025 from 2 to 4:30 pm at the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas
6361 Lancaster Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19151
A performance for Black people, Indigenous people and Non-Black People of Color to come together to face their legacy of internalized racism and colorism, and to promote healing and community building as they affirm their resilience.
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Exploring Our Whiteness
Sat. Nov. 15, 2025 from 3 to 5:30 pm at Incarnation Holy Sacrament, Drexel Hill
3000 Garret Road, Drexel Hill, PA 19026
A performance for White identified people to face their lived experience of ingesting, upholding and resisting White supremacy beliefs and behaviors.
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Creating Common Cause
Sat. Jan. 17, 2026 from 2 to 4:30 pm at St. Alban’s, Newtown Square
3625 Chapel Rd, Newtown Square, PA 19073
The fourth and final performance will be for everyone to share their stories and experiences of resisting and healing from racism. This performance would also focus on how we all work together, in solidarity, to dismantle systemic racism and White supremacy.
| | | What to Expect: Watch this video of Pamela Freeman and Sarah Halley, Co-Artistic Directors of Playback For Change, explaining what Playback Theatre is and what audiences might expect at each of the 4 sessions. (4 mins) | | | Singing the African American Spirituals with Integrity | | A workshop for clergy, musicians, and congregants | | |
Sat. Nov. 22, 2025 from 2 to 5 pm at St. David's Episcopal Church
763 South Valley Forge Rd, Wayne, PA 19087
Open to all
Tickets: $20. Scholarships are available. Email diopaarc@gmail.com.
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Clinicians:
Ruth Naomi Floyd
Dr. Jay Fluellen
Carrie Lessene
Dr. Thomas Lloyd
Guest Choir:
Intermezzo Choir Ministry, Carrie Lessene, Director
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This workshop is offered for church musicians, clergy, and lay people who seek to learn more about how to introduce the repertoire of the African American Spirituals to their choirs and congregations. During the first part of the workshop, the four clinicians will take turns modeling how they teach the Spirituals to their adult, youth, and children’s choirs, as well as to their congregations.
Music for these selections will be provided to attendees as part of the workshop. Special attention will be given to the historical context of the music, and the ways in which those who are not direct descendants of the enslaved people who originated the Spirituals can develop their own authentic connection to the music with respect and integrity. The afternoon will conclude with a short service of singing, prayer, and a homily.
| | Make Your Church More Welcoming and Inclusive | | 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, contact The Rev. Barbara Ballenger (stpeter654rector@gmail.com) or The Rev. Ernie Galaz (frernie@christchurchmedia.org), ARC co-chairs. | | | | |
