James Bell Racial Justice & Structural Well-Being Certificate Training Series

Certificate Training Series

Become A Structural Well-Being Ambassador

Embark on a transformative journey through a six-module training, and become an agent of change in advancing racial justice and structural well-being in your community.

What You Should Know

The series will consist of six virtual monthly sessions and an in-person closing ceremony. Those selected to participate are required to attend all six live virtual sessions and the in-person closing ceremony. Upon completion of the training series, participants will be equipped with tools, resources, skills, and techniques that will help them to:

Analyze and re-engineer mental modules, moving away from harmful ideations into values driven approaches to achieve transformative change.
Facilitate alignment and consensus across diverse perspectives while building trust and co-creating supportive environments of belonging.
Establish new norms such as power sharing and transparency to maximize partnerships and increase commitment to stated goals.
Establish redefined and multidimensional successes.
Design spaces for creativity, collaboration and operationalization to advance racial justice and achieve well-being.

“I think the really special quality about this experience is that it provided so many of us the space that we really needed to engage in a collective reset and and assessment of where we are, where we need to go, and where we each sit with that."

Program Modules

This training consists of six modules designed to create a space for racial justice advocates and leaders to come together to learn, share, and fellowship together while exploring and establishing paths forward to operationalize transformative change. The modules will include:

WELCOME AND OPENING SESSION

March 28

Racial justice work can be isolating, exhausting and demoralizing at times. In this opening session participants will begin getting to know one another and building relationships and community in a manner that is all too often overlooked and undervalued in the work. Being seen, and seeing yourself in others is critical to maintaining a strong sense of self and self care, advancing the well-being of others, and overcoming the many challenges associated with racial and social justice work.

INTRODUCTION TO STRUCTURAL WELL-BEING

April 25

Participants will be introduced to the components of BI’s Structural Well-Being Framework. The Framework reflects BI’s evolutionary thinking from over 20 years of racial justice experience that realizes the limitations of traditional reform, and requires us to radically reimagine and engage strategies designed to disrupt and dismantle structural racism while building community-centered structural well-being to ensure our children, families and communities have what they need to thrive.

ANCHORING THE WORK (VALUES-DRIVEN TRUST BUILDING)

May 30

Participants will explore the importance of establishing trust and shared values among groups working on racial justice and the consequences of failing to do so. Participants will also receive facilitation and practice tips to help them normalize and navigate the “challenging” and “awkward” conversations that are commonplace in racial justice work. This module will work to demonstrate the importance of normalizing conflict while maintaining a values driven approach necessary to creating opportunities for innovation and transformative change.

NAVIGATING POLITICAL TURBULENCE

June 27

Participants will engage the common themes that connect the nation’s history of structural racism and animus to contemporary policies and practices that affect our work and explore strategies to overcome the toxic social and political environment that has always been connected to racial justice work. Participants will sharpen their skills to see past divisive political rhetoric and dissect the longstanding cognitive dissonance that has existed to prevent transformative change.

RECESS

July

Note: The Cohort will not meet during the month of July so participants can take a moment to rest, relax and reflect on the prior sessions and prepare to dive into the final few sessions leading to our October in-person convening.

DISRUPT AND DISMANTLE

August 29

Ending structural racism requires us to disrupt and dismantle the structures and processes that perpetuate it. Participants will engage in activities that support deeper intentional self-reflection and interrogation of the pervasiveness and impact of structural racism. Participants will increase their ability to identify the intricate role that structural racism plays in our cultural fabric.

REBUILD AND REIMAGINE

September 26

Participants will engage in a series of exercises designed to unlock their imagination and creativity. They will also have an opportunity to radically reimagine and recreate systems and institutions centered in community and anchored in our humanity. Participants will also be exposed to real examples of transformational change that exists currently across different sectors and countries.

CLOSING CEREMONY

October 10

Participants who complete the virtual training series will receive a certificate to be an official James Bell Racial Justice & Structural Well-Being Ambassador, and will participate in an in-person closing ceremony.

Schedule of Sessions

The training series will officially begin on March 28, 2024 and resume the last Thursday of each month (11am-2pm PT / 2pm-5pm ET) as follows:

Session 1 - March 28

Session 2 - April 25

Session 3 - May 30

Session 4 - June 27

Recess - July

Session 5 - August 29

Session 6 - September 26

Session 7 - October 10 (Closing Session)

"One of the greatest strengths of this training series is our ability to create a space for healing and connection."

Tuition & Scholarships

INDIVIDUAL (NO ORGANIZATIONAL AFFILIATION)

$3,000 / Per Person

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

$5,000 / Per Person

GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION

$7,500 / Per Person

PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATION

$10,000 / Per Person

FOR-PROFIT / SOCIAL VENTURE

$12,000 / Per Person

Tuition Scholarships will be granted to a select number of applicants upon funding availability and a critical needs assessment. Eligible candidates must be applying to the program as an Independent Professional or Grassroots/Community-Based Advocate to be considered.

Who Should Apply

Individuals who are committed to racial justice and ensuring a future in which the well-being of all people is actualized.
Individuals who are committed to advancing change through their role within the nonprofit, government, philanthropic and for-profit sectors.
Individuals who are willing to step into their informal and formal leadership to forge pathways forward to create equitable opportunities.
Individuals looking for collective spaces for thought partnership, fellowship, and support in the work to dismantle structural racism.

2024 Application Is Now Closed

The application for the 2024 cohort of the James Bell Racial Justice & Structural Well-Being Certificate Training Series (CTS) is now closed, but we deeply appreciate your interest. While this year’s enrollment period has concluded, we encourage you to stay connected for updates and announcements regarding future sessions. Our program continually evolves, offering new opportunities for engagement, learning, and development. In the meantime, explore our website for resources and workshops that may be of interest, and consider joining our community newsletter to stay informed. Your journey with us doesn’t have to end here; let’s continue to explore possibilities together.