Overcoming Racism Conference

Click below to register for the 2022 Overcoming Racism Conference

The Power of Truth Telling

November 11-12th, 2022

Join us at Metro State University in St. Paul, MN  

 Live stream of keynote speakers and presentations available

2022 Conference Registration

Organized and created by the volunteers of 

The Facilitating Racial Equity Collaborative (FREC)

Curious about last year’s content? Keep scrolling to review the 2021 Overcoming Racism Conference

2021 Keynote Speakers
&
Online Workshops

Friday November 12th

Keynote Speaker

Ruth Buffalo

with follow up round table discussion featuring local activists

Ruth Buffalo is a citizen of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation. She is originally from Mandaree. Ruth has served in various capacities focused on building healthy and safe communities.

Ruth was elected into the North Dakota House of Representatives in 2018 and proudly serves the people of District 27 in south Fargo.

Saturday November 13th

Presentation viewing of 

PBS American Portrait
"I Rise"(Ep. 4)

Viewing & facilitated discussion with featured and local activists. 

View their bios below


Featured Panelists and Activists..

“They tried to bury us. They didn’t know we were seeds!”

-Mexican proverb

Anisa Omar

Anisa Omar is a graduate from Minnesota State University Mankato with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Ethnic Studies. Anisa is committed to creating an equitable and just society for all individuals inclusive of race, religion, ethnicity, and socio-economic background. In her free time Anisa enjoys serving as a mentor for youth in her community and serving as a Governor-appointed Cabinet Member for the Young Women’s Initiative where she is provided the opportunity to assist in creating policy changes that centers BIPOC.

Jim Bear Jacobs

Jim Bear Jacobs was born in St. Paul, he is a member of the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Nation, an American Indian tribe located in central Wisconsin. He has degrees in Pastoral Studies and Christian Theology and has served various churches as youth minister, adult Christian educator, and director of Men’s Ministries. Presently he is parish associate at Church of All Nations Presbyterian Church. He is a cultural facilitator in the Twin Cities and works to raise the public’s awareness of American Indian causes and injustices. He is the Director of Community Engagement and Racial Justice for the Minnesota Council of Churches. Additionally he is the creator and director of “Healing Minnesota Stories,” a program of the Minnesota Council of Churches dedicated to ensuring that the Native American voice is heard in areas where it has long been ignored.

Lex Scott

Lex Scott is the Founder of Black Lives Matter Utah and the United Front Civil Rights Organization. She is the winner of three Utah Best In State Awards. She also was awarded the E50 Award, Most Tireless Advocate Award, Excellence in Civil Rights Award, the Social Justice Award from Omega Psi Phi, and the ACLU torch of Freedom award.  She has been recognized nationally for her work in civil rights. She has been featured in two PBS documentaries, an MTV documentary, Vanity Fair magazine, The Guardian, The Atlantic, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, UK Sun, ABC News, and many other outlets. She is the founder of the Utah Black History Museum. She has held three summer camps for Black children, helps to feed the homeless, does know your rights trainings and white ally trainings, and has written police reform legislation. She is currently working on two books; one is her autobiography and the other is regarding police reform. She is excited for her new transition within the civil rights world. 

Kevin Reese

My Conference experience...

Scholarships and Discount Rates

Need-based partial scholarships are available – apply now using this form.

 Indigenous/Native persons can register and participate without payment.

Please send questions to registration@overcomingracism.org

Contact Us

Greater Minnesota Collaboration

The Facilitating Racial Equity Collaborative (FREC) seeks ways to connect with and support organizations in Greater Minnesota working on racial justice and equity in their communities.  FREC follows the MN State Demographic Center definition for Greater Minnesota as “the area outside the seven counties of the Twin Cities region”.  Those counties within the Twin Cities metro region include  Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott and Washington.  All counties outside of those seven fall within the definition of Greater Minnesota.  Goals for FREC’s Greater Minnesota initiative are as follows:

  1. Help FREC learn about the issues and challenges of racial justice in different parts of the state.
  2. Help FREC build new relationships around the state.
  3. Support collaborative anti-racism/racial justice work around the state, including financial support
  4. Strengthen Minnesota’s anti-racism infrastructure.

To further these goals, FREC has several online programs available in Greater Minnesota.

FREC’s online Shared Learning Community circle is a way to continue racial justice learning through presentations & sharing ideas with others who are interested in learning together to gain new perspectives, exchange bold ideas and build knowledge.  Join us every second Tuesday of the month from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.  Free and open to all via the link found on the web site at https://overcomingracism.org/community-learning/

FREC’s  Racial Equity Leadership Institute (RELI) is offering its series again in 2024. Starting Jan. 11, this 6-part online series is designed to empower participants to learn about racism and oppression in the United States, to explore social conditioning in themselves, their organizations and communities, and to learn skills for antiracist action.

While the series is entitled Driving Racial Equity for Education, this program also provides a good, basic introduction to anyone who is interested in learning about systemic racism. It uses curriculum from the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture, as well as resources for learning about Native American history in Minnesota. Participants will have opportunities to engage with interactive content from knowledgeable speakers and in small-group conversations.

2024 Overcoming Racism Conference – November 8 & 9 (In person and streaming) Participate in person at Metropolitan State University or become one of the growing number of Greater MN communities and organizations streaming the morning keynote presentations and organizing their own afternoon workshops.  The keynote presentations are made available for free to local collaborations hosting a satellite conference that is open to the community.  There is a group fee cost for organizations wishing to keep the programing in house.  For more information contact FREC at info@overcomingracism.org.

FREC’s mini-grant program has been suspended until additional funds are obtained.

2019 Greater MN Grants Summary Read about great work folks did around the state in 2019 to overcome racism in their communities, including satellite Overcoming Racism conferences.

2018 Greater MN Grantee Projects.  Learn more about the powerful work folks are doing around the state to overcome racism in their communities.

About FREC

The Facilitating Racial Equity Collaborative (FREC)

 FREC is a collaborative (of individuals and organizations) working towards just, equitable, antiracist communities throughout Minnesota. We are committed to engagement with multiple communities and ways of knowing.

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Racialized American culture is deep, vast, and unconscious. We intentionally learn about newly revealed layers of this culture as we create  programs designed for folks already on the journey of self-awareness and who desire a liberated Minnesota–one free of explicit and implicit racism.

Through our annual Overcoming Racism conference, we provide a platform for national experts, numerous local thought leaders, activists and artists to help us deepen our understanding of systemic racism and inspire us to new heights of action. The Racial Equity Leadership Institute for educators and beyond provides a monthly series to unlearn and relearn our understanding of U.S. and MN history, the origins of race, whiteness, social identities, and how to handle difficult conversations. FREC also supports rural communities through the Greater MN Partnerships to strengthen local efforts focused on antiracism education and activities.

FREC Goals:

Create a learning community: We share our knowledge and skills around ant-racism work with other individuals and organizations through our Overcoming racism Conference and other programs. 
  • Deepen our understanding of the racial domination system and colonialism: We aim to understand how they generate racist practices and white privilege, impede our efforts for racial justice, inhibit us from talking about race, and how they perpetuate themselves through culture, ideas and institutions. 
  • Improve our skills in countering racism and organizing for racial justice: We will learn best practices and sound theory to overcome racism, sharing models, skills, tools, approaches, programs, and practices. 
  • Network and promote action: We use our organizational networks to strengthen and expand our outreach, influence, and effectiveness, promoting action to dismantle racism. 

FREC Values:

Equity: We strive towards equitable representation in all activities and decisions. We seek to ensure the participation of those who experience the impact of racism most directly. 
Knowledge: We value lifelong/ongoing self and group learning and critical social analysis to further understand the history of white supremacy and the importance of disrupting racial structures that perpetuate it. 
Support: We support ourselves and others to navigate the challenges of antiracism work. We actively engage with those who feel the impact of white supremacy most directly, seeking their input, guidance, and honoring the wisdom of their experience. 
Inclusion: We value the voice and participation of all identities in FREC activities and decisions that have been adversely impacted by white supremacy and racism because of gender, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, class, mental/physical abilities and national origin.

FREC PROGRAMS

Annual Overcoming Racism Conference

Click here to learn more

Racial Equity Leadership Institute

Click here to learn more

Greater Minnesota Partnerships

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Community Learning Circle

Click here to learn more

News and Updates