March 22, 2006

April 29, 2006

University of Missouri - St. Louis

The annual White Privilege Conference (WPC) has become the largest informal gathering of white anti-racists each year. Of course, WPC covers a lot of ground and is not just about white anti-racism. But it makes sense to have a gathering of white anti-racists and allies at WPC. The atmosphere is rich. Many people are already there. A gathering of white anti-racists and allies supports WPC goals. WPC has the infrastructure to support the event. We can plan with confidence that it will be an annual, recurring event.

One of WPC’s four main goals is:

To provide participants the opportunity to organize groups and networks to sustain, enhance and expand anti-racist activity on an ongoing basis.

WACAN.org and AWARE (Alliance of White Anti-Racists Everywhere) are co-sponsoring the White Anti-Racist Summit II at WPC7. The summit takes place on Saturday, April 29, and is on the WPC schedule as a Saturday Institute. The institutes meet from 11:00am to 5:30pm. For registration information, go to www.wacan.org/WAS.asp. The WACAN registration offers a special conference rate for summit participants. You may also register for the summit through the regular WPC7 process at www.WhitePrivilegeConference.com.

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Why a summit? What is a summit?

sum-mit
n. A conference or meeting of leaders, usually called to shape a plan of action.

The summit is intended to be a space in which groups supporting white anti-racism can gather, reflect, plan and collaborate. The summit is a long term project. The intention is to convene at WPC over a period of conferences. In time the summit can spin off from WPC with its own process. Presently the summit has its own registration process, tied to that of WPC.

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This year’s approach:

The first summit, last year, invited people to participate simply as individuals. This year we are encouraging and developing participation by group representatives. The summit is also moving from a sense of being a one-time event to an event intended to operate over several annual meetings of WPC.

We will use the principles of the Peoples’ Institute as guides for our time together. These principles are: Undoing Racism, Learning from History, Sharing Culture, Internal Dynamics of Leadership Development, Accountability, Networking, Internalized Racial Oppression, Internalized Racial Superiority, Gatekeeping, Undoing Militarism.

The summit this year, in part, is taking up the concern of WPC in general: Youth. We can look at many questions, including: Who are the youth doing white anti-racist organizing today? What are they doing? How do youth approach inter-generational relationships and organizing? How do older people approach inter-generational relationships and organizing?, and more.

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Here is the description of the summit as listed in WPC7 materials:

White Anti-racist Summit II with Jeff Hitchcock (WACAN.org) The summit offers an annual opportunity for white anti-racist organizers and allies to reflect and connect, using WPC as a backdrop. The summit will incorporate a mix of facilitated discussion and participant-led dialogue. Consistent with the WPC goal of encouraging ongoing anti-racist activism, participants will be invited to engage in visioning and planning a white anti-racist agenda for social change.

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Here are things you can do:

1. Spread the word.
2. In particular, alert groups.
3. Attend the summit.
4. Send a representative.
5. Co-sponsor the summit.
6. If you cannot attend, go online on WACAN.org while the summit is in session, and send your comments.
7. Send supportive comments beforehand to admin@wacan.org.

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Co-sponsorship

The Summit II is looking for co-sponsors. Co-sponsorship consists of 1) allowing your name to be listed as co-sponsor in our outreach efforts and our report of our activity, and 2) having your representative(s) attend the summit.

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Co-ordination with WPC7

WACAN.org has the responsibility of handling registration and coordinating with WPC7.

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Contact WACAN.org at admin@wacan.org