This immersive workshop invites participants—particularly those in leadership and facilitation roles—to critically examine how emotional and embodied responses to race, racism, and oppression show up in their practice. Using the lens of fight, flight, freeze, and fawn, we explore how defensiveness, avoidance, appeasement, or over-identification surface when privilege is challenged or discomfort arises in equity spaces.
Through reflective exercises and scenario-based discussion, participants will identify these patterns in themselves and others, interrogate the myth of professional neutrality, and examine how whiteness operates as a dominant cultural logic—even beyond racial identity. We will explore how markers such as gender, education, wealth, and language come to define who is perceived as more “human,” more “objective,” or more “fit to lead.”
Central to the session is a reckoning with whiteness as a system, not an identity, and how proximity to its characteristics becomes a global measure of value, voice, and legitimacy. Through activities like personal mapping and role-play, participants will reflect on how their social location has shifted (or remained fixed) over time—and how their behavior in moments of confrontation or feedback reflects underlying investments in power, control, or being “right.”
We’ll also engage in practical questions: What do you do when you’re called out in a training space? How do you hold authority and accountability at the same time? What does it mean to correct harm in public, without derailing the learning of the group?
This workshop challenges participants to redefine leadership as an act of shared power, emotional honesty, and ongoing unlearning.
This session is part of the learning series Practicing Justice as Coaches & Trainers, intended for coaches & trainers of the People, Power, Change framework. We’re opening early registration to those joining the full series. Space is limited to 50 seats, so we encourage you to reserve your spot soon.
If you are interested in joining for part of the series, please reach out to Community of Practice Lead Sachiko Osawa at sachiko.osawa@leadingchangenetwork.org.
Key Learning Points
Learning Objectives:
By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
- Recognize and reflect on their own fight, flight, freeze, or fawn responses—especially in moments of confrontation, feedback, or discomfort.
- Understand how emotional responses are shaped by systems of privilege, including whiteness, professionalism, and colonial logics of control.
- Identify characteristics that are rewarded with “humanness” or credibility, and how these are connected to race, gender, class, and ability.
- Examine the myth of professional neutrality and reimagine their roles as facilitators, trainers, or leaders within anti-oppression work.
- Respond more intentionally to harm and discomfort in training spaces, balancing authority with humility and repair.
- Map their social location over time, reflecting on how proximity to dominance (e.g., whiteness, maleness, education) has shifted and influenced their leadership style.
- Practice holding space for difficult conversations, particularly when their expertise or authority is questioned.
- Develop concrete strategies for shared leadership, co-ownership, and accountability in justice-focused education and organizational work.
Facilitator
Evelyn Amponsah is described as a transformative leader renowned for driving systemic change, fostering strategic innovation, and building empowered, high-performing teams. With deep expertise across multiple sectors, she bridges divergent interests to build consensus and inspire action. Evelyn has earned a reputation for her groundbreaking work in developing anti-Black racism frameworks, evidence-based community approaches, and practical toolkits grounded in anti-oppression and equity principles. Evelyn’s ability to engage diverse audiences ensures her trainings are practical, impactful, and resonate with participants at all levels.
A scholar and advocate, Evelyn holds a PhD from York University, where her research examines the political economy of anti-Black racism. She was the co-founder of the York University Black Graduate Students Collective, which spearheaded institutional change, resulting in the creation of Black Studies programs and a commitment to increase Black faculty representation.Evelyn’s unique ability to align social service expertise with anti-oppressive, trauma-informed praxis makes her a sought-after educator and consultant.
Evelyn is committed to equipping individuals, organizations, and communities with the tools to confront anti-Black racism, dismantle systemic inequities, and create transformative, inclusive futures.
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This year has taken a lot from us. As we move through deep uncertainty — politically, socially, and personally — and experience great injustice, many of us have found ourselves questioning how best to respond, and where our leadership is most needed. At times we’ve acted boldly, at times we’ve paused, adapted, or leaned into care. This session is an opportunity to reflect on how we've each acted in response to challenge — and to reconnect with the agency and clarity we need to move forward. Together, we’ll surface the range of ways people across our community have navigated this moment — whether by building bridges and connections, disrupting and raising the stakes, or other meaningful ways — and explore what each of these approaches makes possible. This isn’t about finding the one “right” way to respond, but about learning from the diversity of leadership choices and archetypes that
