Click here tor register for the - 2020 General Meeting (August) 

We are excited to host Ellie Krug at the August General Meeting as she presents, Getting Past the Bumpiness:  White Fragility and Skin Color.  At the age of fifty-two, Ellie Krug transitioned from male to female while living in Cedar Rapids Iowa.  Although not at all easy, transitioning genders gave Ellie the opportunity for a "do-over' in life, which has included working to make the world fairer and more inclusive for all humans, particularly those considered "Other"  With over 100 civil trials to her credit, Ellie was the first Iowa lawyer to ever transition genders and one of the few attorneys nationally to try jury cases in separate genders.  She later relocated to the Twin Cities where she serves as the founding executive director of a legal non profit profit that was conferred an American Bar Association award for innovatively increasing legal access.

Presentation Description:  Americans are undergoing seismic shifts in how we relate to each other, particularly toward those who are considered “Other,” as one’s “otherness” relates to skin color, socio-economic standing, and country of origin. Many understand that it takes personal discomfort and self-reflection to begin the difficult conversation about how to be more inclusive of people considered “Other.” Those conversations are challenging because most are fearful of impacting sensitivities—people do not want to feel “uncomfortable,” either for themselves or others. Sometimes, we’ll do almost anything to avoid experiencing discomfort.

On the other hand, Ellie Krug’s work has revealed that most Americans are very compassionate and caring toward everyone, including those who are “Other.” It’s just that we don’t know how to exercise that compassion or empathy with anyone who’s outside of our comfort bubbles. Thus, most don’t personally interact with humans who are “Other

Learning Objectives:

1. To understand the concept of “white fragility” and how it adversely impacts/deters important societal conversations around skin color, socio­economic class/disparities, and country of origin.
2. To understand the difference between “racism” (not intent-based) and “discrimination” (intent-based) and how “good people” can engage in “racism” without even knowing or intending for it.
3. To offer strategies for white-color people to better understand institutional challenges facing people who are considered “Other” because of their skin color, and further, so that they may be able to interrupt racism.
4. To explore the concepts of “exceptionalism”, “individualism” and other lenses through which white-color humans rationalize the success of people who aren’t white in color.
5. To understand the importance of offering non-white-color people grace relative to how they may feel about having been historically marginalized.
6. To develop self-awareness that skin color, socio-economic class/standing, and country of origin should not be factors in how one human interacts with another human.
7. To provide tools on how to have conversations with all humans relative to skin color and societal barriers.