Resistance through Resilience: A Compassionate Approach to Interrupting Privilege

Our two UW Centers have recognized that the dual pandemic of racism and COVID-19 exacerbated stressors on our most vulnerable populations. In response, we are creating a collaboration between the Center for Communication, Difference, and Equity (CCDE) and the Resilience Lab that bridges CCDE’s landmark Interrupting Privilege program with Be REAL, a program developed by the Center for Child and Family Well-Being and supported by the Resilience Lab. Interrupting Privilege centers intergenerational dialogues around race (and its intersections) and creates tools for action against intersectional racism; Be REAL teaches cognitive behavioral skills to manage emotions and cope with challenging situations, mindfulness skills to strengthen self-awareness, and practices that promote compassion. This partnership brings together proven interventionist methodologies to address racial exhaustion; bringing a critical race perspective to mindfulness, and mindfulness to critical race work, enables us to nourish ourselves and stand with our communities as we confront everyday oppression.