Affinity Groups
Doing affinity group work is a way to work with others, in relationship, to build your capacity to make changes that will concretely increase equity, inclusion and the shared sense of belonging – in your self, in your workplace, in your neighborhood, in your family, in your larger community, in this deeply divided nation, and in the world as a whole.
Identities: I lead affinity groups focused on the work "folks like me" need to do in service to this work. As a white, cis-gender, queer woman, that means I work with groups of:
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White folks (of all other identities)
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Women/femmes (including trans-women) and non-binary folk, but not cis-gendered men
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Queer folk
I welcome opportunities to co-lead groups and processes that include folks with other identities, as long as my co-facilitator is representative of the identities I am not.
I do this work both inside organizations, and as stand-alone groups. There is more information below.
Any currently forming stand-alone affinity groups will be listed on the Offerings page.
If you would like to sign up to receive notifications of affinity groups that are forming, you can do so on the form on the Offerings page.
Image of five people in a close circle talking
Affinity Groups
Inside Organizations
I do affinity group work as part of larger organizational change processes, or as a stand-alone process.
That work can take many shapes
Workshops
Support for existing affinity groups
Co-creation and co-facilitation of new affinity groups
Coaching for affinity group leaders
One Way This Can Look:
Building Equity and Inclusion: Antidotes to White Supremacy Norms in the Workplace - a facilitated process
How do we use our privilege as white folks to disrupt racism and support equity and inclusion in our workplaces? Where does it make sense for us to lead, and where does it not? How do we identify, understand and dismantle the racism we carry in our bodies and subconscious minds so we can be more effective in this work? This process is intended for folks who identify as “white,” since it focuses largely on the deconstruction of whiteness, and the building of our capacity to be good co-consipirators with BIPOC folks in this work. It is a space for us to do our "family" work, without asking for labor from, or doing harm to, BIPOC folks.
If you are interested in exploring how this work might look in your organization, please contact me.
Affinity Groups
for Individuals
I create group processes focused on specific identities and goals, centered on cultivating our ability to actively contribute to the creation of equity, inclusion and belonging.
One Way This Can Look:
Doing it Differently: Embodying Antidotes to Dominance Culture - a facilitated process
In this facilitated process, we will explore how cultural norms rooted in white supremacy, heteropatriarchy, and other systems of dominance and oppression impact all of us and how we can deconstruct those norms from the inside, so we can be more effective co-conspirators with BIPOC folks in the work of dismantling racist systems and culture. The process is intended primarily for folks who identify as “white,” since it focuses largely on understanding and deconstructing the ways in which whiteness shapes our lives and the larger culture, though our practice will be rooted in an understanding of how our various identities interact with systemic oppression and dominance culture norms. I think of this as space for us to do our family work, without imposing that messiness on BIPOC folks. If you are a person who identifies as BIPOC and you want to participate, you are most welcome.
Questions? Requests?
If you have questions about affinity groups, or are interested talking about how I might support your existing group, or help you form a new group or be put on a waiting list for when an affinity group forms, please contact me.
If you want to hear about newly forming affinity groups, please subscribe using the form on the Workshops page.
"Tasha contributes curiosity and compassion to conversations about race. Her approach leaves space for multiple perspectives and authentic discussion."
~Amy H.
Why I Do This Work
As a white-priviledged, cis-gender, queer woman, I have been immersed for years now in the work of changing my relationship with whiteness and (white) supremacy/dominance culture. This work includes: 1. Recognizing the (white) supremacy culture norms that shape me and the culture around me, 2. Understanding my own complex, intersectional identity and how different parts of that identity give me different burdens/barriers and privileges/power, and 3. Figuring out how to be an effective co-conspirator with other folks who carry similar or very different mixes of privilege and oppression as we work toward healing, equity, inclusion, justice and belonging. A big part of my learning and growth has taken place in affinity groups – that is, in groups with other “white” folks, focused on understanding white supremacy, unlearning racism and transforming our relationships with the (white) supremacy culture norms that are harming all of us, though in different ways depending on our proximity to whiteness, maleness, and other sources of identity-based power. I would like to be creating these kinds of containers for other folks “like me” to have these experiences.
At a more fundamental level, I am heartbroken by the daily and historic impacts of living in a culture that is not centered on celebrating our gifts and supporting all of us to be our best selves.
I want to be part of moving this world into the healing and growth we need to be doing, so that all of us will have more hope of being able to connect in authentic, healthy, and equitable ways, and to be celebrated for all of who we are.
I want this for us, and for all of the children and grandchildren we love.
Tasha sitting down, with a 3 year old grandson on her lap, looking into each other's eyes, conversing.
Read More
Why Do White Affinity Group Work?
In the past couple of years, many of us who identify as “white” have gotten clearer about the need to move beyond saying we “aren’t racist” and condemning racist violence into a more active role in creating equity and inclusion. We want to do this, but often we don’t know what that actually looks like, or what we need to be doing differently. We get what feel like mixed messages about stepping up and stepping back. We are afraid of making mistakes. We want to be part of the solution, but we don’t know how.
Building Our Capacity to Change
In my experience, making deep changes requires: Trust. We can’t learn from people we don’t trust. Feeling seen, heard and acknowledged for where we are now, without judgment. Hearing stories and perspectives about the world from people whose lives are very different from our own – not opinions without context; stories and and perspectives that grow from that lived experience