Certificate in Dismantling Oppression

Working towards social justice requires the intentional development of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture by intervening at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. The Certificate in Dismantling Oppression is designed for individuals in all areas of practice. Individuals and organizations that have a commitment to challenging social injustices will apply core concepts and strategies to disrupt oppression at interpersonal and institutional levels. Participants will learn how oppression interferes with achieving social justice within the United States, increase knowledge of anti-oppressive practices, and obtain tools to dismantle oppression using common agreements.

Power and Oppression - Foundation: This module supports participants in engaging with a structural framework of oppression, as well as the NASW Code of Ethics obligation to challenge social injustices. After a self-assessment of personal biases, common agreements will be introduced to be utilized while discussing dynamics of power and oppression.

Power and Oppression - Tools of Oppression: This module introduces four common tools, discrimination, prejudice, stereotypes, and generalizations, used to support the perpetuation of systemic oppression.

Tools of Oppression - Knowledge: This module will expand terms and definitions to increase knowledge and understanding of the "tools of oppression" as they relate to implicit and explicit bias and the impact on historically marginalized individuals and groups.

Anti-Oppression as a Strategy: This module provides information on policies, procedures, and practices that are recommended to mitigate the harmful impacts of oppression at the individual and institutional level.

Commitment to Action: This module is designed to support participants in creating a plan of action to actively engage in dismantling racism within their sphere of influence.

Practice Implications: This module identifies potential challenges and barriers to implementing anti-oppressive actions. Methods of implementation and advocacy of increasing access to resources in practice will be reviewed.