At the Center for Understanding in Conflict, we unequivocally support and are in solidarity with our Black communities and all communities of color—in the USA and around the world. We say the names of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and Tony McDade, four of innumerable Black lives stolen due to police violence and systemic racism. 

In 2016, the CUC faced a hard truth—our White majority trainings made it difficult for people of color to fully participate and be vulnerable in a space meant to be inclusive and safe. Our leadership neglected this reality for years, and would have likely continued had it not been for the efforts and courageous honesty of Lacey Wilson and Natalia Lopez-Whitaker, who shared their insights and sentiments. 

In the following years, we convened a small group to create safe, effective spaces to dialogue about race and racism, and build relationships in the process. We call this Real Talk, and this is a program that we are continually deepening and expanding. 

White supremacy is woven into the very fabric of conflict resolution and mediation. Our June newsletter feature will be dedicated to racial bias in conflict resolution. We are also compiling resources for mediators and conflict resolution professionals who want to work towards becoming more conscious in their own practices and help turn the tide against systemic oppression. These tools are being linked under the resources section of our website, which you can access by clicking here. If you have any resources you would like to share—please, send them to Kayla Hellal

We will be holding a four-hour online training, Real Talk: Intentional Conversations Between the Races, June 12 and 19. Accessibility is important for us and if you want to participate in our Real Talk program next week, but cannot afford the registration fee, or have any other access needs, please contact Kayla and we will work with you. 

With humble regards,
The Center for Understanding in Conflict