Meet the people who made this project a reality
We attracted a team of inspired people in Atlanta, GA who were passionate about creating an workbook of exercises that would assist people both individually and in groups to utilize the 12 steps to address white supremacy, maintaining the integrity of the founders’ 12 Step design to ensure its efficacy. Six writers from Atlanta and one from San Diego County, CA collaborated for six months to create an interactive methodology whereby white people can learn from the Black perspective; life experience, history, beliefs, values, goals and dreams by comparing them to their own. These insights are gifts offered to white people; becoming the grist for the mill through white we can break through our assumptions, misconceptions, presuppositions and our lack of understanding about the collective and the individual “other” who does not look like us.
This workbook is a product of the Social Justice Ministry of Spiritual Living Center of Atlanta and is dedicated to the awakening of humanity into its full potential.
The Team.
Dream it.
It all begins with an idea. Rev. David Alexander held the vision for the project - often without knowing how or when it would come to fruition. Yet he boldly declared it as a necessary aspect of our unfolding commitment to building a world that works for all.
Build it.
Rev. Andrea Travers heard Dr. David’s vision via a Sunday morning sermon - broadcast from Atlanta into her home in San Diego. She picked up the vision and followed her intuition to step up and serve as the architect for the project.
Contributors:
Felicia House
Storytelling for 3rd graders is the best part of my life, but after the murders of George Floyd and Breanna Taylor, our time together became very serious. After a day of explaining death by the police, it occurred to me that their parents are probably having a hard time talking about the history of brutality towards African Americans and other people of color. Parents would probably run up against real hard conversations with their children when trying to explain why someone who was charged with protecting citizens would murder them instead. So, I took a hiatus from writing children’s stories to tell the children in my neighborhood, in favor of contributing to this important work to help white people, who have the courage, see what their privilege has manifested in the communities they are a part of, and then take the steps towards the change that will propel us all towards the America we all desire. One that respects all of its citizens.
Diana Johnson
As a Licensed Practitioner, I am committed to seeing the Divinity of God within everyone. I have dedicated my life, time, and intelligence to help others know and understand how to live a life of wholeness mentally and physically.
Victoria Peoples
Victoria Peoples is a Practitioner Emeritus for the Centers for Spiritual Living. Victoria believes in justice for all humanity. Prior to COVID-19, for almost three years she had the opportunity to facilitate meditation classes to the inmates in the Atlanta, GA criminal justice system. Utilizing the spiritual tool of meditation, they became more grounded in the present, and claimed a better future. An advocate for equal rights in the workplace, Victoria received her BS Degree in Human Resources from the University of Toledo. Victoria has been involved in various civil rights movements from the 1960's to current. It’s only natural that she would gravitate to this project. Victoria is honored and humbled to be a part of this wonderful work. Projects like this are mandatory if we truly desire a world that works for everyone.
Idella Veal
is a champion and agent for positive change is a member of the Spiritual Living Center of Atlanta, where she serves as a Licensed Spiritual Practitioner. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia is a native of the State and a Georgia State University graduate. She also serves as a health and fitness coach, life coach, an inspirational, transformational speaker, workshop leader and an author. Because of my inactivity as a social activist on racial inequality in my younger and early adult years, I saw this project as an opportunity to become involved, be of service, make a difference and contribute. When Rev David Alexander presented this project, I could feel that the bones of this work would be so in line with the mission, purpose and vision of our Spiritual Living Center of Atlanta (SLCA) being a member of the global movement Centers for Spiritual Living. Our mission is to provide spiritual tools for personal and global transformation. This workbook is a solution as a powerful spiritual tool in changing consciousness. Remember, consciousness is Everything. I am also grateful for the opportunity to have served on this God-sent project with an amazing team of SLCA licensed Practitioner led by Rev. Dr. Andrea Travers.
Dale Williams
My name is Dale Williams RSCP. I am a licensed practitioner with the Centers for Spiritual Living in Atlanta. I have been studying metaphysics since 2008. I've also been attending a 12-step program of recovery for almost 3 decades. I arrived on their doorsteps beaten from the lies and the contradictions all around me. My spirit was telling me there is more to life than what I was experiencing. I'm glad I didn’t throw in the towel before the fight was over. (Dale’s 12-step experience has been invaluable in the development of this workbook.)
Katherine Wheelus-Dannels
My name is Katherine Wheelus. I live in Georgia. I wanted to be involved in this work because I saw it as a way to use my voice to do something to make a difference. I have spent my life changing the ideas I was taught about being a White person, though I am not really White because of my Native American ancestry growing up in Oklahoma. I have had so many experiences where I was exposed to racism and discrimination from 1965 to today. My memories include everything from murders to job and legal discrimination. I felt helpless. I wanted to use my way with words as an empath to change the way Black people and other People of Color are treated. I am a member and Practitioner at SLCA in Atlanta.