In many Work That Reconnects communities, facilitators offer a ritual Welcome at the opening of a workshop. This practice is intended to help all participants feel included.
This Welcome was offered by the Anti-Oppression Resource Group at their recent “De-escalating Patterns of Harm in White Dominant Spaces” webinar. The text was inspired by a Welcome first developed several years ago at Canticle Farm in Oakland, California. Facilitating the webinar were Tzy-Ping Chen, who offered the Welcome, and Aravinda Ananda, Mutima Imani, Jane Hera and Jo Hamilton.
Let us all welcome…
People of African descent, of Asian descent, of European descent, of First Nations descent in this space; people of all backgrounds and ethnicities, people of mixed and multiple descents, and all of the languages spoken here. White bodied and People of the global majority.
Let us all say “WELCOME.”
People on all parts of the continuum of gender identity and sexual expression. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, heterosexual, transgender, gender fluid and non-binary, gender queer and two spirit people, all other queer folks; the sexually active and the celibate, and everyone for whom these labels don’t apply.
Let us all say “WELCOME.”
People of all ages, those about to be born, the voices of small children. All elder bodies, all pregnant bodies, all menstruating bodies and those who are currently bleeding; your ceremony is honored here.
Let us all say “WELCOME.”
Your bodies and bodies of all shapes and sizes, of all abilities and challenges. Those living with a chronic medical condition, visible or invisible.
Let us all say “WELCOME.”
We welcome you to this learning space if you have a lot of schooling and practice in your background, and welcome if you haven’t done much with school or practice.
Let us all say “WELCOME.”
Your emotions: joy, fear, grief, contentment, disappointment, surprise, outrage, anger and all else that flows through you.
Let us all say “WELCOME.”
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