Ilsa Govan at the White Privilege Conference 2026

Ilsa Govan at the White Privilege Conference 2026

Our co-Founder, Ilsa Govan, recently attended the White Privilege Conference (WPC) in April. She, along with colleague Johanna Eager (pictured center top), facilitated their workshop "Beyond the Book Group." Ilsa and Johanna shared a model people can use to form and facilitate a group that goes beyond a traditional book group. Originally designed to challenge White cultural norms in the way groups meet to discuss What's Up with White Women?, the Beyond the Book Group provides a model that can be replicated in discussions with any anti-racist White group.

Ilsa reflects on the event, "Returning to the White Privilege Conference has often felt like a homecoming for me. This year held particular significance as I gathered with racial equity leaders, some whom I've known for decades, in a time where we must collaborate more than ever to move forward. I learned a tremendous amount from the sessions I attended, which ranged from giving feedback to addressing white supremacists. It was a joy to co-facilitate with Johanna Eager on a model we're creating with Tilman Smith to make book groups a way of being Beyond the Book Group. And I loved sitting with Richard Kim at our Cultures Connecting table, meeting people from across the country as well as reconnecting with old friends. Most importantly, my dad attended so he could see me in action. Sometimes you find yourself in just the right place at the perfect time. For me, that was WPC this year."