Awareness Building with rEI

ThirdSpace Action Lab (TSAL) was founded in 2018 to disrupt the vicious cycle of disinvestment and displacement that exploit low-income communities of color. We have grown our consulting practice, in no small part, due to Northeast Ohio’s investment in the Racial Equity Institute (REI). More than 12,000 people have grown their awareness of structural racism since 2016.

Many of the region’s philanthropic, private, and public sector leaders have sought TSAL’s strategic advice for taking meaningful action after their transformative experiences with REI. As a result, TSAL has blossomed into a nationally-recognized firm working on innovative projects rooted in the principles of racial equity + social justice. Our experience in this region has led to major projects redesigning philanthropy, promoting economic inclusion, creating physical spaces to foster belonging, and activating public policy movements.

Racial Equity Institute’s trainer-organizers deliver an interactive historical, cultural, and structural analysis of racism in the U.S. Moving beyond a focus on interpersonal racism, they explore why racial inequity exists and chart its compounding effects over time. The workshops help participants apply the groundwater analysis to commonly held narratives and their corresponding interventions.

To get started with TSAL’s REI workshops, you can easily register online to reserve your spot today.

To inquire about group discounts rates, scheduling a private workshop, attending as an alum or other inquiries please email REI@3RDSPACEACTIONLAB.CO or call 216-236-5252.


About REI Workshops: Groundwater, PHase one, and Latinx Challenges

REI Groundwater *virtual*

Cost: $100 per person

The Groundwater Presentation is an enlightening and interactive workshop organized by REI. In this session, our organizers delve into the concept that racism is fundamentally embedded in structural systems, using a combination of storytelling and data. By examining the characteristics of modern-day racial inequity, this presentation introduces participants to a valuable analytical perspective that many find immediately relevant. It pairs seamlessly with REI's Phase One workshop and is recommended as both an introduction to and follow-up for our comprehensive two-day workshop experience. Join us for this thought provoking and transformative session!

2024 Groundwater Dates

  • March 11 (Mon) 1:00pm-4:00pm ET

  • April 15 (Mon) 1:00pm-4:00pm ET

  • May 13 (Mon) 1:00pm-4:00pm ET

  • June 10 (Mon) 1:00pm-4:00pm ET

  • July 15 (Mon) 1:00pm-4:00pm ET

  • August 19 (Mon) 1:00pm-4:00pm ET

  • September 23 (Mon) 1:00pm-4:00pm ET

  • October 14 (Mon) 1:00pm-4:00pm ET

  • November 11 (Mon) 1:00pm-4:00pm ET

  • December 9 (Mon) 9:00am-12:00pm ET


REI PHASE One [TWO-DAY SESSIONS] *virtual*

Cost: $400 Per person

The REI Phase One training is thoughtfully crafted to empower participants with a deeper comprehension of racism in its institutional and structural dimensions. Instead of dwelling on individual prejudices and biases, this workshop offers an insightful exploration of racism through its historical, cultural, and structural lenses. Key topics covered encompass our fish/lake/groundwater analysis of structural racism, the grasp and management of implicit bias, the intersection of race, poverty, and geographical location, markedness theory, institutional power dynamics and influencers, the significance of race and racism definitions, the historical legacy of race in American economic and policy evolution, as well as racial identity and its interplay with institutional culture.

By sharing a common language and achieving a clearer perception of how institutions and systems contribute to unjust and inequitable outcomes, participants will depart from this training better equipped to initiate positive change. Join us on this transformative journey towards a more equitable future.

2024 REI Phase One Dates

  • March 13-14 (Wed/Thurs) 9:00am-5:00pm ET

  • April 17-18 (Wed/Thurs) 9:00am-5:00pm ET

  • May 15-16 (Wed/Thurs) 9:00am-5:00pm ET

  • June 5-6 (Wed/Thurs) 9:00am-5:00pm ET

  • July 17-18 (Wed/Thurs) 9:00am-5:00pm ET

  • August 21-22 (Wed/Thurs) 9:00am-5:00pm ET

  • September 18-19 (Wed/Thurs) 9:00am-5:00pm ET

  • October 16-17 (Wed/Thurs) 9:00am-5:00pm ET

  • October 23-24(Wed/Thurs) 9:00am-5:00pm ET

  • November 19-20 (Tues/Wed) 9:00am-5:00pm ET

  • December 4-5 (Wed/Thurs) 9:00am-5:00pm ET

  • December 11-12 (Wed/Thurs) 9:00am-5:00pm ET


latinx challenges *virtual*

cost: $400 Per person

The Latinx Challenges Workshop invites participants to engage in a profound examination of how racism can disempower individuals of Latino, Latina, and Latinx backgrounds, impacting both personal well-being and community development. This workshop provides valuable insights into the cultural context of race and racism in Latin America, which continues to influence our identities today, regardless of our place of birth.

We delve into the process of how individuals of Latin American origin, like those of all ethnic backgrounds, have been subjected to racialization and positioned within the United States. We also deconstruct the way the U.S. Census employs categories such as "Hispanic ethnicity" and "Race" as political tools to shape demographic data. Furthermore, we celebrate how our culture, identity, and histories of resilience serve as wellsprings of strength for Latinx individuals, families, and communities.

Throughout our discussions, we emphasize the role of racism in dividing Latinos from African Americans, which erodes cross-racial solidarity essential for achieving racial equity and fortifying our ever-growing, multi-racial, multi-cultural, and multi-generational movement for social transformation. Join us in addressing these critical challenges and working towards a more equitable future. Sign up for the Latinx Challenges Workshop today.

2024 LatinX Challenges Dates

May 9-10 (Thurs/Fri) 9:00am-5:00pm ET