Debby Irving
Debby Irving
Debby Irving brings to racial justice the perspective of being a non-profit manager and classroom teacher for 25 years without understanding racism as systemic or her own whiteness as an obstacle to grappling with it. Despite her well-intentioned attempts to understand “diversity,” she struggled to make sense of racial dynamics she could feel but not explain. At the age of 48, a graduate school course, Racial and Cultural Identities, gave her the answers she’d been looking for, launching her on a journey of discovery. Debby now devotes herself to working with people exploring the impact whiteness can have on perception, problem solving, and creating racially diverse work teams and communities.
A graduate of the Winsor School in Boston, she holds a BA in History from Kenyon College and an MBA from Simmons College. Her book, Waking Up White, tells the story of how she went from well-meaning to well-doing.
Thursday, October 26, 2023 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM
Barriers to Transformation in Learning Spaces: Conversation Techniques that Cut Through the Noise
Because dominant white culture encourages us to avoid conflict, many of us raised in it have not fully developed the insight, skill, and emotional stamina necessary to broach and navigate differences of perspective and opinion, especially when harm to a member of a marginalized group is part of the mix. Too often these conversations are completely avoided or broached only to go from bad to worse, leaving people in divided camps teeming with assumption and anger that further divides us and wreaks havoc on our communities. There is a different way. In contrast to the social norms of whiteness are norms designed to develop the vulnerability, skill, and courage necessary to create deep connection and resilience; ways of being that sustain and grow us personally and collectively. Through a generative conversation, this session will discuss how to embed new, transformational norms into our personal and institutional practices.
