Challenging Racism

Challenging Racism started in 2004 as an effort to close the minority student achievement gap in Arlington Public Schools, offering training to inform faculty and staff about race and equity.

Since then, we’ve held yearlong workshops to teach people in Arlington, VA about issues surrounding race. Challenging Racism: Learning How began as a parallel experience to the Arlington Public Schools initiative. It has grown to provide information to school and work groups, community organizations, and others whose members can benefit from a deeper and broader understanding of racism and its effect on our society.

Challenging Racism has evolved from one year-long workshop for parents at an Arlington school to offering multiple Challenging Racism: Learning How workshops in the same year. In 2016, Challenging Racism developed and ran its first Challenging Racism: Learning to Lead facilitator training to expand its network of facilitators to meet increasing demand for its service.
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Challenging Racism has also developed curricula and offered custom developed programs for other organizations in the community beyond the original APS program.

​The Development of Challenging Racism:
​Learning How through Stories and Conversation

2004-Present

2004-2007: EARLY YEARS

• In 2004, Marty Swaim, a retired public school social studies teacher and Palma Strand, an Arlington Public schools parent and facilitator, co-founded Challenging Racism and ran conversations on race together for 3 years. In 2007, Ms. Strand moved to work at Creighton University in Omaha, NE, where she is now a Professor in the Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Program.
• Challenging Racism: Learning How, which is how the conversations came to be known, is supported financially by the Arlington Public Schools Office of Minority Achievement (now called Equity and Opportunity.) Conversations are free to APS Parents. Other groups are also offered at a charge.
• Cheryl Robinson, in her role as APS Director of the Office of Minority Achievement, 1998-2015, supported Challenging Racism conversations for parents and community since 2005 both financially and professionally through advice and commentary.

2007: OUR ARLINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS COLLEAGUE SUPPORT - CO-FACILITATION AND CURRICULUM

• Tim Cotman, APS Equity and Opportunity Coordinator, APS 2018 Teacher of the Year, co-facilitated 2007-2010.
• The vital role of co-facilitator has been held since 2011 by the following: Dulce Carrillo, APS Coordinator of Community Engagement; Madeline LaSalle, Director, The Academic Academy, APS Career Center; Christian Dorsey, Chair, Arlington County Board; and Dawn Kyser, musician and retired APS teacher. By 2017, as the number of groups grew from 1 to 2 to 4, Challenging Racism grew its facilitator core through summer facilitator training for parent alumni and others.
• Marty Swaim, along with Tim Cotman, Steven Jones and others, under the leadership of Cheryl Robinson, worked on and facilitated cultural competency curriculum development for APS teachers 2007-2015.
• At the same time, Marty Swaim tested and wrote the curriculum for parents and community 2007 to 2016. In 2016, the Challenging Racism Learning How curriculum was published in a participant work book and in a facilitator handbook in time for the first summer 2016 facilitator training. The curriculum was revised in 2017.

2014: OUR BOARD FOUNDERS

• Alicia Puente Cackley, Learning How 2015 graduate, Board Chair
• Leah Maderal, Learning How 2007 grad, facilitator, newsletter founder, Continued founder for Alumni
• Tannia Talento, Learning How 2014 grad, Board member until elected to the Arlington School Board, current Arlington School Board Chair
• Thao Lee, Learning How 2013 grad, first video production
• Ellen Fitzgibbons, Learning How 2014 grad, Challenging Racism Continued founder, former Board member
• Monique Brown, Learning How 2015 grad, facilitator, Board member
• Tish Jenkins, Learning How 2014 grad, the Board Secretary
• Michele Chang, Learning How 2013 grad, facilitator, Board member until 2018, first Director of Facilitation and Curriculum, 2018-2019

2017-18: GROWTH EVENTS

• 2017: incorporation in the State of Virginia and IRS tax ID number.
• 2018: becoming a 501(c)3.

"We all have a sphere of influence.
Each of us needs to find our own sources of courage so that we will begin to speak. Meaningful dialogue can lead to effective action.
Change is possible. I remain hopeful."

— Beverly Daniel Tatum, Author
Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?