"Dr. Kathy Obear has long been a leader in the foundational work of white anti-racist education. Now she offers a veritable treasure trove of resources and guidance in this nuanced yet accessible guide for leading white affinity groups in the workplace. This book should be considered essential to every organization's DEI bookshelf."
-Dr. Robin DiAngelo, author of White Fragility and co-author of The Facilitator's Guide for White Affinity Groups
This comprehensive guide features practical guidance, time-tested exercises, insightful case studies, and a wealth of resources and strategies for running an effective White Accountability Group.
Written by an expert trainer and facilitator with decades of experience, this book will help readers make the business case for starting a group, co-create a powerful learning community, identify critical skills and competencies for participant development, design effective learning activities, and work toward becoming anti-racist change agents in their organization.
"For more than thirty years, Dr. Obear has worked not only with other 'white folks' but on herself to live an anti-racist life. This resource is grounded not only in her experience as a professional scholar, educator, and facilitator, but in her daily practice. The exercises, tools, and information shared here will meet folks wherever they are on their journey. This is not just a major contribution to the field of diversity and inclusion, but to the world."
-Rev. Dr. Jamie Washington, President, The Washington Consulting Group
"A must read for anyone interested in helping white people move toward greater racial insight and understanding, ability, and constructive action. White Accountability Groups can be a land mine and hold transformative potential of increased racial awareness. Kathy Obear's latest book combines decades of experience with the craft of a teacher to all but ensure that such groups are a success. The book clearly lays out a step-by-step process to approach, create, and facilitate a successful white accountability group that advances institutional goals. The steps are supported by exercises, inquiries, and worksheets and perhaps, most valuable of all, Obear's deep and extensive experience."
-Jacqueline Battalora, PhD, author of Birth of a White Nation (2nd edition)
"Leading White Accountability Groups is a step-by-step guide for racial justice advocates who want to thoughtfully create white accountability groups that are rooted in justice and loving community. Dr. Obear provides resources, practical activities, and most importantly, critical questions that both guide the development of white accountability groups and invite the reader into deep self-reflection about their capacity and motivations to do this work. This book is a culmination of Kathy's work as a social justice advocate and is a gift to those seeking to invite privileged groups into deeper accountability and to continue on the journey towards justice."
-Alejandro Covarrubias, EdD, President, Foundations for Hope and Justice Consulting
Obear, Kathy: - Dr. Kathy Obear is a nationally recognized expert in helping leaders, change agents, and facilitators develop the capacity to create equitable, inclusive, and racially just organizations. Currently president of the Center for Transformation and Change, Kathy is a co-founder of the Social Justice Training Institute, an intensive professional development experience to deepen capacity to dismantle dynamics of racism and white supremacy in ourselves and in our organizations. Among Kathy's previous books is "But I'm Not Racist! Tools for Well-Meaning Whites" (Difference Press, 2017).
