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Community Education & Training: Stop Racism.

If you want to create a better future for every child, join us in Interrupting Racism for Children.

Make a lasting impact for our children.

Interrupting Racism for Children (IRFC) educates and moves individuals to action to stop racism in its tracks, creating a future where children thrive and race does not predict their life outcomes.

IRFC is a transformational and award-winning two-day, interactive workshop for adults from Child Advocates. Our workshop has reached thousands of people across Indiana from every race, ethnicity, religion, and profession since we launched our race equity programming in 2010. We hosted the workshops, initially, to address the disproportionality of Black and brown children in the child welfare system. Today, we host workshops for anyone in Indiana who is interested in confronting the problem of racism and its impact on children.

Community members and leaders who attend our workshop engage, grow, and gain an understanding of racism and its consequences. They leave with a greater sense of their own power and tools for interrupting the key elements designed to keep racism in place.

Click to view Frequently Asked Questions for Interrupting Racism for Children.

Workshop Dates

Join us for a two-day in-person or virtual workshop to make a lasting impact for our children.  

VIEW DATES

IRFC Youth Workshops

Child Advocates believes that children and youth of every race, ethnicity, and gender should have a voice in shaping their future. So we also offer IRFC Youth Workshops. Youth attendees have said, “This workshop teaches us how to unlearn stereotypes about other races.” “Every last bias we have is room for racism to keep going.” And one shared this wisdom, “I think the first step to combating racism is education.” Learn more:

IRFC Youth Workshops

Youth Against Racial Injustice

After attending our Youth Workshop, young people are eligible to join our youth group, Youth Against Racial Injustice (YARI). The workshop resonates so deeply with some youth that many of them are excited to continue the journey. YARI is a space where they feel seen, heard, and connected. And we also open doors to new educational opportunities and experiences to help them learn, grow, and succeed. Learn more:

Youth Against Racial Injustice

IRFC Inquiry Request

Questions or hosting a workshop

Racism in Indianapolis — Resources

Racism is alive and well throughout our entire country and, despite our best efforts, we must recognize that it also exists right here in Indianapolis. As leaders for children and for anti-racist organizations, we have a job to do to dismantle systemic racism, especially for our children’s sake – but we cannot do it alone. For anyone interested in additional information on the subjects of race and equity, please refer to our curated list of materials below, or contact Jasmine Elizondo De Anda (jasmine@childadvocates.net).

The resources below have been cited for informational and educational purposes only. The information contained in the resources below represents the views and opinions of the resources’ original creators, and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of the IRFC promailto:ajasmine@childadvocates.netnnie@childadvocates.netgram and Child Advocates, Inc. The list of resources below is not exhaustive, and does not constitute and endorsement by the IRFC program and Child Advocates, Inc. Child Advocates, Inc. does not make any representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness, or completeness of the cited resources. Child Advocates, Inc. hereby disclaims any and all liability to a party for any direct, indirect, implied, punitive, special, incidental, or other consequential damages arising directly or indirectly from any use of the cited resources.

Books for Adults

How to Be an Anti-Racist

White Fragility

Between the World and Me

Me & White Supremacy

 

Books for Children & Youth

AntiRacist Baby

We’re Different, We’re the Same

Let’s Talk about Race

Princess Hair

How it Went Down

Films, Shows & Podcasts

13th

Dear White People

When They See Us

Race: The Power of Illusion

Scene on Radio: Seeing White

Uncivil Podcast

1619

Talking with Children

How White Parents Can Talk About Race

Embrace Race

Zinn Education Project

Talking to Kids About Race

A Letter to White Parents

Support Interrupting Racism for Children

At Child Advocates, we believe it is imperative to work toward an anti-racist community for everyone. As leaders for children and for anti-racist organizations, we have a job to do to dismantle systemic racism, especially for our children’s sake – but we cannot do it alone. If you would like to support this work, you may designate a donation to the Interrupting Racism for Children program.

DONATE TO IRFC

What people are saying about IRFC

The workshop definitely educated me on the historical nature of racism. While many of the impacts of prejudice, discrimination and oppression were familiar concepts for me, I was struck by (and quite frankly angry with myself regarding) what a poor job I had done educating myself about the earliest roots of racism in what became America. Besides the history lesson, I was so grateful to spend two days immersed in the various perspectives and experiences of those in our workshop and of the facilitators. I definitely came away with a renewed and stronger passion for doing my part to interrupt racism by listening, learning and taking action.

- Leslie Kelly

A powerful lesson explored in the session was our own implicit bias. Anyone raised in our society has been the recipient of racist lies, fears, and stereotypes that have been transmitted and reinforced by the media, our teachers, our communities, and even our families. While I may be consciously committed to racial equality, I carry these unconscious biases with me. Sadly, our unconscious bias can guide our behavior in ways that reinforce racism. While we must work to interrupt systemic racism, it is imperative that we all work on ourselves to recognize and interrupt our own implicit bias. The opportunity to explore and discuss the dynamics of racism with others through this session has been an important step on my journey to find ways to become part of the solution and avoid being part of the problem.

- David Cole

News & Updates

5 Jan

New CEO of Child Advocates - Meet Phyllis Armstrong

INDIANAPOLIS—At the end of 2023, the Child Advocates Board of Directors announced that Phyllis Armstrong, a long-time experienced leader and …
mental health, children's mental health, justice, equity, child abuse, neglect, child welfare, children, wellness, child health, foster children, racism, abused children, attorneys, legal services, racial equity, immigration, mediation, foster kids, attorneys for children, study, research, groundbreaking study, diversity ally, diversity, equity, inclusionmental health, children's mental health, justice, equity, child abuse, neglect, child welfare, children, wellness, child health, foster children, racism, abused children, attorneys, legal services, racial equity, immigration, mediation, foster kids, attorneys for children, study, research, groundbreaking study, diversity ally, diversity, equity, inclusion
28 Dec

New CEO & How You Can Be a Child Advocate | Podcast Episode 22

We are going through major change in leadership in 2024 but our work for vulnerable children across Indiana is as …
mental health, children's mental health, justice, equity, child abuse, neglect, child welfare, children, wellness, child health, foster children, racism, abused children, attorneys, legal services, racial equity, immigration, mediation, foster kids, attorneys for children, study, research, groundbreaking study, diversity ally, diversity, equity, inclusionmental health, children's mental health, justice, equity, child abuse, neglect, child welfare, children, wellness, child health, foster children, racism, abused children, attorneys, legal services, racial equity, immigration, mediation, foster kids, attorneys for children, study, research, groundbreaking study, diversity ally, diversity, equity, inclusion
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Hear an authentic, piercing, and comprehensive conversation about our nation’s child welfare system and its impact on children, especially children …
CEO, Child Advocates' CEO, Child Advocates leaderCEO, Child Advocates' CEO, Child Advocates leader
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Cindy Booth to Retire as CEO of Child Advocates

After a 30-year career at Child Advocates, Inc., including serving as the Chief Executive Officer for the past 28 years, …
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