AORTA : Anti-Oppression Resource and Training Alliance

• "From contemplation toward action" WREN is a gender justice advocacy organization based in South Carolina, and we are part of a multi-racial coalition called the Southeastern Alliance for Reproductive Equity
• AORTA supported the development and facilitation of SEARE’s white working group
• Jenna helped us define our intent and our structure, and facilitated discussions to help us work toward dismantling white supremacy in ourselves as individuals, in our organizations within the broader reproductive freedom movement
• She helped us develop the practices and muscles we needed to be able to manage a productive working group and to move from contemplation toward action

"From contemplation toward action"

WREN is a gender justice advocacy organization based in South Carolina, and we are part of a multi-racial coalition called the Southeastern Alliance for Reproductive Equity AORTA supported the development and facilitation of SEARE’s white working group Jenna helped us define our intent and our structure, and facilitated discussions to help us work toward dismantling white supremacy in ourselves as individuals, in our organizations within the broader reproductive freedom movement She helped us develop the practices and muscles we needed to be able to manage a productive working group and to move from contemplation toward action

• "Deep expertise in strategic planning, coalition design and facilitation" Amplify Georgia is a grassroots organization consiting of seven partner organizations working to advance access to abortion care in Georgia
• We hired AORTA in the summer of 2021 to facilitate our strategic planning process
• As a two-year young campaign, we were seeking support in formalizing our theory of change, reorganizing our partner structure and developing our first set of three-year strategic priorities
• In hiring a consultant, it was vital for us to find a group that not only shared our values of equity, anti-racism and collaboration but would center them in their work
• Bex did just this
• They also brought deep expertise in strategic planning, coalition design and facilitation, which they were able to seamlessly translate into a fully virtual process
• I can honestly say that it is because of the energy, commitment to social justice, and creative problem solving skills that AORTA brought to the table that our strategic planning was a success

"Deep expertise in strategic planning, coalition design and facilitation"

Amplify Georgia is a grassroots organization consiting of seven partner organizations working to advance access to abortion care in Georgia We hired AORTA in the summer of 2021 to facilitate our strategic planning process As a two-year young campaign, we were seeking support in formalizing our theory of change, reorganizing our partner structure and developing our first set of three-year strategic priorities In hiring a consultant, it was vital for us to find a group that not only shared our values of equity, anti-racism and collaboration but would center them in their work Bex did just this They also brought deep expertise in strategic planning, coalition design and facilitation, which they were able to seamlessly translate into a fully virtual process I can honestly say that it is because of the energy, commitment to social justice, and creative problem solving skills that AORTA brought to the table that our strategic planning was a success

• "New systems for democratic decision making" Pioneer Valley Workers Center is a workers center with the mission of building power with workers and immigrants through grassroots organizing, mutual aid, and by incubating worker-owned cooperatives
• We initially approached AORTA when it was becoming clear that our systems for collective leadership and accountability were failing us, and we were beginning to reckon with the effects of racism and white supremacy within our structure
• Dana began by teaching us new systems for democratic decision making and meeting facilitation
• She gave us concrete tools and helped facilitate a year-long process of designing our own collective leadership structure, reimagining leadership, decision-making, and roles
• Now, after a year of working with her, we face the future with a newly designed organizational structure that all members of staff co-created, and a new confidence

"New systems for democratic decision making"

Pioneer Valley Workers Center is a workers center with the mission of building power with workers and immigrants through grassroots organizing, mutual aid, and by incubating worker-owned cooperatives We initially approached AORTA when it was becoming clear that our systems for collective leadership and accountability were failing us, and we were beginning to reckon with the effects of racism and white supremacy within our structure Dana began by teaching us new systems for democratic decision making and meeting facilitation She gave us concrete tools and helped facilitate a year-long process of designing our own collective leadership structure, reimagining leadership, decision-making, and roles Now, after a year of working with her, we face the future with a newly designed organizational structure that all members of staff co-created, and a new confidence

• "Hold our values while moving us forward" Eliminating Racism and Claiming/Celebrating Equity (ERACCE) trains people to recognize and dismantle systemic racism in their institutions throughout the state of Michigan
• As our work grows, we need internal structures that can keep up
• We were reacting to growth with temporary solutions that then became permanent, and it was frustrating, demoralizing, and a drain on everyone's energy
• We needed effective facilitation that we could trust to hold our values while moving us forward
• AORTA folks facilitated an excellent retreat that held staff while we acknowledged what wasn't working in our beloved organization
• From that, we created a plan for consulting hours for the year
• The insight and energy we got from AORTA's work inspired us to reorganize staff roles and write a grant that is now providing health insurance for all of us
• We weren't sure we could find consultants who would see us without pushing us into dominant culture ways of doing business
• We're now planning a second retreat with AORTA and another year of consulting hours
• It's good to have partners in the work

"Hold our values while moving us forward"

Eliminating Racism and Claiming/Celebrating Equity (ERACCE) trains people to recognize and dismantle systemic racism in their institutions throughout the state of Michigan As our work grows, we need internal structures that can keep up We were reacting to growth with temporary solutions that then became permanent, and it was frustrating, demoralizing, and a drain on everyone's energy We needed effective facilitation that we could trust to hold our values while moving us forward AORTA folks facilitated an excellent retreat that held staff while we acknowledged what wasn't working in our beloved organization From that, we created a plan for consulting hours for the year The insight and energy we got from AORTA's work inspired us to reorganize staff roles and write a grant that is now providing health insurance for all of us We weren't sure we could find consultants who would see us without pushing us into dominant culture ways of doing business We're now planning a second retreat with AORTA and another year of consulting hours It's good to have partners in the work

• "Compassion, agitation, and curiosity" Kairos is a national organization that is building power in the digital realm and making sure that tech works for all of us
• Kairos has been partnering with AORTA since 2018
• We wanted to make sure that our racial justice values translated into explicit components of our national fellowship program
• We have been blessed to work with Autumn Brown who collaborated with Kairos to develop curriculum and training modules that now form the framework of our resiliency political education track of our national fellowship
• Autumn is a truly gifted facilitator, bringing compassion, agitation, and curiosity
• Kairos emerged as a fellowship program as authoritarianism took root in the White House
• Black, indigenous, and other communities of color have been under deepened assault
• As our movements have suffered harm has been weaponized
• Autumn helped Kairos Fellows and staff to remain steadfast to our purpose and utilize the values we've co created as our guide
• Liberation calls for nothing less

"Compassion, agitation, and curiosity"

Kairos is a national organization that is building power in the digital realm and making sure that tech works for all of us Kairos has been partnering with AORTA since 2018 We wanted to make sure that our racial justice values translated into explicit components of our national fellowship program We have been blessed to work with Autumn Brown who collaborated with Kairos to develop curriculum and training modules that now form the framework of our resiliency political education track of our national fellowship Autumn is a truly gifted facilitator, bringing compassion, agitation, and curiosity Kairos emerged as a fellowship program as authoritarianism took root in the White House Black, indigenous, and other communities of color have been under deepened assault As our movements have suffered harm has been weaponized Autumn helped Kairos Fellows and staff to remain steadfast to our purpose and utilize the values we've co created as our guide Liberation calls for nothing less

• "Solidify anti-racist structures through humanity and joy" Prescription Joy is a New Orleans based Healthcare Clowning nonprofit
• Our leadership, board of directors, and clowns took AORTA’s training together and it was amazing to learn so much in such a short window of time! We were able to have meaningful conversations about how to create an environment that we all want to work in-one that eschews the principles of white supremacy and patriarchy
• Sunny and Roan did a wonderful job of making participants feel heard and safe to make mistakes and ask questions
• We definitely recommend AORTA to any and all organizations, big and small, who want to create a better, healthier, and safer working environment for everyone they employ! We are so grateful for everything! We really feel like we now have a chance to solidify anti-racist structures through humanity and joy
• You are helping us deepen our mission

"Solidify anti-racist structures through humanity and joy"

Prescription Joy is a New Orleans based Healthcare Clowning nonprofit Our leadership, board of directors, and clowns took AORTA’s training together and it was amazing to learn so much in such a short window of time! We were able to have meaningful conversations about how to create an environment that we all want to work in-one that eschews the principles of white supremacy and patriarchy Sunny and Roan did a wonderful job of making participants feel heard and safe to make mistakes and ask questions We definitely recommend AORTA to any and all organizations, big and small, who want to create a better, healthier, and safer working environment for everyone they employ! We are so grateful for everything! We really feel like we now have a chance to solidify anti-racist structures through humanity and joy You are helping us deepen our mission

• "Set aside a white, western perspective to build an equitable process" GAIA is a global network of grassroots groups working towards a just and zero waste world without incineration
• Initially, we reached out to AORTA because we needed someone that could provide us with some conflict resolution tools, and guidance in creating a conflict resolution process and agreements for the network
• This first experience with them concluded with the development of a Conflict Resolution and Accountability Process and Policy that we can refer to when and if a conflict or complex situations arise
• The depth of experience and skill that Marc, AORTA’s facilitator, brought to the table set us up for success and allowed us to enjoy the process, learn through each step, and develop what is now a key document for our network
• GAIA is an ethnically and culturally diverse organization, and we really appreciated working with someone that had the sensitivity, openness, and capacity to able to set aside a white, western perspective to build an equitable process
• We have continued and will continue, to reach out to AORTA to support us in conversations where we need an external facilitator
• Working with them is always a pleasure

"Set aside a white, western perspective to build an equitable process"

GAIA is a global network of grassroots groups working towards a just and zero waste world without incineration Initially, we reached out to AORTA because we needed someone that could provide us with some conflict resolution tools, and guidance in creating a conflict resolution process and agreements for the network This first experience with them concluded with the development of a Conflict Resolution and Accountability Process and Policy that we can refer to when and if a conflict or complex situations arise The depth of experience and skill that Marc, AORTA’s facilitator, brought to the table set us up for success and allowed us to enjoy the process, learn through each step, and develop what is now a key document for our network GAIA is an ethnically and culturally diverse organization, and we really appreciated working with someone that had the sensitivity, openness, and capacity to able to set aside a white, western perspective to build an equitable process We have continued and will continue, to reach out to AORTA to support us in conversations where we need an external facilitator Working with them is always a pleasure

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