Community Learning Series
Join the Community Learning Series
Join our Community Learning Series to engage in meaningful conversations, connect with like-minded individuals, and work together toward environmental justice.
Throughout the year we host two-month long learning sessions based on a specific theme and book. Register now for our Spring Session starting on April 8th!
Registration is free and all are welcome!
Spring Session: Being Antiracist
We all have a role to play in the fight against racism.
— Dr. Sandra E. Jones
The recent presidential election and its aftermath have shown us that racism and systems of oppression are still deeply embedded in our communities and cultures. They are digging in their heels while we work to dismantle them.
Our Spring Session focuses on being antiracist to work against the increased racism we’re seeing in our communities. Join us in reading and discussing Layla F. Saad’s Me And White Supremacy, to better understand how racism continues to show up in our everyday lives, so we can take more direct actions against it.
The Community Learning Series hosts two-month long learning sessions throughout the year, each focused on a specific theme. Stay tuned for more information on our upcoming themes and sessions.
Spring Schedule
Mandi McAlister and Leah Holloway will co-facilitate discussions around Layla F. Saad’s book, Me And White Supremacy.
We’ll discuss the reading and how we can apply what we’re learning through action. We’ll meet online on the following dates:
Apr 8, 6-7:30pm
Orientation
Apr 22, 6-7:30pm
Discussion 1
May 6, 6-7:30pm
Discussion 2
May 20, 6-7:30pm
Discussion 3
If you’re reading the book with a Book Circle, you’ll decide with your small group when you’d like to meet virtually in addition to the four facilitated discussions.
About The Book
Racism and white supremacy are at the root of what is dividing our community, as well as the injustices that are impacting our daily lives. Explore how you may be upholding these systems of oppression through Layla F. Saad’s book, Me And White Supremacy, so you can effectively dismantle them.
Organized in “28 Days” Saad defines concepts such as tone policing, tokenism, and white centering. She provides examples on how these concepts show up and how they are harmful, and then ends each section with reflective questions for the reader to answer about their own life.
Me And White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad
Saad states that Me And White Supremacy “teaches readers to understand their white privilege and their participation in white supremacy so that they can stop (often unconsciously) inflicting damage on people of color and, in turn, help other white people do better too.”
This book aligns with Fair Future Movement’s mission to unite the community for environmental justice by helping us dismantle the systems that are causing division, injustices, and harm in our community. Let’s break down these systems of oppression so we can work towards environmental justice together.
Meet the Facilitators
Mandi McAlister (she/her)
Co-Facilitator
Mandi is the Founder and Co-Executive Director of Fair Future Movement, and this marks her fourth time facilitating the Community Learning Series. Mandi creates a safe and inclusive space, where participants can openly unpack and process their learning. She values these moments of mutual growth, appreciating the opportunity to learn from one another through rich, reflective discussions.
Mandi is a mother, partner, and activist. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, bringing people together, being outside, reading, and crafting.
Leah Holloway (she/her)
Co-Facilitator
Leah Holloway is the Program Manager for Milwaukee Riverkeeper and a lead organizer in the Plastic-Free MKE movement. Leah is a Fair Future Movement Board Member and an active participant in other community building projects and organizations. This is her fourth year participating in and first time facilitating a Community Learning Series.
Leah enjoys getting lost in a good book, converting her yard to native plants, spending time with family and friends, hiking and spending time outside, preferably near or in water, and subverting and dismantling systems of oppression.
Participation Guidelines
To ensure everyone gets the most out of this experience, we ask all participants to follow these guidelines.
Keep a Safe Space
It’s important that everyone feels safe in the space we’re creating. Be mindful of how your comments impact others. Harmful and disrespectful comments or actions will be addressed.
Maintain Confidentiality
This is a personal experience for you and everyone participating. You agree to keep all conversations confidential, and respect your fellow community members and their thoughts regardless of where they are at in this work.
Have an Open Mind
We encourage you to keep an open mind and step out of your comfort zone when participating in the discussions. The more you do so, the more you’ll get out of this experience.
Attend Each Discussion
Group learning allows for richer discussions and deeper understanding of complex topics. Make it a priority to attend each discussion so you and others receive this benefit.
Take Regular Action
It is not enough to learn about racism, systems of oppression, and environmental injustices. We must take action against them. We encourage you to commit to taking at least one action every two weeks.
Move at Your Own Pace
This isn’t a race to finish the book. It is perfectly fine to move faster or slower through the book than others. Keep attending the discussions and contribute from wherever you are.
Register Today!
Join our Community Learning Series to engage in meaningful conversations, connect with like-minded individuals, and work together toward lasting change.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Community Learning Series?
The Community Learning Series is a series of two-month long learning sessions. During each session we read a selected book together to explore systems of oppression and take collective action.
Through facilitated group discussions, we’ll create a shared understanding of the concepts in the book, connect the material to current issues, apply what we’ve learned to create impact, and deepen our engagement with local action and initiatives. Learn more here.
What is a Book Circle?
A Book Circle is a small group of people that meet virtually on a regular basis to dive deeper into the book. They meet in addition to the bi-weekly facilitated discussions in the session. Book Circles use the Circle Way – a collaborative approach that allows all members to lead and support the circle.
Book Circles are great for those wanting to get to know people more personally, discuss the book in more detail, and for those who like more accountability.
Do I need to read anything before the orientation?
Nope! You’re welcome to get started, but we won’t be discussing the reading during the orientation. We’ll spend time introducing ourselves, the Community Learning Series, and getting to know one another.
What am I committing to when I sign up?
When you join in, you are committing to attending the orientation, the three facilitated discussions, and taking one action from each of the Collective Action Alerts.
The orientation and discussions are bi-weekly from 6-7:30pm. We understand if you cannot attend the whole time, but please make it a priority to attend as much of the session that you can – meaningful and consistent participation from all members is necessary to ensure greater discussion of the topics we are focusing on.
If you are joining a Book Circle, you are also committing to meeting virtually with your small group. All responsibilities are shared in a Book Circle – you will help lead and support your group and actively participate in the discussions.
Where can I get the book?
If you can, we encourage you to buy the book from a local bookstore to support the author and small businesses. There are many to choose from, but here are some of our favorites: La Revo Books, Lion’s Tooth, Niche Book Bar
If buying local, we suggest calling ahead to see if they have it in stock. Bookstores can usually order it for you if they don’t.
Bookshop.org is also a way to order online while supporting local bookstores! Select your local bookstore by clicking the “Choose a Bookstore” option in the top right part of the page.
You can also visit your local library or purchase the book at thirftbooks.com. Please let us know if you’re having difficulty getting a copy of the book. We’ll do what we can to help!
What are Collective Action Alerts?
Collective Action Alerts are bi-weekly emails that include three suggested actions we can take in our community. Actions range from signing petitions, attending events, spreading awareness, etc.
Through Collective Action Alerts we act in unison, work towards environmental justice, and target our collective power to support the needs of the community.
Still have questions?
Reach out to us with any questions.