Testimonials

Like all educators, we believe in our unique method and approach to teaching anti-racism, but don't just take our word for it. 

Cheryl Anderson

Professor and Dean

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 Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science

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The Racial Resilience Seminar Series is an outstanding program that helps participants confidently engage in anti-racism work and have meaningful conversations about racism. It has been useful for the UC San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, which is using multiple approaches to create a healthy, supportive, safe, mutually respectful, and inspirational environment. The Seminar, taught by the Rev. Dr. Christopher Carter and Dr. Seth Schoen, has been important in exposing the members of the school to consistent vocabulary about race and racism and the use of compassion to sustainably work to address racism and preserve human dignity. The seminar's format and content support our school’s values of respect, humility, compassion, integrity, trust, diversity, equity and inclusion, which are implemented through mechanisms that ensure these guiding principles are lived, practiced, expected, and observed. Through our work with Drs. Carter and Schoen, we are gaining important insights to have a sustained impact on the culture, structure, policies, procedures, and practices of the school.

Cheryl Anderson

Professor and Dean, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science

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Loki N.

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I took Drs. Carter and Schoen’s Racial Resilience training in Fall 2020, a year marked by the COVID19 pandemic, racial injustice, and a polarized USA. We, as a society, needed to confront our ugly realities and find a new way! I was grateful to have the opportunity to engage in this training.  I have to say, when I saw the curriculum and approach, I was a bit of a skeptic. But, a couple of sessions into the course, I started to appreciate the novelty and value of their approach, which emphasizes compassion (for self- and others-). In the course, Drs. C and S, discussed the need for such compassion, while at the same time teaching us Critical Race Theory, and portraying racism and anti-racism through videos, readings, and discussion. This multi-faceted approach was extremely effective: it combined theory, practice and reflection seamlessly. In order to confront systemic racism, we have to confront our own role in fostering it, and for this,  self-compassion is a necessity. Numerous times over the last months, I have thought back to the techniques I learned in this course. I know there is much work to do, but Dr. C and S’s course provides a thoughtful approach to achieve a just society. I highly recommend their course, and hope to meet you on the  journey to create an anti-racist society. ​

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Linda M.

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Thank you for providing such a wonderful experience on such an uncomfortable topic. I will admit I was reluctant to engage in the compassionate exercises in the beginning, because as a scientist I wanted to focus on parameterizing the problems and developing solutions, and as a white person, I didn't feel deserving of starting off this process by focusing on self compassion given the very real suffering and struggles experienced by BIPOC folx. But I gained a much deeper appreciation of the process as we went through the course, and realized that it is crucial to remain grounded, with compassion for everyone, including ourselves, to truly confront racism in all its ubiquitous forms. This was a truly impactful course. ​

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D. (Asian American woman)

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Initially, I enrolled in this course already assuming that I, along with everyone else, is racist. While being racist usually implies a negative connotation, it is not necessarily so, as I had often explained to people that many judge me to be “smart” just based upon my looks (a faulty assumption). Assuming that I am smart because I look Asian is a racist judgment. To those who are open to it, the thoughtful course design, reading assignment and video materials covered the background context for understanding the underpinnings in our U.S. society that result in systemic racial biases while also providing us as individuals a path to better recognizing and dealing with our own implicit and explicit biases in positive ways.
After having completed this course, I do not think that I could have predicted the depths of not only my journey nor the effects it had on my fellow classmates moving forward. Honestly, I view this course as something all should take to increase self-awareness and to develop effective tools for dealing with uncomfortable situations. However, to maximally benefit from this experience, one needs to go in with an honest reckoning of oneself – if not, then an enrollee might be akin to someone who is an alcoholic, but denies it, and who will therefore not get past step one of Alcoholics Anonymous.

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Anonymous Participant 

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As a BIPOC I was really curious what these seminars would look like and how much I would be able to grow as an individual. I truly appreciated and loved that we had Christopher and Seth both leading the seminars as they were able to speak and identify with those who self-identified as BIPOC and/or White. They do critical work in teaching others how to be anti-racist and I would love to take any additional seminars they may have in the future!
​As far as the curriculum, the readings and activities really pushed me to evaluate my own biases and have a better understanding of how to manage them. I have learned important concepts and theories that I have and will continue to implement into my life. Although not easy, I am learning to slow down and reflect about my own behavior, the behavior of others, and the systemic practices that surround us and influence us. Additionally, I thank Seth and Christopher for showing us the importance of having compassion towards others, but especially to our selves. It is challenging to navigate a world where I'm constantly dealing with traumatic life events, but by acknowledging by own experiences I am able to reflect, health, and grow, thus allowing me to better help the systems that surround me. These seminars have been very powerful, engaging, and insightful!

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​Louielyn Lirio

Public Health Researcher

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Filipino-American

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Thank you Seth and Christopher for creating an environment that's safe, open-minded and comfortable to talk about issues and strengths about race and ethnicity. At a research and academic institution, there are times where it is too data focused and forget the human aspect. This Racial Resilience and Anti-racism training was very beneficial and applicable even in a non-public health research setting. The readings, reflection assignments, and seminars all intertwined effortlessly. Highly recommend for academic and research institutions working with various communities to ensure a compassionate approach is applied to health and social sciences etc.

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