(w)AIR 3.0
Course 2024
Testimonials
“I’m more confident to be able to have ‘race conversations’ (however imperfectly) and less triggered into a self defensive fight/flight/freeze response in my body when race comes up.”
“[The course] always brought back into a dharmic context and held within our particular Triratna context in a loving and encouraging way.”
“I can’t speak highly enough of this course. I have found the materials stimulating, challenging, interesting, shocking, deeply moving.”
“The biggest shift is an increase in courage or fearlessness.”
“I am noticing too that I am having more positive interactions with people of colour that I meet randomly in the park, in shops, on the tube, at the GP surgery... something has shifted in me that people are responding to, it feels very positive!”
“I want to encourage POC events at our Centre and talk openly with those involved in organising them.”
“I am aware that we are a sea of white faces and exclusions happens. I feel much more capable to hear criticism about the Sangha and myself after this course”
“I see situations I might not have noticed before and I can see when I need to step in or speak up to address what I notice.”
“There were many ‘ah ha’ moments as we processed as a group, as a penny dropped about my conditioning.”
“I am aware that we are a sea of white faces and exclusions happens. I feel much more capable to hear criticism about the Sangha and myself after this course.”
Course Impact 2024 - Evaluation of (w)AIR 3.0
A third version of the program was developed, with the 12 modules being released one a month from Jan 2024 to December 2024.
186 people registered for the program, and we estimate that 159 participants completed the course. 27 dropped out during the year for health and other life reasons - none expressed dissatisfaction with the program, and many said they would like to do it in future when circumstances allowed.
Participants were based in the UK, the US, Latin America, and Oceania (Australia and New Zealand).
Participants were invited to complete an end of program survey and 95 people did this, giving us rich feedback for which we are very grateful. 90% of respondents said their experience of the course had been very or mostly positive.
Key things highlighted in the survey as valuable were: the trust built up in their groups; being on a shared as well as individual journey; having a dharmic/Buddhist context; the quality and diversity of resources; the combination of support and challenge; key areas of learning (eg about history and their own conditioning); and feeling changed (eg more informed, aware and courageous).
Regarding the impact of the course:
more understanding of their own conditioning as a white person, and seeing their life experience differently
more resilience, more courage to take action, less fear and less reactivity (e.g. defensiveness)
more appreciation of history and its long term impact (slavery, colonialism etc)
awareness of being in a majority-white space and how that might feel for people of colour (PoC) to enter; understanding the value of PoC affinity spaces
greater ability to talk about race and confidence to skillfully challenge racism, “finding one’s voice”
greater ability to build connection and relationships across difference, being brave to bring up race with open and sensitive curiosity
becoming more sensitive and aware of things to own up to / confess, taking responsibility
more faith in Triratna as an Order / sangha.
more capacity to self-regulate and be creative when meeting racist views or hostility to this work
Constructive feedback which drove further curriculum development:
Modules specific to each region in the world would be especially welcome
The electronic discussion board was seldom used, or only by certain groups: next time try a different technology, or drop the idea all together
Significant enthusiasm for video recordings from team members and hearing Triratna voices, which indicates we need to do more of this.