"unlearn is a global movement. An approach to life. A way to live. It enables human connection and understanding that improves the quality of life for yourself and those around you.
In the early 90’s two brothers and a friend began volunteering for organizations promoting anti-racism and anti-discrimination. In an effort to fundraise for the organizations and the causes they believed in, they began selling clothing promoting positive messages. One of the messages being promoted was “unlearn”. Unlearn was originally associated to racism and discrimination. The three partners quickly realized that unlearn meant so many different things to different people. The next step was ground breaking for unlearn. Rather than telling people what unlearn meant, the partners decided to make the message open for interpretation. Designs were created to provoke thought and inspire positive change around important social issues. People wearing unlearn products were being stopped by complete strangers wanting to know what the message was about. Recognizing the value for human interaction and dialogue, unlearn continued to create thought provoking designs and workshops that were open for interpretation. The global dialogue began.
unlearn: A process of removing barriers that blind us to our authentic selves, questioning our classical conditioning, deconstructing and re-ordering our identities, identifying and discarding negative values, repeatedly focusing awareness towards one’s state of being. – Steve D’Amico"
On October 2, 2013, a group of teachers gathered at the ETFO Waterloo meeting room for a workshop led by Abhi Ahluwalia of unlearn. This was an engaging and powerful experience for all of us in attendance. Many equity conversations were initiated and this blog was created as a place to keep the discussion alive and provide an online gathering place for us to share ideas.
We value any contributions that are offered in a positive and respectful way.
This blog is managed by Susan Watt. I can be reached at susanmwatt@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment