Non-Profit Behind the Scenes Work: HRA Preparing For Tim Wise Visit

Sometimes I am amazed at how much work something is.  Healing Racism in Anchorage is a small non-profit without a paid staff.  The steering committee members, including myself, do the work.  Next week we're bringing one of the most active anti-racists to Anchorage for several days.  I've spent part of today just tying up loose ends - posting publicity on various websites, getting a parking waiver for people coming to the Tuesday night talk at UAA, and little things like that.  But they add up. 

I'm also pretty amazed at how much can be done by a group like this.  We've been meeting almost weekly (we have potluck dinners) for the last month or so, reporting who has done what, what still needs to be done, finding out what plans have come through, what new money has come in, etc.  Everyone is pitching in working on different events, coordinating volunteers, working with partners, getting transportation from event to event settled, and on and on.

The major public events include:

Monday, Sept. 13:  A workshop for up to 35 people at the new community room at Credit Union 1 in Mountain View.  This is essentially for folks who want to improve their skills for interrupting racism in their organizational or personal lives.  It's from 5:15pm-8:30.  Costs $50 ($40 for Healing Racism in Anchorage members) and includes a light dinner.

Tuesday, Sept. 14:  Tim Wise will talk at Wendy Williamson auditorium at UAA beginning at 7:30.  That's the parking fee waiver I was working on today.  This is a free event for the public.

Thursday, Sept. 16:  The UAA debate team, which regularly wins National level debates, will take on the topic,  “The time has come to abandon race-based preferences in university admissions,” UAA Library Room 307, 7 - 9 p.m.  (Tim will not be at this event.)

Listen on the Radio

In addition Tim will be on the radio a lot:
Monday, Sept. 13:  Native America Calling (KNBA 90.3 FM), 8:50 to 10 a.m.  This is broadcast nationally, so people outside of Anchorage can check how to listen in.

Tuesday, Sept. 14:  Talk of Alaska (KSKA 91.1 FM) with Steve Heimel, 10 a.m.  This will be broadcast statewide on the Alaska Public Radio Network.  Listeners can call in.  Click here for a list of stations statewide.
Wednesday, Sept. 15:  Bob and Mark (KWHL, 106.5 FM), 9:30 and Dave Stieren (KFQD, 750 AM), 10:00 a.m.

Other Activities
Tim Wise will also been doing short presentations with some federal agencies, a state agency, a private sector company, and the Anchorage School District.  I'm tired just thinking about his busy schedule.

What particularly impresses me is that quite a few organizations and individuals are going to benefit from Wise's visit.  If any one group brought him up just to work with them, the cost of transportation and hotels would make it really costly.  But by a lot of organizations working together, they all get time with Wise at a very reasonable price.

The administrative costs are being born by the steering committee of Healing Racism in Anchorage through our volunteer work on this, plus the help from volunteers.  And a long list of individuals and organizations that have made donations from $8 to several thousand dollars.

There are a couple more events later the follow up on Tim Wise's visit.



Wednesdays, September 22 – October 27, 2010:
HRA class, 5:45 to 8:30, Anchorage School District (ASD) Red Room on Northern Lights. $75/$65 for members plus optional fee to UAA for graduate-level credit. Includes the cost of books. Sign up through the ASD My Learning Plan for credits or Email healingracism@gmail.com to secure a spot.  This is a chance to have an in depth exploration of racism in our lives in a safe small group setting.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010:
FREE “Anchorage Is Our Home” video screening and panel discussion, Wilda Marston Auditorium at the Loussac Library, 6 to 7:30 p.m. 



You can find out more at Healing Racism in Anchorage's website.