Illinois Partners is proud to offer a new racial equity training for human service leaders who want to deepen their understanding and commitment to racial equity. We designed a curriculum that focuses on our sector, connects human service leaders, promotes shared learning and introduces frameworks to advance racial equity in our sector and systems in which we advocate. Participants will join a community of practice community for human service leaders committed to racial justice.
The training is open to and designed for individuals in leadership roles, including directors, managers, and leaders of committees, workgroups, and task forces.
Our Focus on the Human Service Sector
Systemic racism and inequities exist in all sectors. The human service sector is not alone or immune from racism and inequities. We believe that it is crucial to address systemic racism in the human services sector because of the nature of the work we do and the relationships we build in our respective organizations and the larger community. Learning about the causes of inequities and changing systems is part of our work and leads to a broader impact. We do not have to do this work alone. Building and maintaining relationships are vital to sustaining racial equity work in our sector.
Training Series
1. Racial Healing & Relationship Building
Facilitated by skilled Racial Healing Practitioners, participants learn how racial healing is at the heart of racial equity and relationship building is critical to sustaining racial equity work.
2. Introduction to Systemic Racism
Participants examine how policies and practices create and sustain racial disparities in institutions such as education, healthcare, the criminal legal system, and the economy, and discuss strategies to challenge these inequities.
3. Race and Power in the Human Service Sector
Participants explore how the sector is addressing longstanding racial disparities – including how power is held, decisions are made, and resources are distributed – and discuss what changes are needed to achieve racial equity.
4. Systems Change Strategies & Frameworks to Confront Systemic Racism
Participants are introduced to approaches and tools that explicitly address racial disparities and lead to long-term changes in policies and practices.
Training will be conducted by Illinois Partners Staff, Racial Healing Practitioners and Guest Facilitators who are Leaders in Racial Justice Work.
Our Training Objectives
- Build shared language and understanding about racism and inequities in our sector and the systems we interact with
- Deepen understanding of race and power dynamics within our sector
- Explore systems change strategies to advance or achieve racial equity within our sector and systems we interact with
- Create and support a community of practice for human service leaders committed to racial justice
What Participants Can Expect
Participants in our workshops will join a community of practice to share best practices, challenges, and strategies with one another to move past power dynamics created by white supremacy and racial injustice.
Illinois Partners staff will host open office hours for questions and deeper discussion.
Participants will have access to a shared resource library
Cost of the Training
There is no cost to participate in the inaugural series scheduled for October 2024.
Starting in January 2025, Illinois Partners is launching a fee-based model for training.
Financially contributing partners will receive a 50% discount and a limited number of scholarships are available for individuals who are not employed or sponsored by an organization. You can read more here.
Upcoming Trainings
We hope you can join us in the next series of this initiative. Technical assistance is available after each training session to answer questions, address challenges, or assist participants with new communication materials.
See what’s coming up
