WHITE PRIVILEGE CONFERENCE
The WPC provides a challenging, collaborative and comprehensive experience. We strive to empower and equip individuals to work for equity and justice through self and social transformations.
For the past 20 years the WPC has examined challenging concepts of privilege and oppression and offers solutions and team building strategies to work towards a more equitable world. WPC is a conference designed to examine issues of privilege beyond skin color. WPC is open to everyone and invites diverse perspectives to provide a comprehensive look at issues of privilege including: race, gender, sexuality, class, disability, etc.
The conference is unique in its ability to bring together students, youth, teachers, university faculty, activists, social workers and counselors, healthcare workers, and members of both the spiritual community and corporate arena. Everyone is welcome!
Our strategy in addressing issues of inequality involves bringing together a consummate network of both national and regional leaders and practitioners to work and learn from each other. This synergistic collaboration produces both paradigm shifts and personal action. The WPC provides an opportunity for participants to discuss how white privilege, white supremacy, and oppression affects daily life while giving strategies for addressing issues of privilege and oppression and advancing social and economic justice.
Who Attends?
The conference is unique in its ability to bring together high school and college students, teachers, university faculty and higher education professionals, nonprofit staff, activists, social workers and counselors, healthcare workers, and members of the spiritual community and corporate arena. Annually, more than 1,500 attend from more than 35 states, Australia, Bermuda, Canada, and Germany.
For over 20 years, the WPC has provided a challenging, collaborative, and comprehensive experience. We strive to empower and equip individuals to work for equity and justice through self and social transformations. Help us continue the conversation...
YOUTH ACTION PROJECT
What is the Youth Action Project?
A team of experienced facilitators provides a safe and challenging space, geared toward youth of ALL ethnic backgrounds, who are committed to understanding and dismantling white supremacy white privilege, and other forms of oppression.
What Are the Intended Outcomes of the Youth Action Project and the Youth Institute?
“See-Name-Act…PROCEED”
-
Students will SEE and be fully aware of the multiple manifestations of white supremacy, white privilege, and other forms of oppression.
-
Students will have the courage and confidence to NAME white supremacy, white privilege, and other forms of oppression.
-
Students will ACT by taking effective, creative, and urgent measures to dismantle white supremacy, white privilege, and other forms of oppression.
-
Students will PROCEED as leaders, planting ongoing seeds of change
Youth One Day Institutes
Middle School Students (Grades 6-8)
A basic 1 Day Exploration of White Privilege, and an introduction to tools for dismantling “-isms” associated with White Supremacy.
High School Students (Grades 9-12)
1 Day Exploration of White Privilege, manifestations of white supremacy, and an introduction to tools for dismantling “-isms” associated with White Supremacy. Youth will create their own methods to address white privilege in their schools and communities and engage in engaging dialogue
Youth Action Project
3 Day Conference for High School (Grades 9-12)
Students will experience a more in-depth and internal reflection of white privilege. Students will work to connect their individual experiences to their enhanced analysis of how systems of institutional racism operate within the United States of America through:
-
Leadership Activities
-
Mastery of key terms: white supremacy, white privilege, oppression, ally, racism
-
Ethnic affinity groups
-
Youth friendly film viewing with adult allies
-
Individual and group reflection
-
Regional action planning
-
Youth led dialogue
-
Arts based break-outs
What are the youth saying about YAP?
“...I was inspired to make a change about what I say and to not judge people before I met them. I learned about many things and I plan to bring back my knowledge about breaking down stereotypes back to the Athenian community...”
~Alex C., 2011
“Through the various workshops, lectures, activities, and interactions with others, I became exposed to new perspectives and sympathetic towards others’ hardships. And most importantly, I was able to become more comfortable with myself...”
~Elliot L., 2010
Youth video from WPC 2011
YAP Board Member Interview
THE WHITE PRIVILEGE SYMPOSIUM
Further expanding the reach of the White Privilege Conference domestically, in 2014. The Privilege Institute developed the White Privilege Symposium model. Symposiums typically take place on a Friday night, and all day Saturday.
The Regional Symposium Model:
-
Allows a person without the time or resources, or with the desire to sample the WPC experience before attending the full conference, to attend the national conference a chance to experience WPC’s challenging approach to addressing issues related to white supremacy, white privilege and other forms of oppression.
-
Increases impact and capacity of the TPI brand as its annual conference continues to average 1700 – plus participants. TPI will organize three regional symposiums per year in collaboration with a regional host committee.
-
It offers regions the opportunity to explore what issues of power, privilege, and leadership look like specifically in their region.
-
Creates a local/regional, collaborative project that facilitates connections, networks, and inspiration that lives on far beyond the WPS- our social justice footprint.
-
Develop a follow-up plan of action that moves the community away from “Diversity and Inclusion” and towards comprehensively challenging white supremacy, white privilege, and other forms of oppression.
-
Raise funds for TPI to increase capacity and sustainability to further its mission in your region, nationally, and globally.
Contact us today at wpcinfo@theprivilegeinstitute.com to learn more about hosting a symposium.
YOUTH SUMMER LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
Our motto is simple: One Week of Your Life, Will Change the Rest of Your Life.
The Privilege Institute hosted the first Youth Summer Leadership Institue at the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay June 17-22, 2018. This week-long Institute is designed to be a cell-phone-free experience for youth grades 9-12 who participate in programming designed to focus on mind, body, and spirit.
Activities include (but are not limited to):
● Workshop sessions;
● Keynotes;
● Performances;
● Outdoor activities;
● Service work; and
● Networking with community leaders.
Participants are provided with practical skills, tools, and strategies for addressing complex and challenging issues related to diversity, power, privilege, and equitable leadership. Camp staff includes counselors from diverse backgrounds, college campuses, and youth organizations. This summer institute is committed and focused on inspiring, challenging, informing and equipping young people with the skills to be the world leaders of tomorrow all while they engage in fun, creative, interactive activities and build friendships that will last a lifetime.
Check back for information about registration for the 2020 Youth Summer Leadership Institute.
CONSORTIUM OF EQUITY CONFERENCES (CEC)
The Consortium of Equity Conferences is a group of progressive, like-minded organizations unified through their common interest in promoting access and equity through educational programs and conferences. Each CEC member organization is dedicated to peace, equity, and social justice. The Consortium’s primary mission is to support, network, and take action.
2023 not available at this time. Moore to come soon.
Cancellation/Refund Policy:
Non-emergency
If you cannot attend the Conference, you may transfer your registration to another attendee or request a refund. There will be no penalty for cancellations received on or before the date 30 days prior to the first day of the conference. The full amount paid minus a 15% processing fee will be refunded. A cancellation fee of 50% of registration cost will be applied for cancellations received between 29 to 10 days before the first of the conference. No refund will be issued for cancellations received within 10 days before the first day of the conference, unless in accordance with the Emergency Policy below.
Emergency Illness or Death of Registrant or Immediate Family Member
Refunds may be granted if an attendee is unable to attend the conference due to a family death, illness, or other extraordinary circumstance. In such a circumstance, the Main Office must be contacted by letter or e-mail. Refunds will still be subject to the 15% processing fee.
All cancellations requests must be sent in by writing via e-mail or regular mail to the contact information below. Telephone requests will not be honored. Please fax e-mail cancellations, if possible, and expect confirmation within three business days. If necessary to cancel by USPS, please allow sufficient time for a response. WPC is not responsible for problems beyond our control such as weather conditions and No refunds will be given for those situations. The final decision on refunds rests with the WPC Executive Team.
Note: WPC21MESA - On March 11, 2020 COVID-19 was officially declared a Pandemic, and shortly after the United States issued a state of emergency. All cancellations after this date were refunded, less a 10% processing fee.