Newsletter: October 2026 Issue 1
Train the Trainer Lunch & Learns in November
With the launch of our book Facilitating Conversations on Race: Strategies for Group Discourse, we're excited to offer these Train the Trainer Lunch and Learn series.
Participants will learn skills for navigating tense conversations during this time when multiple tools are most needed. Content of these sessions will include new strategies we've learned in the ten years since the book was first published, along with deeper exploration of previous concepts such as engaging when we're emotionally activated.
Choose however many sessions you want or attend them all!
Session 1 (11/3): Leading When You’re Activated
Session 2 (11/10): When You Disagree
Session 3 (11/17): Asking Questions with Genuine Curiosity
Session 4 (11/24): Diving into the Tension
All sessions meet at 12:30-1:30pm PT / 3:30-4:30pm ET on Zoom. Visit the link below to learn more and register!
Book Launch at Third Place Books
Our very first in-person author event for Facilitating Conversations on Race was held on Monday, September 14th at Third Place Books Seward Park. Dr. Caprice Hollins and Ilsa Govan, co-authors and co-founders of Cultures Connecting, shared stories and strategies from their decades of facilitation experience and answered questions from the audience. After the talk, they met with attendees and signed books.
Our next author event will be at Town Hall on Thursday, December 3rd at 7:30pm and a link to register will be made available in the next newsletter!
To order your own copy of Facilitating Conversations on Race, you can order at Bookshop to support indie booksellers, our publisher's at Bloomsbury, or on Amazon.
Annual Consultants Gathering
We held our 3rd annual consultants gathering this past Monday on September 14th. While Cultures Connecting hosted the last two, LueRachelle Brim-Atkins of Brim-Donahoe & Associates graciously opened up her home to host this year's gathering.
This year, we used Open Space Technology to come up with topics and self-organized to have conversations about the challenges we face as consultants in a country increasingly hostile to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
It was a time to gather to share food, have conversations and collaborate on ways we can continue moving this important work forward.
Judy Lee is Now Hana Park Lee
Our Project Manager, Judy Lee, is stepping into a new name. It's one she picked out for herself three years ago while doing My Name Story art project (watch video below) but didn't quite feel ready to step into it yet. Hana (하나), pronounced "Ha-Na" in Korean means one. It symbolizes the integration of all her past selves, a new beginning, and a reclamation of self. Hana is a particularly special name to her because it transcends Korean, with significant meanings in many different cultures, including: Māori-glow, Kurdish-hope, Persian-flower, Arabic-bliss, Albanian-moon, and Hebrew-grace, Japanese-Blossom, and Hawaiian-craft.
Judy's middle name, Park, is also a new intentional addition, symbolizing the reclamation of her matrilineal heritage and the mother she didn't get to have growing up. You've probably already noticed emails coming from Hana Park Lee so just remember, it's Judy! And if you call her Judy by accident, that's okay. Judy is an important part of her identity and history and still lives inside of her. We are all getting used to it, including Hana.
October is LGBTQ+ History, National Disability Employment Awareness, Filipino American History, and Global Diversity Awareness Month
LGBTQ+ History Month
Founded in 1994 by Missouri high school teacher Rodney Wilson, LGBTQ+ History Month was created to spotlight the contributions and struggles of LGBTQ+ people, which were largely absent from school curricula. October was chosen to coincide with National Coming Out Day (October 11) and existing school schedules. To honor it, create an inclusive learning environment, support local LGBTQ+ organizations, read works by LGBTQ+ authors, or attend a community event.
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
Beginning in 1945 as a week focused on employing veterans with disabilities, the observance was expanded to a full month in 1988 and is now led by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy. It celebrates the value disabled workers bring to the workforce and promotes inclusive hiring. Ways to honor it include reviewing your organization's accessibility practices, amplifying disabled voices and leaders, and committing to inclusive hiring and accommodations.
Filipino American History Month
Established by the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) in 1992 and recognized by Congress in 2009, this month commemorates October 18, 1587, when the first Filipinos landed in what is now Morro Bay, California. It celebrates the long history and contributions of Filipino Americans, from the manongs who worked in agriculture to today's healthcare workers and artists. To honor it, learn about labor leaders like Larry Itliong and Philip Vera Cruz, support Filipino-owned businesses, and attend cultural events.
Global Diversity Awareness Month
Launched in 2002 by Dr. Rosa Whitaker Gayle, this month encourages people worldwide to recognize, respect, and celebrate cultural differences. It grew from a desire to build understanding across communities and reduce prejudice through education. You can honor it by hosting a cultural exchange or potluck, learning about a culture different from your own, diversifying your reading and media, or having open conversations about inclusion in your workplace or community.
It's a new month which means taking a look at our Diversity Calendar to look at significant dates to consider when planning meetings or events to create greater inclusion. Click on the name of the day to learn more.
10/02-03: Shemini Atzeret (Jewish)
10/03-04: Simchat Torah (Jewish)
10/11: National Coming Out Day (United States)
10/12: Canadian Thanksgiving (Canada)
10/12: Indigenous Peoples’ Day (United States)
10/20: Dusshera/Vijayadashami (Hindu)
10/28: National Immigrants Day (United States)
10/31: Halloween (United States)
10/31-01: Samhain (Neo-Pagan)
10/31-02: Día de los Muertos (Mexican, Latin American)
If you'd like to add our Diversity Calendar dates to your Google calendar, you can add it using this link.
Upcoming DEIB/Social Justice Events
For details on these and other events, workshops and conferences happening in the social justice space, visit our Events Calendar. If you have an event you would like us to share, please reach out to us!
10/01: NAMI LGBTQ+ Support Group
10/02: Resistance Fridays at Common Power
10/04: Riff Raff League for Political Action
10/06: Design for Belonging
10/06: NAMI BIPOC Support Group
10/07: Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) Action Hour
10/08: Communication & Conflict Resolution Skills Workshop
10/09: Anima Café | Navigating Complex Systems Change: How to Keep People Along for the Ride
10/09: SURJ Block by Block Organizing Training in Seattle!
10/09: NAAM Unity Benefit
...and so much more! Visit our Events Calendar to see the most up-to-date full schedule.
*Cultures Connecting workshop.
