The Ally Workshop
The first ever Ally Workshop was developed and led by students from YVC of Reading’s Stand Together Against Racism initiative. This event was created for anyone who wants to create a more inclusive community and world, no matter where they are on the journey of allyship. STAR facilitators engaged the audience with videos, stories, discussions, and activities about what allyship means and how to move it from a noun to a verb.
"The very well coordinated format of the Workshop and open conversation with student leaders served as a beneficial aid in allowing participants to express thoughts and better understand different perspectives from one another. The Ally Workshop outperformed many paid training and development events I’ve been part of. The Ally Workshop, their student facilitators, the presenters, their perspectives, their empathetic approach, and the overall facilitation of this program has offered our team a lasting impact."
Thank you to our community for attending this event and supporting the work of STAR!
Through student testimonials, educational activities, and compassionate conversation this workshop can launch a life-long journey of allyship.
Contact Us to inquire if the Ally Workshop can be facilitated in your school, workplace, or community gatherings.
In October 2023, students replicated the Ally Workshop model for the annual Youth Volunteer Corps International Youth Summit in Tulsa, Oklahoma. There, STAR leaders facilitated
Also in October 2023, STAR leaders facilitated an Ally Workshop for local students on the Youth Advisory Board of the Youth Volunteer Corps of Reading. The Youth Advisory Board is a group of highschool students from across Berks County, selected as leaders in their communities. The Ally Workshop emphasized the importance of serving the community through a lense of justice, empowering students to be agents of change.
To celebrate Martin Luther King Jr Day 2024, STAR presented another Ally Workshop! Community members came to learn how they can listen, discuss, learn, support, and act as better allies. Thank you to the Utilities Employee Credit Union for hosting and supporting us!
During the summer of 2024, emerging STAR leaders facilitated the Ally Workshop for over a dozen faculty members at Alvernia University. Special thanks to Alvernia University's Division of Mission, Diversity, and Inclusion for amplifying youth voices and providing space for our students!
