Embodied Anti-Racist Group for White People
The Case for a White Embodied Anti-Racist Group in Jacksonville, FL
Jacksonville’s journey towards racial equity and justice is ongoing and urgent. A critical—and often neglected—part of this journey involves white individuals engaging deeply with our own racial conditioning, privileges, and the systemic inequities that benefit us. The embodied anti-racist group for white people addresses this need by creating a space dedicated to the somatic exploration of racial trauma and internalized white supremacy. It acknowledges that racism is not only a social and political issue but also a deeply ingrained bodily experience driven by unconscious feelings, habits, and reactions. Without this awareness, even the best intentioned white people perpetuate racial harm.
Using somatic practices developed by psychotherapist Resmaa Menakem, group participants have the opportunity to identify, confront, and process the ways in which white supremacy is embedded within their bodies and minds. This group offers a safe, focused, non-judgmental setting in which to undertake this critical work in a supportive community of other white people. Facilitated with care, compassion, and accountability, this group aims to contribute to the broader movement for racial justice by equipping its members with the awareness and skills necessary to engage in genuine anti-racist action.
Facilitation Style
Facilitated by Matt Colaciello, this group leverages Resmaa Menakem’s seminal anti-racist work My Grandmother’s Hands and the framework of Somatic Abolitionism to explore the bodily experience of whiteness and racism. Drawing on his training in mindfulness, group facilitation, and Menakem's teachings, Colaciello will guide participants through somatic exercises and honest, introspective dialogue.
Goals and Expected Outcomes
The primary goal of this group is to cultivate a deeper, embodied understanding of racism among white individuals, equipping them with the insights and strategies for actively dismantling racism within ourselves and our communities. Expected outcomes include:
Increased awareness of the ways that racial trauma and internalized white supremacy exist within us.
Increased ability to identify and mitigate the ways that internalized white supremacy show up in our perception and behavior.
Development of personal and collective strategies for anti-racist action.
Ability to engage in difficult conversations about race and take actionable steps towards change.
Create a growing culture of awareness, humility, accountability, and support among white community members that improves our anti-racist action and reduces the harm we do both in the community at large and within movement spaces.
Participant Eligibility
This group is open to white individuals committed to deepening their understanding of racism and their role in dismantling it. Participants must be willing to engage in challenging self-reflection and supportive dialogue, and to commit to attending all of the weekly sessions over an 8-week period. The group is limited to 10 participants.
Why Only White People?
While multiracial collaboration is absolutely necessary in the broader fight against racism, and an equitable, multiracial society is the ultimate goal of our work, we’re holding space exclusively for white individuals to confront and dissect our own internalized racism and privilege without placing the burden of education or emotional labor on people of color. This group will provide an environment for white participants to delve into difficult conversations, make mistakes, learn, and grow, without causing further harm to those already impacted by racism.
About the Facilitator
Matt Colaciello is a holistic coach and mental health counselor-in-training who is deeply dedicated to dismantling white supremacy and fostering collective healing. Matt's facilitation blends somatic practices, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and mindfulness to help individuals navigate racialized trauma. His background spans a decade of global human rights advocacy, environmental justice, and educational facilitation, equipping him with the skills to guide groups through reflective and transformative anti-racist work. Matt’s approach is empathetic, brave, and practical, aiming to create a space where difficult conversations catalyze personal and collective growth.
Hosted by Yellow House
This group is a collaborative effort between facilitator Matt Colaciello and Yellow House, reflecting our shared commitment to fostering racial equity and collective awakening in the Jacksonville community.