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This PPO book studies course is based on the book: How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi.  The purpose of this PPO book study course is to encourage individuals traditionally identified as privileged in society, particularly white interpreters, to consider how they may benefit from and contribute to important conversations about race and other issues involving diversity, inclusion, and social justice.

Overview: Ibram X. Kendi's concept of antiracism reenergizes and reshapes the conversation about racial justice in America--but even more fundamentally, points us toward liberating new ways of thinking about ourselves and each other. Instead of working with the policies and system we have in place, Kendi asks us to think about what an antiracist society might look like, and how we can play an active role in building it. This PPO Studies course takes the material from the book and applies it to the interpreting profession with the goal of providing systemic and personal changes.

Read time: 6 hours, 320 pages, Participants are required to read the entire book (or audio book) and participate in the weekly discussion topics as well as bi-weekly live zoom discussions.  Participants must purchase or borrow their own book (available at any book seller and/or local library of their choice).

Target Audience: Working Interpreters 

 (Please note: interpreting students should NOT participate in this course. For student oriented material, please email [email protected])

Educational Objectives for How to be an Antiracist:

1. Participants will define their own experience of “understanding racism” and realizing the differences among races-- and the impact of power, privilege, and oppression has on their role as an interpreter.
2. Participants will identify and understand how to identify racism (both hidden and overt) and implement strategies to check for racism and apply accountability.
3. Participants will understand how cultural differences and perceptions lead to racism and employ strategies to be an antiracist. 
4. Participants will develop an action plan to address how they will apply antiracism in the interpreting profession. 

Diversity Academy for Interpreters is an Approved RID CMP Sponsor for continuing education activities. This PPO Professional Studies program is offered for 1.1  CEUs at the Little/None Content Knowledge Level.

Diversity Academy promotes and supports policies of non-discrimination and an environment that is mutually respectful and free from bias. 

Requests for accommodations must be submitted to [email protected]. 

The proceeds from this course will be used to compensate diverse Deaf People of Color presenters and BIPOC facilitators in Diversity Academy.

Our courses are available to Diversity Academy members for $50 or to non-members for $75.

Facilitators: 

Dr. Suzette Garay (Pronoun: She/They/Ella/One)
Dr. Garay is a Deaf BIPOC and a third generational Latina(x) from South America, Nicaragua and a third member of my family who was born Deaf. She holds the following degrees: BA, MA. PSY.S, and a Ph.D. Her major areas of studies are Special Education with an emphasis on Deafness and Learning Disabilities, Psychology, and teaching of American Sign Language. She is currently a retired Educational Psychologist and teaches online diversity training courses and has facilitated the Dear White Interpreter course previously with the CAITE BHI program. She also co-owns a private online website working with many families, individuals, and private business owners about interpreting, accessibility, diversity, and advocacy with diverse DHHDB consumers at www.thediversityacademy.com.

Dr. Garay’s resume includes the following qualifications: 25+ years of direct teaching, evaluating, and mentoring with ASL/Interpreter students, working with nationally-certified interpreters, and/or continues to work has an advocate for Special Education students and their families. She also has invaluable personal experience and success teaching, evaluating, and mentoring diverse deaf individuals and/or consumers from underprivileged socio-economic backgrounds.

Mr. Joseph (LJ) Williams, who is originally from Detroit MI, is Deaf Black, And person who is also Blind, and has CP. He currently has worked in Michigan for several years as a Deaf Interpreter and Mentor in various school settings for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students. Most recently, he has worked as a Case Manager for Deaf and Hard of Hearing consumers in the Orlando Florida area. His professional work and personal experience as a Deaf And person (DeafBlind and CP) have given him access to working as a Deaf interpreter and sharing his lived experiences of using interpreters and for addressing concerns that specifically come up from the “users point of view” for interpreters to consider when providing access. Currently, LJ lives in Utah, and when not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife and family.

Lydia Callis is an RID nationally certified Sign Language Interpreter who comes from 3 generations of Deaf family. American Sign Language is Lydia’s native language because her mother and three younger siblings are all profoundly Deaf, and it is through ASL that she feels most able to express herself and connect with her roots. Growing up as a Latinx (Mexican-American) OHCoda, she realized at a young age that not many other people shared her intersecting cultural identities — the first time Lydia connected with other Codas of Color, she finally felt truly seen and understood, in ways that she never expected or had known possible. She graduated in 2006 from the RIT ITP program and, after years of interpreting in the field, Lydia founded her own agency in 2014 called SignNexus where she is able to educate hearing entities, ensure equal access, and help raise the standards of quality within the interpreting profession. She is involved in various professional affinity groups, including Codas of Color and Diversity Academy, and is in the process of developing a mentorship program for BIPOC interpreters that creates a clear pathway for more passionate, aspiring young interpreters to pursue ASL interpreting as a career. In 2021, she completed the DeafBlind Interpreting National Training and Resource Center DBII Cohort training program for tactile and protactile interpreting to better understand, honor, and effectively meet the distinct communication needs of those who are DeafBlind. Coming from a Deaf family and being engaged to DeafBlind woman, Lydia is truly humbled to serve the expansive Deaf community, the interpreter community, and the hearing community through her work.

Diversity Academy is an Approved RID CMP Sponsor for continuing education activities. This PPO Professional Studies program is offered for 1.1 CEUs at the Little/None Content Knowledge Level.

Diversity Academy promotes and supports policies of non-discrimination and an environment that is mutually respectful and free from bias.

Requests for accommodations must be submitted to [email protected]. 

Cancellation Policy: 

In the event that this course has to be canceled, we will notify you within 48 hours. We will provide an alternative course date. 

Should you decide that you can no longer participate in the course, you may cancel with a full refund before the start of the course.