Training Articles
“Social Service or Social Change?: Who Benefits from Your Work” by Paul Kivel presents a framework and questions to help nonprofits create the most benefit for those they serve. His questions guide us to: 1. look at our roots as individuals and organizations in America’s political/economic structure, 2. discover who we are in solidarity with and who our work actually benefits, 3. explore dynamics in our organizations, and 4. look at who are we accountable to. Kivel also shares an example of how this could play out in a domestic violence agency. The article is available at
“Racial Sobriety: Answering the Prayer of Jesus” by Fr. Clarence Williams, CPPS presents a summary of racial sobriety and how it can help our society at the present time. The whole JustFaith issue – which includes Spiritual Exercises for Racial Sobriety and several articles on undoing racism – can be found online at:
Materials for faith-based discussions on Poverty and Racism:
Speak Out! is a thoughtful resource containing practical responses to situations of bigotry that we may encounter daily among family, at work, in email, in public or anywhere. Gathered by the Southern Poverty Law Center, these stories and examples may help the next time we find ourselves in a situation and want to express our discomfort or non-agreement where it can do some good instead of thinking later “I should have said something.”
“How to Be an Ally if You Are a Person with Privilege” by Frances E. Kendall, Ph.D. uses detailed explanations and clear examples to show how allies can contribute to the work for equity. It can be found online at .
If your program involves people from a variety of backgrounds, “Appreciating Diversity During the Holidays” may be helpful. It presents three ways to grow in awareness and be inclusive as preparations are made to celebrate holidays.
“Guidelines for Achieving Staff & Board Diversity” presents three steps your organization can take to increase racial diversity on your staff and Board. Specific ideas are offered for building your networks and expanding your reach.
“Multicultural Competence” by Paul Kivel shows how mainstream U.S. culture makes it difficult to be multiculturally competent and fully inclusive. As he gives ideas for increasing multicultural competence, he stresses that it is a process rather than a destination, and that it never substitutes for learning from the lived experience of members of a culture. This article is available at
“What is Cultural Awareness, anyway? How do I build it?” gives helpful information for increasing respect and appreciation of cultural diversity, especially in the workplace. It briefly describes levels of cultural awareness and attitudes that help to build bridges. This article is available at
“Is Reconciliation Possible?” by Valerie Batts (2005) is a thorough overview of the personal, interpersonal, institutional, and cultural manifestations of modern racism and internalized oppression. Batts shares her own history and experience of racism through the 70’s, and provides many examples from her work with Visions Inc. as a multicultural consultant.The article is available online at
“Whites Just Don't Understand the Black Experience” by Margaret Kamara (New America Media, June 28, 2007) is based on a study that explored white Americans’ view of race, the hardships black Americans experience, and reparations. This article may be a good starting point for a group discussion and can be found online at Also contemporary issue
“Diversity Vs. White Privilege” is an interview with Christine Sleeter by Rethinking Schools. She gives great examples of how to help people understand white privilege and how to teach a more accurate version of history. It is currently available at
“Internalized Racism: a definition” is a 2-page article from the Women’s Theological Center that will help one understand internalized racism not as a personal flaw but as an oppressive system that undermines individuals and society. The explanations of what internalized racism IS and is NOT are helpful in doing anti-internalized racism work. This article can be found at
“Study Finds Hidden Racism in White Students,” by Leslie H. Picca, assistant professor of sociology at the University of Dayton, Picca surveyed hundreds of white college students nationwide found that harsh racist language, the use of the “n-word” and the ugliest of racial stereotypes are common, everyday occurrences when white students are alone.
“Justice for Immigrants: A Journey of Hope,” The Catholic Campaign for Immigration Reform, This article explains the vision and mission of the Catholic Campaign for Immigration Reform. Together, leading Catholic national organizations hope to educate and spread awareness
of the issues.
“Christian Mission in Prophetic Dialogue: Mission and the Perils of White Privilege” CTSA, June 9, 2006, San Antonio, Texas, Paul Kollman, csc, University of Notre Dame. In the article, Fr. Kollman explores the difficulties of white privilege in missions.
“PayGapNarrows for Male and Female Nonprofit Executives, Study Finds” by Harvy Lipman, Chronicle of Philanthropy. This article confronts the glass ceiling women face even in nonprofit settings.
Edwards, Mark U. “Luther on Faith & Diversity.” The Lutheran, July 2003. Edwards is associate dean for academic affairs and special programs at HarvardDivinitySchool in Cambridge, Mass. In this insightful article, he explores, from a theology perspective, the teachings of Martin Luther on issues of race and of diversity.
“The Gospel of Diversity,” by Christopher John Farley, Time, April24, 1995. At the Oakhurst PresbyterianChurch, there's a black Jesus in front, awhite Jesus in back and folks of bothcolors in between. The OakhurstPresbyterian is that rarest of institutions:half black, half white and entirelyharmonious.
“Age Discrimination Law for High Tech Companies,” by DouglasM. Towns, January2001. The Age Discrimination inEmployment Act ("ADEA") makes itillegal for some employers to makecertain hiring and firing decisionsbased on an individual's age. Townspractices labor and employment law atJones, Day, Reavis & Pogue in Atlanta.
“Culture Shock,” from November 2005. People gravitate toward the similar. It's a basic fact of human psychology. This article has practical tips for making diversity easier (not easy, but easier!) in your organization. There is also a link to a related article, “Dealing with Diversity.”
“Beyond Diversity,” from October 2005. The Denver Foundation's board of trustees voted in 2001 to make a long-term investment to help nonprofits become more diverse. This article outlines The Denver Foundation’s Expanding Nonprofit Inclusiveness Initiative that is working to move past diversity to inclusiveness.
“A Multi-Faceted Look at Diversity: Why Outreach is Not Enough” by Heather Berthoud and Robert D.Greene investigates the outreach that hasand is taking place among organizationsthat utilize volunteer services as moreleaders recognize the benefits ofincorporating diversity. Although changeis difficult, they conclude that this is afruitful on-going process. “The Journalof Volunteer Administration,” Spring 2001.
“Fear Itself” by Father Richard Rohr explores the fears we hold in ourselves. He states that unless we observe and surrender our small, daily anxieties, we won't recognize the really big fears, in all their disguises, that control our politics, our denominations, our bank accounts, and the world's future. “Sojourners,” October 2004.
“Seeing our racism” by Elizabeth Hunter is an article on relationships with a study guide. Hunter says “relationships remove the lenses that blind us to white privilege.” She explores this idea and other topics in her article in “The Lutheran,” 2000.
“Catholicism’s Antidote to Multiculturalism” an interview withChristopher Shannon, a Jacques MaritainCenter research associate and formerassociate director at the Cushwa Centerfor the Study of American Catholicism atthe University of Notre Dame. May befound at Catholic Educator’s ResourceCenter at
“See No Bias” by Shankar Vedantam, Washington Post, January 23, 2005. This article outlines the Implicit Association Test developed by Mahzarin Banaji.The Implicit Association Test is designed to examine which words and concepts are strongly paired in people’s minds.