Audience: Students, Faculty and Staff
Facilitator: Dr. Gauthamie Poolokasingham, C. Psych.
Level: Introductory
This workshop is an introductory course for those that are looking to gain a baseline understanding of core foundational concepts and frameworks pertaining to race and racism.
Workshop Description
This workshop/presentation facilitated by Dr. Gauthamie Poolokasingham focuses on topics of cultural identity, race, racism, racial microaggressions, and white privilege in Canada and Canadian institutions of learning. Attendees are not only introduced to key terms and concepts to increase multicultural awareness, but are also educated on current trends and how this applies within the university environment. Active learning methods are used to help attendees engage with anti-racism material, reflect on their experiences, and bolster skills.
Learning Outcomes
- Introduce concepts of cultural identity, intersectionality and power as they relate to multicultural competence.
- Familiarize attendees with current trends and topics of racial/ethnic discrimination, colorblindness, internalized racism, racial microaggressions, and racial/ethnic identity development, social determinants, and White privilege in relation to the Canadian university context.
- Bolster attendee self-awareness and general knowledge as it relates to issues of racism and White privilege within the university environment.
- Scaffold skill development and attendee ability to recognize issues when they occur on campus, as well as apply knowledge within their roles to help support anti-racism.
Participant Expectations
This workshop is designed with active learning principals in mind. Fellow participants can expect to engage with each other through interactive small group discussions within breakout rooms and a case study activity. The workshop also includes lecture style components and brief self-reflective exercises. Scheduled breaks have been built in and participants are welcome to take additional self-care breaks as needed
About the Facilitator:
Dr. Gauthamie Poolokasingham, C. Psych is a psychologist in Toronto with a passion for working within the post-secondary environment. She has worked for Campus Wellness at the University of Waterloo, as well as in four other postsecondary settings, hospitals, and private practice. As a clinical psychologist, areas of key focus include cultural identity development, multicultural clinical intervention, postsecondary student mental health, racism, trauma, and sexual health. She has been devoted to understanding the impact of social determinations (including racism) on health and sharing her knowledge to create more inclusive spaces through community engagement. Dr. Poolokasingham strives to share her knowledge, innovative ideas, and experience as scholar and clinician, to go beyond raising awareness of issues to cultivating change in university communities.
This is an online workshop hosted on Zoom. The link to join will be sent to your inbox from the Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion Trainings email (
hrei.trainings@uwaterloo.ca) 48 hours prior to the workshop date.
Cancellations
Our workshops are in high demand and have limited capacity, often with waiting lists. We kindly ask that if you can no longer attend, you cancel your registration by contacting hrei.trainings@uwaterloo.ca no later than 24 hours prior to the workshop to make room for those on the waitlist. We acknowledge and understand that things happen, so even if it is a late cancellation (within 24 hours), please still let us know. Others may be able to join in your place. Thank you for accommodating this request.
