Description
This course describes some of the historical and contemporary forms of structural oppression and racism that target Black individuals and communities in Baltimore City, and highlights some key figures and events in the resistance to these things. Structural oppression and anti-Black racism is pervasive throughout various systems in Baltimore, including education, criminal justice, healthcare, religious institutions, housing, transportation, and the economy. While this course touches on several of these systems, it focuses particularly on how specific policies and practices that were racist and anti-Black have had significant impact on individual and community access to jobs, housing, and wealth, detrimentally leading to many of the struggles we see in Baltimore today.
This course includes a 2-hour asynchronous online course that will introduce participants to the concept of structural oppression by using the city of Baltimore as a representation of other cities, communities, and populations that experience oppression and the work that has been and is being done to resist its impact. It also includes a 2- hour live, interactive webinar to dive deeper into the implications of colonization (gentrification), oppression, and oppression.
Please take the asynchronous (video) course before attending the live webinar session on October 22nd.
**This course presents only a small part of the story of oppression and resistance – it does not represent all of the communities, groups, populations, and issues that deserve attention.
Instructor
As a therapist she uses a strengths-based approach to empower clients in creating the change they seek to live their most full, authentic lives. She believes strongly in the power of a therapeutic relationship to promote healing. Since completing her MSW in 2004, her focus has been on trauma recovery for survivors of domestic violence and sexual trauma. In her practice now, she’s interested in working with individuals and couples on body positivity, exploration of polyamory and ethical non-monogamy, challenges with sexual desires and gender identity. She has a long history of working with adolescents and teenagers, including teaching sexual health education, and she’s particularly invested in providing non-judgmental support to young people who are struggling with issues related to their body, gender and/or sexuality.
Mercedes is a LCSW-C (licensed certified social worker-clinics who currently works as The Coordinator for Hate & Bias Response and Prevention at a local university where she is focusing on providing education around issues of bias and equity. She is also an adjunct faculty at University of Maryland School of Social Work. She is a local Baltimorean with a background focused in treatment of identity based trauma with Black and Brown womxn in Baltimore city. She practices from the belief that we all have the power to harm and help each other and if we do not take responsibility to understand that power we will do more harm than good. Her practice is rooted in helping others understand and take responsibility for the role of self in dismantling White Supremacy.
Neijma (she/her), JD, MSW, LCSW-C, is the Associate Dean for the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of Maryland Baltimore, School of Social Work. She began her role at the School of Social Work in August 2020. In her role, Neijma leads the school’s diversity and anti-oppression efforts and helps guide the achievement of a new standard for inclusive excellence. As a member of the Dean’s leadership team, Neijma has a strategic position responsible for promoting and enabling an inclusive environment for faculty, students, and staff while championing organizational change. She comes to the School from the University of Maryland, College Park, where she served as a director in the University’s Division of Diversity and Inclusion. She is a proud graduate of the University of Maryland’s School of Social Work program and the University of Baltimore School of Law.
Target Audience
Social Workers, LCPCs, and Psychologists and all those interested in topic.
Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives:
- Define language and terminology related to oppression, resistance, and combating structural oppression and racism in clinical and community settings.
- Identify and describe some historical and present-day dynamics that have targeted and oppressed Black individuals and communities in Baltimore City, particularly housing and transportation policies that perpetuate inequities and block access to opportunity.
- Describe an example of resistance in the uprisings against police brutality – one consequence of this historical and present-day dynamics that have led to concentrated advantage, limited social capital, and over-policing in Black neighborhoods.
- Understand a framework that may be used to name and analyze oppression
Organizations and Group registration
If you would like to register as an organization or group, please contact
Neijma Celestine- Donnor, LCSW-C the Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for pricing.
SCHOLARSHIPS
If you have difficulty paying the full price of the course, limited scholarships are available. Please contact, Neijma Celestine-Donnor, LCSW-C, Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
** Please note that we understand payment is challenging for everyone at this time. However, these scholarships are limited and meant for those who are currently struggling financially.
