Community Education:

Our mission is to provide a supportive and inclusive space for individuals who are passionate about deepening their understanding of racial justice and equity. As well as collaborating with local agencies that have expertise in Trauma Informed Care, Menopause and other topics relevant to our beloved community. We offer access to resources that foster continued education, including tools, materials, and opportunities for growth in both knowledge and practice. We also strive to empower individuals who are seeking to advance their commitment to racial justice, providing educational resources on grants and funding opportunities that support transformative change. Our community welcomes those who long to connect with like-minded individuals, creating a beloved and supportive network committed to building a more just and equitable world for all. Together, we will learn, grow, and act in solidarity to create lasting impact. There are three remaining ways to connect with us through our Community Education Pillar in 2025/26

1) Since a significant number of our grants went to Eaton Fire Survivors we are hosting a one day workshop in collaboration with Trauma Resource Institute (TRI) on their Community Resiliency Model in September. Through our Disaster Relief Mobilization: Community Resiliency Model (DRM:CRM), TRI offers free, evidence-based, culturally responsive mental wellness programs across fire-impacted areas of Los Angeles County. We help people and communities understand how tough experiences and long-term stress can affect our bodies and minds. It also teaches ways to build strength and recover using these skills. Children, teens, and adults can learn and use these skills and bring them into their daily activities. In these workshops, people learn six skills that help them feel better and handle stress. TRI’s community and evidence-based approach equips natural leaders with practical skills to reduce stress, restore balance, and support one another, especially when mental health services are limited or unavailable. TRI has a proven track record across 25 U.S. states and globally, supporting communities after wildfires, hurricanes, earthquakes, and civil unrest. Many of TRI’s leadership live in Los Angeles County and are dedicated to helping their community. Location: Zoom Sign up here.

2) In October we will be offering our Menopause 101 course taught by local Women’s Health Nurse Practitioners and Midwives. Location: Zoom. Sign up here.

3) In January of 2026 we will be offering again our 6-week Intro to Biblical Racial Justice Class on Sunday afternoons from 4-6pm PST.

Course Description: Together we will unpack what race means biblically, historically and socially, and how racism functions in American society. We will establish common vocabulary to support fruitful conversations, and we will dive into the history of racism in our country (including how that history has socialized us, and where we see the impact of that history today). We will also learn about, discuss, and wrestle with topics like Implicit Bias, Microaggressions, Whiteness, IRO and IRS (how all of us internalize messages about race), and Racial Trauma. 
Pre-work will be assigned weekly via email, containing assignments that should be completed before the start of the class (about 2 hours each week: videos/reading/reflective writing). This prepares students for class teaching and our discussions. Classes are structured to build on previous lessons and topics, so attendance at all six classes is expected, as is a high level of engagement. This is not a class where you will sit back and passively obtain information.

Instructors for this class include: Clarence Gaines, Sarah Dornbos, Sarah Obermeyer, & Tynitra Wilson

Typical flow for the 6 week IRJ class:
Week 1. Developing Common Vocabulary & Historical Context (Establishing common vocabulary is necessary for a fruitful discussion, we will also cover the history of race and how/why it was invented)
Week 2. Implicit Bias (we all have it)
Week 3. Microaggressions (what they are, and their effects on people)
Week 4. Whiteness (how does Whiteness operate in our society - how is it different than white people?)
Week 5. Internalized Racial Superiority (which comes out of whiteness) + Introduction to Trauma
Week 6. How Racial Trauma manifests
· PTSD and IRO = POC trauma response
· PITS and Moral Injury = white "trauma" response

If we have people of color as participants we will have separate facilitated breakout groups for them for weeks 3 and 6 (with a facilitator who is a person of color) as we have found it meaningful for them to have a space to process outside of the white gaze for those topics.

Content is pulled from a wide variety of sources (books, movies, articles, video interviews etc) and organized in a way to bring the learner to a greater understanding of the history of race in America, the vocabulary used in discussions about race, and the impact of race on our society today. We cover a lot of ground in the six weeks!

Here is a link to our Biblical Justice Resource Page for going deeper after the class