"In order to get beyond racism, we must first take account of race. There is no other way. And in order to treat some persons equally, we must treat them differently. " -Harry A. Blackmun
The Institute For Dismantling Racism
Our Story
IDR, Inc. is the result of the dream by Reverend Willard Bass (while a student in Divinity School at Wake Forest University) for an intentional community to address oppression. Building intentional community across race, culture, economic, gender, religion and other identity lines in our society proved more difficult than anticipated. Experience soon brought recognition that the effort would take collaborative organizational strategy and structure. So, an initial grant of support from Zachary Smith Reynolds Foundation and the first 2 ½-day Anti-Racism Training at Green Street United Methodist Church got the process started. Collaboration by Bass and Reverend Kelly Carpenter with other community leaders led to the vision for the Institute. Involving other institutions and groups open to anti-oppression work resulted in the establishment of IDR in July, 2004 as a community resource for addressing racial justice.
IDR provides 2½ day “Understanding & Analyzing Systemic Racism” anti-racism workshops primarily to persons who operate within institutions or coalitions.
The core of the work of IDR stems from building long-term institutional change and transformation, requiring the establishment of work teams within institutions. This leads to developing intentional anti-racist multicultural diverse community that provides the resources for life to all residents.