BLOG — Training With an Anti-Oppressive Lens

Training With an Anti-Oppressive Lens

For those of you that know me well, you know that my beloved dog Maru (best friend, furry child and love of my life) transitioned in November. Maru continues to be part of my life. He has taught me the meaning of unconditional l

Robin SchlengerDecember 22, 2021

As I think about the history of harm and misinformation around Thanksgiving Day, I find myself leaning into thoughts of reconciliation. Mark Charles in his YouTube video, “The truth behind We the People”, says he would call our conversati

Robin SchlengerNovember 26, 2021

The other day, I was explaining to my 82 year old father why Columbus Day has been renamed Indigenous People’s Day. He is not new to conversations about race, oppression, privilege and inequity, after all, I’m his daughter. What brou

Robin SchlengerOctober 27, 2021

I have been thinking and talking a lot lately about what it means to be anti-racist. I belive that the word  anti-racist is a verb, not a noun. It’s not something we check off once we’ve done a workshop or read a book. We don’t becom

Robin SchlengerSeptember 23, 2021

I made a promise to myself that I would find time this summer to do some re-reading of books in my collection. I find that things often hit me differently the second time around by bringing new perspectives, insights, and meaning. I’m cur

Robin SchlengerAugust 16, 2021

These past few months have felt like a ride on the emotional roller coaster. I've been feeling a river of emotions all at the same time; exhausted, renewed, frustrated, hopeful, depleted, and full, but NOT ALONE.  One of the things i

Robin SchlengerJuly 22, 2021

My birthday is on June 19th and I only learned about Juneteenth six years ago. It is embarrassing to admit this and it is the truth. I know I am far from the only white person for whom this is true. This month, I felt it was imp

Robin SchlengerJune 15, 2021

Each month when I sit down to write this blog I start by going through my resources to see if a theme comes to me. Then I move the resources that don’t fit the theme over to the following month. After doing this for several months, I ende

Robin SchlengerMay 29, 2021

Nice words aren’t they? But, what the heck do they mean and what does it really look like to have diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging? What must happen in our collective minds, hearts, bodies, and souls to make this paradigm shif

Robin SchlengerApril 24, 2021

I clearly remember when I was first asked to share something about my culture. It was during my first PISAB (People’s Institute of Survival and Beyond) Undoing Racism and Community Organizing  Workshop. I can still picture myself sq

Robin SchlengerMarch 23, 2021

As I’ve been thinking about Black History Month, I’ve been reflecting on an experience I had a few years ago at a Barnes and Noble bookstore with my friend who identifies as a Black woman. We were at a conference and during our lunch brea

Robin SchlengerFebruary 25, 2021

“White terror is as American as the Stars and Stripes. But when this is denied, it is no wonder that the events at the Capitol are read as shocking and un-American" from Denial is the heartbeat of America, by Ibram X. Kendi I have t

Robin SchlengerJanuary 28, 2021

Many of you that follow this blog know that I have been co-facilitating trainings for the past 2 and a half years with my friend and colleague Dr. Alana Tappin. Our workshop is called, “Shame Resilience and Transformation Skills for white

Robin SchlengerDecember 27, 2020

Did you know that November is Native American Heritage Month?  It is the month that the U.S. is supposed to celebrate Native American contributions to the world. The following link shares some of the ways that the US National P

Robin SchlengerNovember 25, 2020

With Election Day less than a week away, I need to acknowledge the onslaught of emotions that I’m going through. They range from rage, fear, and powerlessness to hope, passion, and encouragement.  These cycling torrents of emotions a

Robin SchlengerOctober 28, 2020

This month has been both devastating and painful as well as abundant and rewarding. I continue to be brought to my knees by the cruelty and destruction caused by white supremacy and the ways in which I am complicit. At the same

Robin SchlengerSeptember 24, 2020

In my work as a consultant and trainer, I have the honor and privilege of collaborating with some very wise and talented Women of Color, some of whom have become friends.  I try to be aware of how I show up in these relationships and

Robin SchlengerAugust 29, 2020

I have to say, my blogs are getting harder and harder to write each month. Writing about racism and my white privilege makes me feel gross. It forces me to go to some really dark places that I would like to avoid. This month was the most

Robin SchlengerJuly 15, 2020

I am really struggling with words more than ever before and I have been procrastinating writing this blog for over a week. I have been experiencing every emotion on the spectrum and, often, all at the same time.  This is hard to admi

Robin SchlengerJune 25, 2020

Mother’s Day has not been a time that I have spent thinking about forced sterilization, rape, medical experimentation and other forms of torture. Yet this year, I can’t not think about it. If I had one wish for Mother’s Day

Robin SchlengerMay 29, 2020