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Anti-Racism Visioning Team
Department of Midwifery and the Simkin Center for Allied Birth Vocations
at Bastyr University
Goal: A learning environment free from institutionalized racism, dedicated to social justice and a culturally versatile approach to maternal health care provision.
The Anti Racism Visioning Team includes two groups of hard working women:
Consultant Team (photo right): Margo Adair, Sheila Capestany, Mayet Dalila, Benita Horn
Learn more about our Consultant Team>
Staff Leadership Team:
Annie Kennedy, Director, Simkin Center for Allied Birth Vocations
Suzy Myers,Chair, Department of Midwifery
Mary Yglesia, Program Supervisor, Department of MidwiferyProject Coordinator: Kelsey Tanaka
Learn more about Kelsey>Next Steps: Leadership training for staff team members to champion this work into the future and make the changes necessary to shift the organizational structure. Visioning Team is developing a blueprint to continue toward the goal stated above.We need your help.
In the coming weeks, the consultant team will convene focus groups and conduct interviews.Your experience in our programs and your thoughts about next steps for this work are sincerely requested.It may be difficult to talk about and to hear. Listening and dialogue are steps towards healing and making change. We welcome your presence and voice.
Focus groups will be in the Seattle area and phone interviews will take place at a time that is convenient for you.
Contact Margo Adair madair@toolsforchange.org to join a focus group or interview.
The Future – Bringing what we learn to our colleagues at Bastyr University to champion
History of the Project:
2006 – Students confronted administration with news that institutional racism was a fact within Seattle Midwifery School (SMS) programs Midwifery Education Program and the Simkin School for Allied Birth Vocations. Students and stakeholders demanded issue be addressed.An all-school Change Team was formed including students, faculty & staff. Workgroups and Change Team meetings were at times very hard and painful, as well as exciting and encouraging, as the school community confronted racism and developed tools for change. An electronic survey was conducted with 95 respondents from a pool of staff, students and faculty.
2007 – Request for proposal to develop an anti-racism curriculum specific to the childbirth professions. First all- school antiracism training with professional trainers held over 2 full days. Faculty in-service training with visiting anti-racism expert from Smith College. Instituted a policy requiring all students to complete anti-racism training as a graduation requirement.
2008 - Second faculty in-service training.
2009 - First required student anti-racism training, two full days with professional trainers from the local social justice community. Grant of $10,000 funded by TEW Foundation titled “Dismantling Institutional Racism in Childbirth Education: A Blueprint for Change.” Created Visioning Team to create blue print for action to describe institutional change needed to create a socially just institution and students who are prepared to do this critical work through maternity care and social support to women and their families.
2010 – Visioning Team meets regularly establishing the foundation for the work ahead in this year: understanding assumptions, expectations and goals, identifying key stakeholders, data gathering, project coordination and process. Continued search for grant funding for next phase of project.