Undoing White Supremacy Austin began as European Dissent in December 2013, arising out of the first Austin community-based Undoing Racism® workshop by the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond. We’ve gone through a few name changes, but have always organized in alignment with the People’s Institute principles and in accountable relationships with their organizing.
When we began our organizing process, Renee Corrigan, a white trainer with the People’s Institute, gave us advice that continues to shape our growth and organizing. Renee said that some of us would be interested in sharing culture. Others of us would be more interested in organizing actions. Based on Renee’s experience with European Dissent, she recommended that we not split those pieces of our work. Every UWSA organizers’ meeting includes time to share something of our personal, family and ancestral histories, as well as time to talk about organizing action.
As part of tending PISAB principles in our work, UWSA consistently cultivates accountable relationships with Austin-based organizing led by People of Color. Key partners have been Communities of Color United for Racial Justice, People Organized in Defense of Earth and Her Resources (PODER), Grassroots Leadership, Austin Justice Coalition, the Native American Cultural Center, and Community Powered ATX.
UWSA organizers have contributed to the City of Austin Equity Action Team since its inception. We contributed to the design of the City’s Equity Action Tool and to Re-imagining Public Safety. We have supported the Community Investment Budget over many city budget cycles. We have organized to speak at City Hall in support of repealing the Austin camping ban and reducing the police budget. We’ve also shown up with pizza, childcare, rides, and contributed time so that folks more directly impacted by these issues can have their voices heard.
UWSA is an abolitionist group. We understand that every relationship is an opportunity to interrupt the internalized separation, control and punishment of the carceral system. We reject the binary of right versus wrong and engage with root causes of harm and the complexity of human behavior. We are pro-Palestine, and opposed to Israeli genocide in Gaza.
Our work and culture is shaped by the somatic practices described in Resmaa Menakem’s My Grandmother’s Hands, and by Tema Okun’s Manifestations of White Supremacy Culture. Our leadership includes trained facilitators in the Plum Blossom Buddhist tradition and Reclaiming pagan tradition. Grounding, somatic awareness, mindfulness practices, ancestral honoring, and land acknowledgements are baked into UWSA culture.
It didn’t happen overnight. Our work and culture is the outcome of more than a decade of work to undo white supremacy in ourselves, our families, and our communities. And we are still growing. For most of us, our UWSA relationships are among the most important in our lives.