Could There Be A Space To...
Offer Experience, Share Perspective, Name Harm & Call to Action?

From This Space Might...
Decentering, Discomfort Tolerance, Ownership of Harm Caused, & Action Emerge? 

2020 inspired the MN Montessori community to (re)prioritize dismantling the culture of white supremacy in ourselves and in our schools. We (re)commit to creating safe and inviting spaces that allow all students, and adults in service to them to leave no part of themselves or their experience at the door.  We (re)commit  to eliminating oppression and systemic racism within the Montessori Education system

After time spent in training, reflecting, and assessing.  Many join MNMN in our curious exploration of extensions for our work.  Examining our opportunity to serve, we learned we could create a unique space intended to be helpful to the journey of our community.

MNMN offers a space to move through heart to hands.    
A space to listen to experiences. 
A space to understand perspectives.  
​A space to decenter whiteness.  
A space to name harm.
A space to make and heed calls for meaningful action.

We seek to host a community space exclusively for the voices of Black, Indigenous, & People of Color (BIPOC) members of the Montessori community, as well as those experienced or wishing to experience the Montessori community.  We call this the:

​Decenter​ & Action Collective

In this space, we invite a constantly growing collection of work, experiences, perspectives, offerings, and calls to action to unfold.  We are excited to publish, celebrate, and uplift the voices seldom centered in our community.

​Offerings to the Decenter and Action Collective can take the form of any medium sharable electronically on website:  visual or recorded art, written or spoken word, etc.  Contributions can be made in the safety of anonymity or with identity celebrated. Ideas offered to date include: 

Shout-outs & call-ins
​Artistic Expression
Tributes & honoring
Perspectives of "a day in my life" and "yes, this happened"
Awareness to "I feel your prejudice, do you feel my pain?"
Interviews of sung and unsung heroes
Spotlights on people, groups, and organizations 
Alerts to "Take Action Now"
Requests to "Please Start/Please Stop"
Sharing "My liberation..."
Calls to purchase/donation/promote 

Especially for those who identify as white:  What you encounter may feel uncomfortable.  Discomfort is the birthplace of growth. Tolerating the discomfort you may experience in this space is anti-racist action.  We invite you to lean into the practice and commit to action instead of avoidance.  

MNMN volunteers are invited to seek and support contributors.  We will also promote the contributions via our email and social media community.  Further, MNMN will purchase products and/or services related to or in support of the featured contributors and offer these to MNMN members to scaffold their anti-racist practices. 

Your experience and feedback guides our offerings.  Please continue to talk to us.