Creating an Inclusive Chautauqua & Beyond

Chautauqua Institution, in collaboration with the African American Heritage House (AAHH), invites all Chautauquans to participate in a free, 90-minute workshop this summer to help us collectively develop the awareness, tools and resources to create an inclusive community on the grounds. This workshop was developed in response to reports of unwelcoming or othering behaviors and comments that students, artists, performers and patrons of color have reported to the Institution (for example, see page A6 of The Chautauquan Daily, July 20-21, 2024 edition). Furthermore, many Chautauquans have asked for resources on how they can be helpful in these moments, and this workshop will provide guidance on how to respond in the moment. 

The goals of this workshop are to: 

  • Describe the nature and scope of unwelcoming behaviors as they have happened at Chautauqua, particularly around race  
  • Empower and equip Chautauquans to be able to address those behaviors in the moment 
  • Provide resources for ongoing learning and skills development to work toward a more inclusive experience for all Chautauquans 

Logistical Information: 

  • This free workshop will be offered four times weekly during the 2025 season at the following times at the Alumni Hall at the corner of Wythe & Cookman Avenues. 
    • Mondays, 3:30–5 p.m. 
    • Tuesdays, 9–10:30 a.m. 
    • Wednesdays, 9–10:30 a.m. 
    • Thursdays, 3:30–5 p.m. 
  • Participants need to sign up for only one of these times, not all four. 
  • The workshop will be limited to 15 participants for each session. You can guarantee a spot by registering in advance. Drop-ins will be permitted with any gate pass, as long as there is space available. 
  • To register, please click here.

Facilitator Bio 

Maisha Enaharo retired from Rochester Regional Health in 2019 where she worked as director of the department  of Pediatrics and a leader of the system’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion initiatives. With a passion for social justice, and while living in Atlanta, Boston, New York City and now Rochester, she has facilitated groups and trainings on racism and other forms of injustice for over 40 years. Her community involvements have ranged from the African American Leadership Development Program, NYS Mediator Certification, the Leadership Coaching Certificate Program, and the Board of the YWCA of Rochester and Monroe County to name a few. She is co-founder of the Black Women’s Leadership Forum, focusing on overcoming the impact of internalized racism, and Shades of Sisterhood, providing mutual support for self-growth to address interpersonal and structural racism wherever we sit. 

Maisha has a master’s of public health in Population and Family Health from Columbia University and a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Rochester Medical Center. Her background includes Adolescent Sexuality, Teen Pregnancy/HIV Prevention, Self-help group development for Black women, Youth Development, Clinical Family Therapy Instruction, and exploring the world as a flight attendant. She currently consults as a leadership coach and equity facilitator and is the proud single mom of a kind and resilient young woman making her way in the world.  

Maisha co-taught a week-long special studies course on anti-racism at Chautauqua during the 2024 season, and this course will be offered again in 2025.  

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to attend all four sessions during the week? 

No, you only need to attend one of the four sessions. The workshop will be offered four times each week for all nine weeks of the Chautauqua 2025 Summer Assembly. Participants can pick any one of the thirty-six sessions to attend. 

I need to change my registration. How do I do that? 

If your plans change, please send an email to ataneja@chq.org to cancel your registration, and then register for a new date using the registration links above. 

I feel uncomfortable addressing awkward or exclusionary behavior. Am I required to  respond in these situations after taking this workshop? 

We all experience these feelings to some degree. Our hope is that people will adopt the learnings from this course to better understand and recognize exclusionary behaviors in the moment. We also hope that whenever possible, Chautauquans will choose to offer an educational response to the person engaging in othering behavior and/or offer comfort or support to those on the receiving end of that behavior. This course will allow you to practice responses that might make you feel more comfortable in recognizing and addressing behaviors. 

Why is this workshop being offered now? Why are Chautauquans being invited to participate? 

The Institution has received reports of unwelcoming or exclusionary behaviors and comments that sometimes make patrons, students and artists of color feel like they do not belong at Chautauqua. While the Institution offers training to its staff, we are cognizant that there are thousands more patrons on the grounds than staff. This course addresses a call from both people of color who are seeking more ally behavior from Chautauquans in these uncomfortable moments, and from Chautauquans who have shared that they want to learn more about how to act (or react) in these situations. Lastly, this workshop is directly linked to the mission and values of Chautauqua Institution, including “the dignity and contributions of all people.” 

What can I expect during the 90-minute workshop? 

This workshop will start with some ground rules and reflection questions and then provide some real-life, concrete examples of unwelcoming behaviors or comments experienced by people of color on the Chautauqua grounds. This will help participants develop awareness around these issues. The workshop will then offer participants a chance to practice their own responses in a non-judgemental environment.  

Why is the course primarily focused on race? 

We recognize that “Chautauquans” comprise a diverse range of identities and lived experiences. In this case, we have focused on issues that are most commonly reported to the Institution: primarily focused on race and ethnicity. This does not mean that exclusionary behaviors or comments based on other identities do not happen; They are just reported much less frequently. Furthermore, we firmly believe that the skills learned during this workshop will be transferrable to other situations as well — whether they happen within or outside the Chautauqua grounds.  

I want more information or background on why this workshop was developed. Where can I find out more? 

Please see the following articles from The Chautauqua Daily: 

I have questions or feedback. Who should I contact?

Please reach out to Amit Taneja, Senior VP for Community Relations and Chief IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility) Officer at ataneja@chq.org or 716-357-6400. You may also speak with the facilitator, Maisha Enaharo, after the workshop.