Anti-Racism
Farm & Wilderness has been powerfully engaged in environmental, social and racial justice issues since its establishment. We have long held a commitment to a deep, broad multicultural community at F&W. It is our intention to build programs and communities which are diverse and serve all participants equally well. This page describes our history and current strategic initiatives as an Anti-Racist Organization.
Farm & Wilderness is proud to be entering our sixth year of development as an Anti-Racist Organization. Fundamental to our Anti-Racism work has been organizational acceptance of a working definition of racism: Racism is the combination of race prejudice plus institutional power.
F&W began the process of being an Anti-Racist Organization during the summer of 2000. F&W created an Anti-Racism (AR) team to help guide and advise the trustees and staff in regards to issues of race within the organization. Crossroads Ministry, a non-denominational anti-racism training organization out of Chicago, provided support and training through early 2007. The Board of Trustees has a Race and Class Committee which now oversees the Anti-Racism process.
Each year the Board approves an Anti-Racism implementation plan which builds on the previous years' work. In 2008, we have two major areas of focus: recruitment of campers and staff of color through partnerships with other organizations; and continued refinement of AR training for staff. We are seeking funding to build partnerships with organizations which have similar programs to F&W (such as gardening and outdoor education) and diverse constituencies. Through such partnerships we hope to provide camper recruits with a summer experience that enhances their school-year activities, and staff recruits with leadership training relevant to their off-season work. In terms of staff training we have refined and expanded our staff anti-racism training. Each staff member, both year-round and summer, is given anti-racism training. Year round staff receives a two day training; summer staff is trained in implementing developmentally appropriate curriculum and cultural sensitivity.
For questions regarding the Anti-Racism work at F&W, or more details about our 2008 Anti-Racism Implementation Plan, please contact Executive Director Pieter Bohen at Pieter@farmandwilderness.org.
