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About Us
The Institute for Healing Racism-Muskegon (Institute) was established September 15, 1998 “...to build a just community in which racism, prejudice, hate and their effects are eliminated.”
Our principle product is our dialogue sessions. Each session of the Institute is made up of 10 parts, or dialogues, between and among an intentionally diverse group of people, guided by trained facilitators and enriched with video and print resources. These sessions take place in an atmosphere of Safety, Hope, Love and Mutual Respect, which is maintained by the acceptance of “Guidelines for Sharing” at the beginning of the first gathering.
Within ten years, over 3000 people have completed the program. We have trained over 100 facilitators, developed an Institute II, (a next step addressing institutional racism) and some selected workshops.
The demographics of our county (81.3% Caucasian, 14.2% African American, 3.5% Hispanic, 1.2% Others of Color) or of our city (60.6% Caucasian, 31.7% African American, 6.4% Hispanic, 1.5% Others of Color) indicate a definite need for this work. We are also one of the most segregated areas in Michigan.
We represent the interest of the locale served by promoting the “Principle of the Oneness of Humankind.” We start with the presumption that all people are those of goodwill and “you” are the only expert on your life experience or your “Reality.”
Our program is a Journey of Freedom for the oppressed as well as for the oppressor. Knowledge will lead to understanding, which will lead to tolerance and acceptance, from which we can begin to value each other. From this point we become able to change our behaviors, develop relationships and begin to see the world from each others window or “Reality.”
“The Institute for Healing Racism” is a non-profit charitable corporation in the state of Michigan, also recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a section 501 (c) (3) charitable organization.
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