The Institute will take place over three consecutive Mondays and two Wednesdays, from 8am-2pm PST, starting May 6, 2024. The sessions are as follows:

• Monday, May 6
• Wednesday, May 8
• Monday, May 13
• Wednesday, May 15
• Monday, May 20

The Equity Institute is open to participants from all backgrounds and is most relevant to individuals working for, and interested in, the implementation of equity at individual and institutional levels, as well as in the context of food justice and food sovereignty through centering the root cause of hunger with colonialism. 

Participants will explore foundational concepts of culture, identity, and systemic inequities; they will contextualize them both historically and within current social and cultural norms; they will then engage in the application of equity and inclusion practices and intersectional ally and accomplice work in individual, social, and organizational settings.

By the end of the sessions, participants will share common language on matters of decolonization, settler colonialism, equity, culture, race and racism, sex, gender, sexual orientation, sexism, heterosexism and cis-sexism, and intersectionality. Together we will explore and identify the cultural and personal impact of the social constructions of colonialism, race, gender, sexual orientation, and other core aspects of identity within historical and current contexts.

Participants will discuss, share and practice examples of ally and solidarity work including application and implementation of equity at the organizational/institutional level using Oregon Food Bank, food banking, and food justice as case studies.