Unlearning Racism Facilitation
Testimonial by Arjuna Sayyed, Director of Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Park Day School
Testimonial by Madhuma T.
I coach individuals and facilitate groups who are interested in identifying and unlearning the harmful, racial conditioning rooted in white supremacy we have all been socialized with. I bring both empathetic compassion and truthful clarity about how racism, often unconsciously and unintentionally, manifest in our ways of thinking, behaving, and being. I offer concrete tools and practices for shifting how we relate to ourselves and others around race and other forms of oppression. My work supports your capacity to act in ways that are grounded in expanded self-awareness and in alignment with your deepest values.
Testimonials
“Mollie facilitated my “Untraining White Liberal Racism” cohort. Our very first conversation was the intake interview and immediately I knew I would feel seen, supported, and encouraged. Mollie exuded warmth and kindness and through her sharing about her personal experiences doing anti-racism work, she compelled me to want to embark on my own explorations. Once the training began, Mollie’s skill and care as a facilitator exceeded my expectations—she always had her finger on the pulse of the group, ensured each person felt heard, kept us in time and on task while also making room for flexibility and spaciousness. Most of all, her love and respect for each one of us in the group was so palpable and fostered the most delightful environment and safe container to dive deep into personal and collective healing. Mollie is a phenomenal facilitator and I feel thrilled for all those who get to be supported by and learn from her.”
“Mollie immediately made me feel comfortable in talking about my experience with racism and my interest in learning more about my role in it and how to grow in my awareness. Mollie’s demeanor was receptive and compassionate. She is the kind of person I felt that I could be vulnerable with from the beginning. I intrinsically trusted that anything I said to her would be respected, not judged, and that it would be kept in confidence.
In the group setting, these lovely qualities were consistently observed. While Mollie embodied the role of the facilitator, making me feel that she was organized, that a plan was in place, and that by the end of the class, my consciousness would be much more developed, Mollie never placed herself above the students or participants. She was vulnerable in her sharing about her own life, and her experiences with her family of origin, her work, and with her family and friends of color. Mollie taught by example. I came into the class having a huge blockage with my own vulnerability, yet because of Mollie’s example, I feel that this shifted quite a bit in the months that we were together, allowing me to become much more personally introspective. And even though I was learning to become more open, Mollie always made me feel like my personal boundaries were perfectly acceptable and were to be respected. To me, those are two of the most important qualities a group leader can instill; to show vulnerability while remaining clearly in “charge”, and to allow others to work and unfold at their own pace and in their own way.
Mollie makes it easy for me to highly recommend her for this extremely important work. She speaks from experience, does her own work internally and externally on a daily basis, and never stops being a peaceful warrior for helping folks to gain greater awareness and unlearning our conscious and unconscious mis-education as “white” people. Future groups will count themselves lucky to have had Mollie as their facilitator or teacher. ”
“Mollie has personally lived and continues to live into the lifelong path of unlearning the white conditioning that stops people from being their fullest expressions of goodness that humans have to offer. Her guidance, mentorship, and role-modeling as I engaged in this work has been deeply valuable and fortifying for the long road ahead. Mollie can help you walk this path in a good way, for the most beneficial outcomes for you, and for all of life.”
“Mollie is a remarkable facilitator, both one-on-one and in groups. She creates a safe environment with her caring presence. And she leads by example with her vulnerability. I always felt seen, understood, and accepted, flaws and all. Mollie is also an amazing teacher and guide for difficult subjects. She doesn’t tell you what to think, but presents concepts with wisdom and insight that still allows each individual to discover their own truth. ”
“I had the pleasure of being in a group which Mollie co-facilitated. She brings a beautiful blend of knowledge, enthusiasm, steadiness in maintaining structure and boundaries, and a spirit of collaboration and respect. I felt invited to take risks, and she has a way of conveying the importance of each member’s contribution to the group. A truly embodied teacher!”
“I had the joy of experiencing Mollie in our anti-racist, half-year white conditioning group sponsored by the UNtraining. I felt held both firmly *and* lovingly — encouraged to accept myself wherever I was, and supported to rise to clearer and truer views of myself and the world. thank you, Mollie!”
“Mollie is an amazing facilitator. She created a comfortable safe environment within our group that allowed for deep exploration, learning and connection. I love the way she leads with honesty, sensitivity and compassion. ”
“I was consistently impressed by Mollie’s personal and professional authenticity, which allowed me to trust her and the container she helped establish for our work. She was and is very serious and committed to the work ”