Episode Title: “Racial Chaos”

Intro: In this episode, Tracy talks with Kasey Louis, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with a private counseling practice in Olympia, Washington. They discuss the sensitive topic of race / racism, and specifically how it affects women of color in our world today. As a woman of color herself, Kasey shares a variety of stories about her direct experiences with racism, and shares some of her ideas about what people can do to better understand and support people of color.

 

 

1. Introduction: “Kasey, tell us a bit about yourself….”

 

1. Women of color and the unique struggles they have in their lives today

 

1. Kasey tells her stories, and how she coped with racism / profiling in the following areas:

 

1. School (Valedictorian story)
2. Military

• College

1. Being a Mom with children in school)
2. Counseling Practice (The guy at your office door)

 

1. Some of the strategies Kasey has used to cope with racism / profiling include:

 

1. Think of who your are “Your foundation”)
2. Calm your emotional chaos

• Remember your values, principles, faith

1. Speak the truth, know when to “defend” and when to advocate
2. Ask a person their name, listen to their stories
3. Validate them

• Educate them person by person,
• Call attention to any of their assumptions

1. Encourage them to ask questions
2. Try and find the joy and the lesson in the tough situations
3. Don’t let them limit you!

 

• What can we do to be more culturally responsive and to better understand and support people of color? (Ideas)

 

1. Awareness: continue to help people to be aware that this IS an issue
2. Get to know each other…. person to person
3. Share stories and experiences with each others
4. Acknowledge and validate people’s struggles
5. Ask questions instead of assuming something about them
6. Don’t be limited by others…and don’t limit yourself!
7. Continue the conversation