Statement & Commitments toward Racial Equity
Monterey Bay Meditation Studio is committed to bringing conscious awareness and action in dismantling systemic, cultural, and individual acts of harm, discrimination, and neglect. We are in service of cultivating safety, respect, freedom, and compassion in the world.
We are dedicated to:
Anti-racism: naming and abolishing policies, structures and elements of racism;
Racial Equity: creating and supporting policies, structure and elements of peaceful resolution, reparation, and non-discrimination.
We pledge to support and participate in the creation and cultivation of a New Story that recognizes and is guided by our intrinsic interconnection.
On a personal level, and as community leaders, we’re committed:
to ongoing learning about the history of race and racism in our country, as well as the current state of racial injustice and inequity;
to deconstructing, shifting and broadening our perspective and assumptions away from one that centers whiteness and white culture;
to cultivating awareness of sources of obvious, as well as internalized, privilege that we benefit from;
to engaging in the uncomfortable work of uncovering and unlearning racial prejudice and discrimination that harm ourselves and others, and that reinforce the status quo;
to remaining open and engaged when we make mistakes, as well as practicing humility as we learn how we can do better;
to sharing resources on racial equity and anti-racism in order to educate and bring benefit to our community;
to developing and offering financially accessible opportunities to learn about and practice mindfulness and meditation.
We invite you to join us in this journey of co-creating new ways of being together in the world.
The list below will be updated regularly, last Edit 6/1/21.
Current actions to address the commitments above:
We are reading books, and articles, listening to podcasts, and participating in courses designed to further our education and awareness. (Addresses commitments 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
We are sharing helpful resources and learning opportunities through the Topic area on “Racial Equity & Anti-Racism” in our online community space. (Addresses commitment 6)
We, individually and as a leadership team, are examining our own practices and decisions that affect representation in terms of presenters, facilitators, content, etc. (Addresses commitments 2, 4, 5)
We are offering opportunities for learning at little or low cost through weekly donation-based drop-ins, low-cost monthly meditation classes, and a program offered by Gift Economy. (Addresses commitments 2, 5, 7)
We are exploring collaboration with organizations focused on racial equity, education, and BIPOC issues to amplify their reach, align our efforts, and share expertise. (Addresses commitments 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
Future considerations and planned actions to address the commitments above:
Offer/arrange to offer learning opportunities within and for our community, such as a book and film discussion group, and/or conversations as a community. (Addresses commitments 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
Offer scholarships for BIPOC (Addresses commitments 2, 5, 7)