ENOUGH
FILMING
START
BUILDING!
A Crash Course in Weaponizing Privilege for Justice
Are you frustrated and enraged about the current political climate, but aren’t sure what to do?
We totally get it. As we are consistently exposed to the horrors of this world, it’s understandable to feel hopeless, stuck and unsure about how to make it stop.
This is by design.
It’s a part of psychological warfare. We believe in our collective liberation. We genuinely believe the world we envision is on the horizon - and want to help you with a roadmap for how to arrive.
After naming roadblocks to collective liberation, we (avé and Noor) realized that while there is an abundance of passion and care, collectively we lack direction. As seasoned activists, we are familiar with the challenges that come with meeting this political moment. Current strategies are not allowing us to swiftly course correct away from harm.
We’ll gather in community to cultivate hope with reminders of what has been accomplished and what is possible.
Our ancestors created blueprints from successful organizing, and we exist among a continuum . Participating in this experience may provide an affirmation for your feelings, and help you connect with others who care as much as you do.
This 4 day workshop will provide tools to liberate our future.
This training is for
White people, white passing people, and people who have access to white/light skin (or white adjacent) privilege on the basis of their skin color (for example: SWANA, biracial, white people of European decent, etc)
People who may be feeling stuck in their activism, and want to make more of an impact on our collective liberation
People who know the basics of social justice and want to take their politic/activism to the next level
People who care about the world we live in and want to use their privilege to change the world
People who want to make connections with others who care about social issues just as much as they do
Event details
Location: Portland, Oregon, USA
(Multnomah, Turtle Island)
Exact locations sent upon ticket purchase
Dates: Thursday, July 30th - Sunday, August 2nd
Masks Required
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Refreshments/snacks and light socializing 3 PM - 4 PM
Workshop 4 PM - 6 PM
This half day will start off with light unstructured socializing to get to know your peers, and then move into intros, group agreements, relationship building activities, and meeting your accountability partner.
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Breakfast available/time to eat 9 AM - 10 AM
Workshop 10 AM - 1 PM
Lunch/break 1 PM - 2 PM
Workshop 2 PM - 4 PM.
Smaller breaks will be integrated into workshop hours.
On days 2 and 3, you will:
identify the resources and areas of privilege you have, and explore how we can build bridges amongst each other and in our communities to use our resources/privileges to support the greater good.
examine and identify your roles and responsibilities in these movements.
explore the difference between being in support and being in solidarity.
learn supportive revolutionary frameworks for conceptualizing activism/politics/organizing.
explore what praxis is, and what it looks like in practice.
examine how our relationship to activism has been colonized, and discuss how we can decolonize our relationship to movement work.
explore the impact of your whiteness/proximity to whiteness, how white supremacy influences how we conceptualize ourselves in relation to others, and how you can weaponize your privilege to facilitate change.
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Refreshments/snacks and socializing
Half day of casual socializing and connection with other participants to foster joy as an ending note and strengthen existing relationships for continued work moving forward.
FACILITATORS
avé
avé is a transformative figure in the realms of peer support, wellness, and organizational development. They are a trans, queer, black peer support specialist, death doula, birthing doula, yoga teacher, and mindfulness instructor carrying a just and transformative vision. Their commitment to sharing wellness is reflected in over three decades of multidisciplinary yoga practice.
Best known for their impactful political, environmental, and social justice work in the LGBTQ+ community, avé’s methods ardently pursue health through Black Liberation. From birthwork to peer support and end-of-life care, they cherish serving as a witness of becoming. Offering support in various impactful forms across Turtle Island, predominantly in the Rural US South, Minor European Countries, South Asia and North Africa.
Their significant contributions to dozens of organizations highlight their vast experience as a program developer and facilitator. Whether sitting bedside as someone transitions from life or holding space for members of targeted communities, avé's presence is a beacon of support and understanding, particularly within the realms of grief and healing.
noor
Noor is a Lebanese-American, queer, culturally Muslim, physically disabled, mad, small fat, anti capitalist and anti colonial community member. They are an educator with over a decade of academic/professional and informal teaching experience and mental health therapist (Professional Counselor Associate in OR, Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate in WA). Their involvement in various social justice efforts across the past two decades combined with their independent study of social justice texts and revolutionary theory is what roots and orients them in their personal and professional life.
Noor has been involved in efforts to fundraise, provide community education, facilitate a community garden, distribute harm reduction supplies (respirator masks, Covid-19 tests, fentanyl test stips, narcan, Plan B, etc), source/prepare/distribute food for low income and homeless community members, protest/engage in direct action against social injustice, rescue and foster animals, support homeless people in accessing temporary shelter, and other actions that seek to dismantle oppressive structures and support their community. Noor has been engaged in these various forms of activism in the past two decades on Turtle Island (decolonial term for "United States of America") and in the SWANA region (South West Asia North Africa - decolonial term for "Middle East"), which has prepared them for what this political moment is demanding of us.
To learn more about Noor, visit their website.
Community agreements
As participants and facilitators choosing to share this environment, we agree to dedicate our time to a shared purpose. The practice of agreement as a community is a tool to live our beliefs and be held accountable.
By recommitting ourselves to that purpose in each action, we offer a guide to maintain respect and care as we flawed humans gather.
We agree to a culture of gratitude and warmth.
We are grateful for the capacity to build towards a liberated world and we act that out with grace and kindness.
We consent to respect the shared expertise and wisdom of each person.
Everyone brings their own expertise to the conversation. We all can gain from and respect each other's various expertise.
We agree that our priority is collective liberation
Overcoming oppression aids everyone's liberation. It is our responsibility to challenge various forms of oppression. We educate in the spirit of solidarity and co-create accountability.
We commit to listen like accomplices and co-conspirators.
This means that we listen with supportive ears, not to solve the problems of others or to report their actions. We listen for what is being asked of us and for clarity we can repeat back what we hear and ask for confirmation for what is being requested of us.
We are mindful of language and pace.
We may not all share a native tongue or same access to hear. We are mindful of the language we use, connotations and implications as well as how fast we may speak or move discussions along.
We commit to complete confidentiality when we are asked for it.
We agree to engage what is learned without violating the confidence of any one.
We respect a wide variety of choices and perspectives.
Even when we disagree or don't understand, we don't judge, invalidate, or shame others. We call folks in + out when necessary. We consider our privilege and how to facilitate equitable exchanges of power.
We agree to commit to the Covid agreements expressed in all its forms to the best of our ability in the spirit of community safety and care.
We are receptive to reminders to maintain Covid precautions if we forget to practice in alignment with the Covid agreements.
COVID-19
Agreement
To protect ourselves and each other, all participants will be expected to agree to the following upon purchase of a ticket:
To wear a KN95, N95, or better quality mask in all indoor gathering spaces during our time together (no cloth or surgical masks).
Not to take your mask off while we are gathered indoors.
To eat in the suggested outdoor eating spaces, or if desired for increased layer of protection, in your car or away from others outdoors.
While sharing the indoor space, to only briefly pull your mask down to take a sip of water or take medications if needed and then to immediately put your mask back on.
To wear the mask over your nose and under your chin, and to pinch the nose bridge to create a better seal (we are happy to help if you need support with this).
To not attend if you are feeling sick/unwell (please email Noor & avé as soon as you begin to feel symptoms).
We will have KN95 and N95 masks available every day of the event if you are unable to source them yourself. If you'd like to buy decorative masks, we recommend Kind Masks or the Mix n Match option at WellBefore, and for glasses wearers we recommend these anti fogging masks.
All locations will have at least 2 air purifiers in the room, and the ability to open windows for fresh air. We do not guarantee to prevent the spread of Covid by requiring masks, providing masks, suggesting specific mask brands, suggesting specific protocols, or having air filtration - rather, we are doing our best to mitigate the spread with the tools we have available to us and to the best of our knowledge based on the guidance of peer reviewed research and the recommendations of the larger Covid cautious community.
Our praxis is rooted in deep care and consideration for our community, particularly those who are most vulnerable. For this reason all meetings will be masks required.
The Covid-19 pandemic never ended and unfortunately since 2020 it's only gotten worse. As most people have abandoned Covid precautions, there have been several mutations that have developed and are increasingly vaccine resistant. It is unfortunate that both the Biden and Trump administrations have pushed propaganda to minimize the impact of Covid and normalize mass death and illness in the pursuit of "normalcy" and profit. We reject normalizing this and placing the dead bodies of our loved ones and community members at the altar of capitalism.
Approximately half of Covid infections are asymptomatic, meaning you'd feel fine and not show symptoms. This is why it is best practice for us all to wear a mask while gathering to mitigate the spread of Covid and other respiratory illnesses. Learn more about the impacts of Covid-19.
Why caring about Covid and taking precautions is important to us:
The spread of disease is a legacy of colonialism. We reject colonial norms and work to mitigate the mass spread of illness. We refuse to contribute to the suffering of 7+ million recorded people who have died of Covid since 2020.
Covid disproportionately impacts the BIPOC, working class, disabled , and trans communities. Wearing a mask protects communities experiencing financial hardship, limited access to healthcare, and/or limited structural and communal supports if they become acutely or chronically ill.
While some people are at higher risk of developing long Covid, 1 in 5 people develop long Covid after even just 1 infection. Young and healthy people are at risk, but disabled and immunocompromised people deserve to be safe from infection in public spaces.
Wearing a mask is community defense in practice. We can't organize effectively if we're all dead or disabled.
Wearing a mask disrupts mass surveillance technologies. AI facial recognition programs have difficulty identifying people when they are wearing a mask. Combat increased state surveillance by masking.
Cost to attend
Ticket cost is sliding scale $1,250 to $4,000.
Purchase of a ticket for this workshop includes the following:
All 4 days of the workshop.
Breakfast on days 2 & 3.*
Light refreshments/snacks on days 1 & 4.*
Gift package ("bag" is reusable and made from sustainably sourced material) containing all necessary items to participate in the workshop, a journal for notes, art by small BIPOC owned businesses, and a copy of Mariame Kaba's book We Do This 'Til We Free Us.
Access to respirator masks, fidget toys/art supplies, and support items
* All food options include meat, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options. Please contact us ASAP if you have dietary restrictions that need to be accommodated, and we will try our best to have options available for you. If you are both vegan & gluten free, please let us know so we can double check whether our food options meet your needs. We are happy to share the existing menu with you.
Please note that purchase of a ticket does not include flights and accommodation.
Room reservations can be made at the hotel where the event is held if desired (information about this will be provided upon purchase of ticket).
Ticket sales end July 25th 2026 at 11:55 PM PST.
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Please assess whether you can partially pay for a ticket or can't pay any money towards a ticket, and whether you will be available to attend the event in person in Portland, Oregon from July 30th 2026 - August 2nd 2026. Then follow this link to fill out the scholarship application.
We will inform applicants as soon as we're able (dependent on scholarship funding) about whether they are being offered scholarship funding. Applicants will have 3 business days following point of contact to confirm whether or not they will be attending and to pay any ticket costs they may have committed to in their application (if applicable). If the applicant has not confirmed their attendance/paid any relevant ticket cost within 3 business days, the facilitators will move on to the next applicant.
All scholarship applicants will be informed about whether or not they have been offered a scholarship by July 13th 2026 at the latest.
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Whether or not you plan to attend the workshop, you can make a donation of any amount by clicking this link and choosing the "Donate to the scholarship fund" ticket option. These donations will be consolidated to cover the cost of 1 ticket, or cover some of the cost of a ticket if a scholarship applicant can partially pay for a ticket.
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Given that the cost per ticket is sliding scale from $1,250 to $4,000, we understand that the amount of money we are charging to attend this event will be inaccessible to many. We are working on other ways to make this content more accessible in the future, however for the purpose of this event there are some baseline costs that are required to facilitate this experience. We have decided to have as much cost transparency as possible to be clear in our intentions regarding the cost of tickets.
Accessibility Information
We value accessibility as a part of our praxis, and want to be transparent about the limits of accessibility for this event. Though we have tried to consider the various accessibility needs of people with disabilities, there are some concessions we have had to make with the resources we have available to us.
To the best of our knowledge and efforts, we share the accessibility information below. If you have any additional questions, please contact Noor at noor@illuminate-and-liberate-counseling.com with the email subject line "accessibility question."
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