Conscious Action is a structured learning and accountability space for anyone who is socialized as a white man. The course is designed to help participants unpack and heal from their socialization and learn strategies to mitigate and repair harm. This work is also meant to create a sustained community of white men who collectively strengthen their awareness and accountability for anti-racist, feminist action. The ultimate goal is to foster humanity and inclusion at work and everywhere.
Why white men?
There is so much potential for working with a group that is too often underrepresented in racial and gender justice work and overrepresented in exerting power over others. Organizations – and many white men themselves – are seeking a better path forward: replacing racism and misogyny with love and community; replacing our social conditioning with our true values; and replacing domination and control with collaboration and belonging.
​
In Conscious Action, expect to experience authenticity, connection, and joy, as we deepen awareness of our body and emotions, share and process stories, and engage in reflective activities in community with one another.
White Privilege Conference, 2024
Course Outcomes & Structure
Outcomes
✔ Raise our self awareness around race and gender
✔ Understand our socialization
✔ More effectively communicate across difference
✔ Build more antiracist and feminist skills
✔ Support and hold each other accountable
​
Structure
✔ Six 90-min virtual sessions with 30-min open reflection space for further unpacking and processing *org offerings and customization available
✔ Flexible group processing using research-based tools and frameworks
​
The course is not a space for
X blame and shame
X rejecting people when they make mistakes
X enabling or justifying harm
X reproducing racism and patriarchy
✔ Feeling imposter syndrome as a white man with a leadership position?
✔ Want to show up more authentically and confidently in your work?
✔ Feeling afraid of saying the wrong thing around women and people of color?
✔ Want to be a better ally to marginalized groups?
✔ Feeling guilt or shame about being a white man?
✔ Want to grow as a spouse or parent?​​
​​​_____
​
Pricing tiers range from $150 - $950
We redistribute 10% of all fees directly to BIPOC-, women- and
gender-nonconforming-led social justice organizations.
Our hope is that compensation is not a barrier, and that we can provide the course to any individuals who are interested. We therefore make scholarships available whenever possible.
Course dates (Tuesdays): May 6, May 13, May 20, June 3, June 17, June 24
The times of all 90-minute sessions are 8:00pm-9:30pm EST. All sessions are followed by an optional 30-min open reflection space (9:30-10:00pm EST) for further unpacking and processing.
​
Meet the Facilitators
Brendan and Andrew have been trained in racial literacy by Dr. Howard Stevenson and coached in white affinity group facilitation by Dr. Robin DiAngelo and Amy Burtaine. They are experienced co-facilitators with backgrounds in therapeutic practices, racial literacy, adult learning, and leadership coaching. As white men, they are on their own journey of healing and living in a community of love and resistance.​
Brendan Turner, LCSW (he, him) is a social worker from Northern California now based in New Orleans, LA. He is a storyteller, racial literacy trainer, relationship and culture coach, UPenn Faculty Affiliate, and founder of PLAAY South New Orleans. He finds purpose and gratitude in supporting the development of racial and gender identity and awareness and the skills to build meaningful relationships across racial and gender differences in service of healthy, joyful environments for adults and young people.
Andrew Knips (he, him) is a leadership coach, racial literacy trainer, and data consultant with a passion for developing leaders to improve their organizational culture in service of intersectional equity. A lifelong coach and educator, Andrew started his career as a high school teacher and administrator in Philadelphia. He enjoys working across sectors and at multiple intersections to foster systems change. He is a co-author of the book, Equity in Data: A Framework for What Counts in Schools. You can follow his writing for free at andrewknips.substack.com.
Research Foundation
Our research on white male identity development is grounded in: intersectionality (Crenshaw, 1989), white identity development (Helms, 1984, 2016, 2017, 2020), racial literacy (Stevenson, 2018), PVEST theory (Spencer, 2006), the key model (Scott & Robinson, 2001), and gender role strain paradigm (Pleck, 1981, 1995). Read more about our research here.
Our course is grounded in white affinity group facilitation (DiAngelo and Burtaine, 2022), racial socialization (DiAngelo, 2022), patterns of whiteness (hooks, 2004; Pappas, 2019; Okun, 2021; DiAngelo, 2021), primary and secondary emotions (Demasio, 1994), emotional patriarchy (Armah, 2022), and positive psychology (Seligman, 2011).
​
Want to contribute to our research? Feel free to take our surveys:
-
Identity development of white men : A survey for white men to share about key moments in your life that taught you about masculinity and whiteness
-
Patterns of White Male Behavior in the Workplace : As survey for people who are not white men to share about patterns you notice at work from white men​
“Conscious Action is a grounded space for white men to engage in their ongoing healing work together. I appreciated and learned from how Brendan and Andrew modeled vulnerability, as well as provided tools for a powerful and reflective experience that built meaningful community. I really loved the moments of joy and silliness as well!”
Course Participant, Fall 2024
Contact Us
We look forward to connecting with you. For a free consultation or to request more information, email us at andrew.knips@gmail.com and brendan@withloveconsulting.com