Community Education:
Our mission is to provide a supportive and inclusive space for individuals who are passionate about deepening their understanding of racial justice and equity, as well as collaborating with local agencies that have expertise in Trauma Informed Care, Menopause and other topics relevant to our beloved community. We offer access to resources that foster continued education, including tools, materials, and opportunities for growth in both knowledge and practice. We also strive to empower individuals who are seeking to advance their commitment to racial justice, providing educational resources on grants and funding opportunities that support transformative change. Our community welcomes those who long to connect with like-minded individuals, creating a beloved and supportive network committed to building a more just and equitable world for all. Together, we will learn, grow, and act in solidarity to create lasting impact. Do you have an idea for a class that is needed? email us at cultivatingbelovedcommunity@gmail.com to suggest it!
In 2026 we will be offering again our 6-week Intro to Biblical Racial Justice Class on Sunday afternoons from 4-6pm PST.
Course Description: Together we will unpack what race means biblically, historically and socially, and how racism functions in American society. We will establish common vocabulary to support fruitful conversations, and we will dive into the history of racism in our country (including how that history has socialized us, and where we see the impact of that history today). We will also learn about, discuss, and wrestle with topics like Implicit Bias, Microaggressions, Whiteness, IRO and IRS (how all of us internalize messages about race), and Racial Trauma.
Pre-work will be assigned weekly via email, containing assignments that should be completed before the start of the class (about 2 hours each week: videos/reading/reflective writing). This prepares students for class teaching and our discussions. Classes are structured to build on previous lessons and topics, so attendance at all six classes is expected, as is a high level of engagement. This is not a class where you will sit back and passively obtain information.
Instructors for this class include: Clarence Gaines, Sarah Dornbos, Sarah Obermeyer, & Tynitra Wilson
Typical flow for the 6 week IRJ class:
Week 1. Developing Common Vocabulary & Historical Context (Establishing common vocabulary is necessary for a fruitful discussion, we will also cover the history of race and how/why it was invented)
Week 2. Implicit Bias (we all have it)
Week 3. Microaggressions (what they are, and their effects on people)
Week 4. Whiteness (how does Whiteness operate in our society - how is it different than white people?)
Week 5. Internalized Racial Superiority (which comes out of whiteness) + Introduction to Trauma
Week 6. How Racial Trauma manifests
· PTSD and IRO = POC trauma response
· PITS and Moral Injury = white "trauma" response
If we have people of color as participants we will have separate facilitated breakout groups for them for weeks 3 and 6 (with a facilitator who is a person of color) as we have found it meaningful for them to have a space to process outside of the white gaze for those topics.
Content is pulled from a wide variety of sources (books, movies, articles, video interviews etc) and organized in a way to bring the learner to a greater understanding of the history of race in America, the vocabulary used in discussions about race, and the impact of race on our society today. We cover a lot of ground in the six weeks!
Here is a link to our Biblical Justice Resource Page for going deeper after the class
