The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Opening a dialogue on ‘white privilege’
Churches explore biases and how to overcome them
TORRINGTON — In an effort to help residents learn about biases and ways to overcome them, three area churches are offering a series of programs called “White Privilege: Let’s Talk.”
“White people need to have a conversation and learn what privilege is,” said facilitator Conrad Sienkiewicz, a former senior warden at Trinity Episcopal Church.
The population of white residents in the city is nearly 90 percent, according to information from the Connecticut Economic Research Center.
With a projected city population in 2020 of 36,787, statistics show Latino residents in Torrington account for less than 10 percent and black residents represent less than 3 percent of the population. The population of the state is 80 percent white, according to the U.S. Census
“We will probably get more white folks, but we’re reaching out to friends of color. It will be a stronger conversation if there are people of color in the room,” Sienkiewicz said Wednesday.
The six-week series that begins Sunday will include such topics as implicit bias, which is defined as “the unconscious attitudes, stereotypes, and unintentional actions (positive or negative) toward members of a group merely because of their membership in that group.”
Another topic of concern is micro-aggression, which is explained as “the result of implicit bias wherein a statement, action, or incident is indirectly or subtly (often unconsciously) reflective of prejudice. An example would be a person clutching their bag as they walk by” a person of another race.
Included in the series will be videos such as a TED Talk by Kandice Sumner, who teaches humanities in the Boston Public Schools. Part of her professional development curriculum is entitled R.A.C.E. (race, achievement, culture and equity).
The program facilitators have been planning the program for nearly a year, Sienkiewicz wrote in an email. The other leaders of the program are Rev. Sara Krhla of the Church of Christ Congregational, in Goshen and Rev. Rhonda Myers of United Congregational Church in Torrington.
“Ronda and I are neighbors. We live only two houses away from each other,” Sienkiewicz said. “I saw her on Facebook and realized she was my neighbor. We started talking about race and she told me about a program from the United Church of Christ on white privilege.”
Those how don’t attend church regularly, “or are even turned off by it, should know there won’t be a lot on (the program) about religion.”
“Race can be a difficult subject, so we will strive to create a safe space where we can speak openly and honestly—and actively listen to each other,” the program pamphlet notes.
The first session of the program will be held at the United Congregational Church at 1622 Torringford Street on Sunday, March 17. All sessions are held from noon to 3 p.m.
The next two sessions will be held by the Church of Christ Congregational, at 5 Old Middle St., Goshen, on March 24 and 31.
The third location for the program is the Trinity Episcopal Church at 220 Prospect St. on April 7 and 14. A final wrap-up session will move back to the United Congregational Church in Torrington on April 28.
The sessions are free and will include a free lunch for attendees.
An RSVP is required to help facilitators know how many program guides and lunch orders to provide. To confirm attendance, email Sienkiewicz at conradsank@gmail.com.