Racial Justice CoP: Members Only Discussion on Caste: Our Origins of Discontent by Isabel Wilkerson

Our next discussion will focus on the book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson. After some grounding in the major ideas presented in the book, we will break into small group discussions to explore the concepts and how they may apply to our work as facilitators. Participants are encouraged to read the book but are welcome even if you don’t (a good summary is here or a quick interview with the author is here if you don’t quite find time to read the whole book).

Please note that this is for MAFN members only and there is limited space, so please register early.

Our guiding principles are:

• Come open to learning (growth mindset)

• Not expert led- hosted by peers with space to learn from all

• Create a brave space to focus on race 

• Share our truth and also LISTEN to others

• Start with ourselves = focus on the “inner work”

• Treat others with kindness & honesty

Discussion Host: Fatima Argun 

Fatima Argun is a strategy consultant, visionary, community activist, bridge builder and advocate focusing on conflict management, interfaith engagement, dialogue and women’s empowerment. Her career includes work at Senior levels in international marketing, strategic planning, management consulting and business development with expertise in organizational development, facilitation and conflict management. As Principal of GSG Consulting, she has worked with businesses and NGOs to support leadership development, capacity building and corporate social responsibility. 

Fatima is a former Presidential appointee at the US Department of Commerce. As a longtime Arlington resident, Fatima continues to serve her community in in a leadership capacity as a member of the Arlington County Democratic Committee Steering Committee, Outreach Chair for Interfaith Advocacy Caucus and Arlington Dems Equity & Inclusion Task force. She is co-leader and co-founder of the Arlington chapter of the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom, a Muslim-Jewish women’s peacebuilding group.

Fatima received her MBA from the Johns Hopkins University and studied conflict management at the School for Advanced International Studies (SAIS) the United States Institute of Peace and USAID. Fatima also holds a MPA from the LBJ School, and has studied at the Sorbonne in Paris, France. Ms. Argun is proficient in Turkish, and is conversant in French.

ONLINE CoP Discussion REMINDERS

• If you register and cannot attend, please cancel to allow someone else to come. 

• Registration closes at midnight the day before the discussion group.

• Registered participants will receive instructions for joining the live session and any additional details 1 day in advance and the morning of the event. Please be sure to look for the link in your email.

• MAFN CoP discussions will not be recorded in order to support a safe space for learning.

For registration or membership questions contact info@mafn.org.