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Conference sessions :
Session #1: 11:25-12:25
Murals: Youth Collaboration in Community Engagement I (Optional second session immediately after)
Murals and other Public Art are an excellent opportunity for groups to visualize community voice and for youth to share their vision and group identity, develop their collaboration and organizing skills, and leave a physical, positive impact on their community. This session will provide a historical context of the Mural Arts Movement and related Social and Political Movements, introduce the history of murals in Boston, provide strategies and curriculum for teachers and youth workers to lead mural projects with youth and empower non-Artists with tools for painting murals. Participants in this workshop will view a brief presentation of local and international murals and engage in dialogue focusing on the content of the images, the community it was created in, and the goals of artists working for the public. After reviewing examples of a Mural Proposal, workshop participants will engage in collaborative visioning, community needs assessment, and drafting of mural design with a focus on how youth may interact with a mural painting curriculum. If time is permitted, participants will share their collaborative mural design with other conference attendees.
Presenter: Jesse Cardoso
Murals and other Public Art are an excellent opportunity for groups to visualize community voice and for youth to share their vision and group identity, develop their collaboration and organizing skills, and leave a physical, positive impact on their community. This session will provide a historical context of the Mural Arts Movement and related Social and Political Movements, introduce the history of murals in Boston, provide strategies and curriculum for teachers and youth workers to lead mural projects with youth and empower non-Artists with tools for painting murals. Participants in this workshop will view a brief presentation of local and international murals and engage in dialogue focusing on the content of the images, the community it was created in, and the goals of artists working for the public. After reviewing examples of a Mural Proposal, workshop participants will engage in collaborative visioning, community needs assessment, and drafting of mural design with a focus on how youth may interact with a mural painting curriculum. If time is permitted, participants will share their collaborative mural design with other conference attendees.
Presenter: Jesse Cardoso
Building a Social Justice Teachers Union
In 1994 29 teacher union activists from around the country united to issue a statement called Social Justice Unionism. Among other things the statement calls for building teacher unions that aggressively educate and mobilize its members to fight for social justice in all areas of society. In 1996 a number of AFT and NEA locals united to form the Teacher Union Reform Network. In 2007 a social justice slate won election in Los Angeles. In 2009 a slate of social justice teachers successfully unseated an incumbent slate in the Chicago Teachers Union. And just this month, Bob Peterson, an author of the 1994 statement and editor of Rethinking Schools won the election for President of the Milwaukee Teachers Education Association. This workshop will explore the concept of social justice unionism. What would it look like? How can we get there? As teachers and their unions come under attack it is imperative that we answer these questions.
Presenter: Garret Virchick, Negotiating Team Boston Teachers Union, Co-Editor Boston Union Teacher, Jessica Wender-Shubow, President-elect, Brookline Educators Union
In 1994 29 teacher union activists from around the country united to issue a statement called Social Justice Unionism. Among other things the statement calls for building teacher unions that aggressively educate and mobilize its members to fight for social justice in all areas of society. In 1996 a number of AFT and NEA locals united to form the Teacher Union Reform Network. In 2007 a social justice slate won election in Los Angeles. In 2009 a slate of social justice teachers successfully unseated an incumbent slate in the Chicago Teachers Union. And just this month, Bob Peterson, an author of the 1994 statement and editor of Rethinking Schools won the election for President of the Milwaukee Teachers Education Association. This workshop will explore the concept of social justice unionism. What would it look like? How can we get there? As teachers and their unions come under attack it is imperative that we answer these questions.
Presenter: Garret Virchick, Negotiating Team Boston Teachers Union, Co-Editor Boston Union Teacher, Jessica Wender-Shubow, President-elect, Brookline Educators Union
Understanding Native American Identity and Culture in the Context of U.S. Stereotypes and Misinformation
Native American imagery and misinformation is everywhere. How does one know what is inaccurate or even offensive? What is the role of culture, race, and community in the Native American identity? How broad are the contributions of Native Americans to the larger world? What is it like to live as a Native American in today’s United States? What can a non-Native person do to support Native Americans? Participants will leave this workshop with: a better understanding of Native American identity and the role of community; a better understanding of Native American stereotypes in language and imagery; examples of Native American contributions to the world; ideas about what you can do within your own sphere of influence.
Presenter: Claudia Fox Tree
Native American imagery and misinformation is everywhere. How does one know what is inaccurate or even offensive? What is the role of culture, race, and community in the Native American identity? How broad are the contributions of Native Americans to the larger world? What is it like to live as a Native American in today’s United States? What can a non-Native person do to support Native Americans? Participants will leave this workshop with: a better understanding of Native American identity and the role of community; a better understanding of Native American stereotypes in language and imagery; examples of Native American contributions to the world; ideas about what you can do within your own sphere of influence.
Presenter: Claudia Fox Tree
How to Be an Adult Ally Workshop (LGBTQ Youth Technical Assistance Series)
LGBTQ youth are often excluded (either intentionally or unintentionally) from community-based organizations and school-based activities. This can often exacerbate the marginalization of youth already at risk and create tough life obstacles. This workshop will discuss some of the risk factors facing GLBTQ youth and strategies that youth workers can implement in their programs to combat these risk factors. The point of this workshop is to initiate a dialogue on how “we” as adults can be more supportive and inclusive to the youth in our lives, to help adult staff understand what a young GLBTQ person may be going through and provide support for that youth. We are aware that the subject of GLBTQ issues can be very disconcerting for some people. We ask that you come with an open mind and lots of questions; we are more than willing to engage!
Presenters: Hope Freeman and Jessica Lopez, Gay Lesbian Adolescent Social Services (GLASS)
LGBTQ youth are often excluded (either intentionally or unintentionally) from community-based organizations and school-based activities. This can often exacerbate the marginalization of youth already at risk and create tough life obstacles. This workshop will discuss some of the risk factors facing GLBTQ youth and strategies that youth workers can implement in their programs to combat these risk factors. The point of this workshop is to initiate a dialogue on how “we” as adults can be more supportive and inclusive to the youth in our lives, to help adult staff understand what a young GLBTQ person may be going through and provide support for that youth. We are aware that the subject of GLBTQ issues can be very disconcerting for some people. We ask that you come with an open mind and lots of questions; we are more than willing to engage!
Presenters: Hope Freeman and Jessica Lopez, Gay Lesbian Adolescent Social Services (GLASS)
Incorporating Social Justice Issues in the English Curriculum
This presentation will demonstrate how web 2.0 technologies allowed my class and I to transform a traditional approach to the study of Harriet Jacobs’ Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl into student-centered, constructivist learning. Instead of passively studying slavery, students became abolitionists, creating PSA videos and writing letters to various individuals, businesses, or governments. They also publicized their work beyond our classroom walls through easy but creative use of social network media. All the while, they still wrestled with the traditional content of an English classroom: grinding through the writing process, tailoring their message to a specific audience, or even caring enough to use a semi-colon correctly. While this presentation details our work in English, the tools, approaches, and pedagogy can be applied anywhere. Student presenters may be on-hand to discuss their work and learning.
Presenters: Robin Neal, Beaver Country Day teacher
This presentation will demonstrate how web 2.0 technologies allowed my class and I to transform a traditional approach to the study of Harriet Jacobs’ Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl into student-centered, constructivist learning. Instead of passively studying slavery, students became abolitionists, creating PSA videos and writing letters to various individuals, businesses, or governments. They also publicized their work beyond our classroom walls through easy but creative use of social network media. All the while, they still wrestled with the traditional content of an English classroom: grinding through the writing process, tailoring their message to a specific audience, or even caring enough to use a semi-colon correctly. While this presentation details our work in English, the tools, approaches, and pedagogy can be applied anywhere. Student presenters may be on-hand to discuss their work and learning.
Presenters: Robin Neal, Beaver Country Day teacher
Building Youth Activism: Tips from Beaver Country Day Students
In the past several years Beaver Country Day students have sponsored events talking about tolerance, made school presentations about the issues of class, gender and religion, and led a series of evening dialogues on these topics with parents and Beaver community members. This interactive workshop will feature students modeling how they have built group cohesion, and how this base is necessary for social justice work to take place. It is based on the work of student leaders at Beaver Country Day School committed to bringing awareness about social justice issues to their school community. The workshop will include an exploration of religion across generations,(four corners exercise) through interactive exercises, reflections, and discussion. The group will learn about each other and the evolution of religion in our society, religious profiling, and how to encourage dialogue about religious divides.
Presenters: Jake Carroll, Elias Duncan, Najwa Aswad , Ivanna Meija, Beaver Country Day School
In the past several years Beaver Country Day students have sponsored events talking about tolerance, made school presentations about the issues of class, gender and religion, and led a series of evening dialogues on these topics with parents and Beaver community members. This interactive workshop will feature students modeling how they have built group cohesion, and how this base is necessary for social justice work to take place. It is based on the work of student leaders at Beaver Country Day School committed to bringing awareness about social justice issues to their school community. The workshop will include an exploration of religion across generations,(four corners exercise) through interactive exercises, reflections, and discussion. The group will learn about each other and the evolution of religion in our society, religious profiling, and how to encourage dialogue about religious divides.
Presenters: Jake Carroll, Elias Duncan, Najwa Aswad , Ivanna Meija, Beaver Country Day School
Essential Practices of Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR)
This workshop will present teachers and activists with a framework for how to use Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) to integrate research and activism into their teaching. The presenter will start by sharing her experience doing a YPAR project with girls between the ages of 8-12. The project consisted in a 10 week culture-focused photovoice project in which they used cameras to investigate community problems and address them through collective community action. The presentation will outline how the project was designed, challenges faced, particularly with respect to doing YPAR with younger students, and provide a practical framework for teachers interested in integrating research and activism into their teaching.
Presenter: Lissett Babaian
This workshop will present teachers and activists with a framework for how to use Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) to integrate research and activism into their teaching. The presenter will start by sharing her experience doing a YPAR project with girls between the ages of 8-12. The project consisted in a 10 week culture-focused photovoice project in which they used cameras to investigate community problems and address them through collective community action. The presentation will outline how the project was designed, challenges faced, particularly with respect to doing YPAR with younger students, and provide a practical framework for teachers interested in integrating research and activism into their teaching.
Presenter: Lissett Babaian
Session #2: 12:30-1:30
Exploring Social Justice through Drama in the Classroom
Actors/educators from the Theatre Espresso will present a practical workshop based on their play, "The Nine Who Dared: Crisis in Little Rock". The topic of exploration for the workshop is the integration of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957. Teachers will participate in a demonstration of three dramatic methods that promote civic engagement and provide a historical context for examining current instances of injustice. These drama structures also encourage analytical thinking, cooperative problem solving, and reflection. The session ends with a discussion of the structures and suggestions for classroom implementation. The workshop is designed to help teachers (grades 3-12) use drama methods in the classroom that explore issues of social justice.
Presenters: Wendy Lement, Ph.D., Artistic Director, Theatre Espresso & Professor of Theatre, Regis College; Derek Nelson, Managing Director and Actor/Educator, Theatre Espresso & Director, Arts All Day, Cambridge; Jackie Davis, Actor/Educator, Theatre Espresso and Artistic Director, New Urban Theater Lab; Bethany Dunakin, Educational Director and Actor/Educator, Theater Espresso and English Teacher, Acton-Boxborough. www.theatreespresso.org
Actors/educators from the Theatre Espresso will present a practical workshop based on their play, "The Nine Who Dared: Crisis in Little Rock". The topic of exploration for the workshop is the integration of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957. Teachers will participate in a demonstration of three dramatic methods that promote civic engagement and provide a historical context for examining current instances of injustice. These drama structures also encourage analytical thinking, cooperative problem solving, and reflection. The session ends with a discussion of the structures and suggestions for classroom implementation. The workshop is designed to help teachers (grades 3-12) use drama methods in the classroom that explore issues of social justice.
Presenters: Wendy Lement, Ph.D., Artistic Director, Theatre Espresso & Professor of Theatre, Regis College; Derek Nelson, Managing Director and Actor/Educator, Theatre Espresso & Director, Arts All Day, Cambridge; Jackie Davis, Actor/Educator, Theatre Espresso and Artistic Director, New Urban Theater Lab; Bethany Dunakin, Educational Director and Actor/Educator, Theater Espresso and English Teacher, Acton-Boxborough. www.theatreespresso.org
Social Studies for Social Justice
Social Studies curriculum easily lends itself to Social Justice content but all too often covers only a conventional narrative--or it is about social justice, but doesn't incorporate social justice practice. In this session, three social studies teachers present curriculum that places social justice at the center and empowers students to challenge conventional views of past and present and be creators of information, not simply passive receivers of it. We'll look at a high school lesson on Fair versus Free Trade; a Civics in Action Projects for 8th grade in which students identify and research community issues and execute a plan to address them; and a Middle School project that engages students in the topics of Federalism and the Bill of Rights. We’ll invite participants to share their ideas and practices.
Presenters: Jessica Tang, Young Achievers, Jose Lopez, the Curley School, Roger Grande, Brookline High School
Social Studies curriculum easily lends itself to Social Justice content but all too often covers only a conventional narrative--or it is about social justice, but doesn't incorporate social justice practice. In this session, three social studies teachers present curriculum that places social justice at the center and empowers students to challenge conventional views of past and present and be creators of information, not simply passive receivers of it. We'll look at a high school lesson on Fair versus Free Trade; a Civics in Action Projects for 8th grade in which students identify and research community issues and execute a plan to address them; and a Middle School project that engages students in the topics of Federalism and the Bill of Rights. We’ll invite participants to share their ideas and practices.
Presenters: Jessica Tang, Young Achievers, Jose Lopez, the Curley School, Roger Grande, Brookline High School
Engaging Youth in Social Justice Through Environmental Justice
This workshop will explore the Environmental Justice Movement using local and national youth case studies of work on climate change, air quality, transportation, and land use. We will focus on tools for engaging and supporting young people to fight for environmental justice by identifying issues they care about, finding solutions, and taking action. Participants in this workshop will come away with an enhanced understanding of the history of the environmental justice movement, the intersections between environmental degradation, race, and class, and ideas for methods of partcipatory action research along with tools for organizing youth.
Presenters: David Jenkins, REEP Organizer / Co-Director (ACE); David Noiles, REEP Organizer (ACE) www.ace-ej.org
This workshop will explore the Environmental Justice Movement using local and national youth case studies of work on climate change, air quality, transportation, and land use. We will focus on tools for engaging and supporting young people to fight for environmental justice by identifying issues they care about, finding solutions, and taking action. Participants in this workshop will come away with an enhanced understanding of the history of the environmental justice movement, the intersections between environmental degradation, race, and class, and ideas for methods of partcipatory action research along with tools for organizing youth.
Presenters: David Jenkins, REEP Organizer / Co-Director (ACE); David Noiles, REEP Organizer (ACE) www.ace-ej.org
How do you make your curriculum more LGBT friendly?
LGBT people and their experiences are often invisible in K-12 curriculum. History classes rarely talk about the history of gays and lesbians or mention famous people who identified as LGBT. Similarly, books used in literature classes rarely have LGBT characters or explore LGBT themes. This can make both students who are "out" and “closeted” feel more isolated, and less likely that teachers will confront LGBT stereotypes. This session will provide K-12 grade teachers with ways to incorporate LGBT subject-matter and themes into their curriculum with special attention paid to social studies and English/literature classes. All attendees will walk away with an easy list of things that they can do to make their classes more LGBT-friendly.
Presenters: Rachel Wiederhoeft, Ethan Harrison, Mary Durden, Join the Impact Massachuestts
LGBT people and their experiences are often invisible in K-12 curriculum. History classes rarely talk about the history of gays and lesbians or mention famous people who identified as LGBT. Similarly, books used in literature classes rarely have LGBT characters or explore LGBT themes. This can make both students who are "out" and “closeted” feel more isolated, and less likely that teachers will confront LGBT stereotypes. This session will provide K-12 grade teachers with ways to incorporate LGBT subject-matter and themes into their curriculum with special attention paid to social studies and English/literature classes. All attendees will walk away with an easy list of things that they can do to make their classes more LGBT-friendly.
Presenters: Rachel Wiederhoeft, Ethan Harrison, Mary Durden, Join the Impact Massachuestts
Curriculum Design for Social Justice Teaching and Learning, Lessons from an Independent School
Participants will be exposed to the inner workings of our efforts to develop social justice teaching and learning at Beaver Country Day School, including how we developed a culture amongst teachers to "explore, discover, and innovate." This culture has not only advanced curriculum design, but helped to convince teachers that they can still cover their discipline-specific content and even strengthen student engagement. Beaver has a long-standing commitment to diversity and multicultural learning. In order to increase the integration of social justice education into our curriculum across all grades (6-12), we have worked to define specific student multicultural skills and supports for teachers' curriculum innovation. Workshop participants will hear the details of this effort and be exposed to multiple social justice curriculum examples designed by our teachers.
Presenters: Robert Principe Director, Educational Leadership, Hiatt Center for Social Justice Education Beaver Country Day School and Nancy Caruso, Assistant Head of School, Beaver Country Day School
Participants will be exposed to the inner workings of our efforts to develop social justice teaching and learning at Beaver Country Day School, including how we developed a culture amongst teachers to "explore, discover, and innovate." This culture has not only advanced curriculum design, but helped to convince teachers that they can still cover their discipline-specific content and even strengthen student engagement. Beaver has a long-standing commitment to diversity and multicultural learning. In order to increase the integration of social justice education into our curriculum across all grades (6-12), we have worked to define specific student multicultural skills and supports for teachers' curriculum innovation. Workshop participants will hear the details of this effort and be exposed to multiple social justice curriculum examples designed by our teachers.
Presenters: Robert Principe Director, Educational Leadership, Hiatt Center for Social Justice Education Beaver Country Day School and Nancy Caruso, Assistant Head of School, Beaver Country Day School
Speak Up! A Personal Stories Project about teen experience with race and racism
This Teen-led workshop will present our recently published book, “Speak Up! A Personal Stories Project,” a compilation of stories from teens around New England about their experiences with race and racism in their schools. The session will explore the process and product of Speak Up! as well as ways the book can supplement classroom curriculum around issues of race. Middle and High School Educators will gain an enhanced understanding of techniques to engage in difficult conversations about race and racism, specifically using Speak Up! as a resource.
Presenters: Chris Messinger, Lila Bhide, Kandice Simmons, Sara Kohlberg, Becca Fowler
This Teen-led workshop will present our recently published book, “Speak Up! A Personal Stories Project,” a compilation of stories from teens around New England about their experiences with race and racism in their schools. The session will explore the process and product of Speak Up! as well as ways the book can supplement classroom curriculum around issues of race. Middle and High School Educators will gain an enhanced understanding of techniques to engage in difficult conversations about race and racism, specifically using Speak Up! as a resource.
Presenters: Chris Messinger, Lila Bhide, Kandice Simmons, Sara Kohlberg, Becca Fowler
Teacher Evaluations: What's to come? What we need?
The MA Board of Elementary and Secondary Education recently released recommendations for a new teacher evaluation system. The public comment period is now. What have they proposed? What should evaluations include, who should evaluate, who should decide? Should student scores on MCAS and additional tests be included? What do we think should be included in a new teacher evaluation system? How do we get our voices heard so that they are meaningful and effective?
Presenters: Monty Neill, Executive Director of Fair Test & Junia Yearwood
The MA Board of Elementary and Secondary Education recently released recommendations for a new teacher evaluation system. The public comment period is now. What have they proposed? What should evaluations include, who should evaluate, who should decide? Should student scores on MCAS and additional tests be included? What do we think should be included in a new teacher evaluation system? How do we get our voices heard so that they are meaningful and effective?
Presenters: Monty Neill, Executive Director of Fair Test & Junia Yearwood
Restorative Practices for Equitable and Democratic School Climates
Equitable and democratic school climates allow and affirm each person's voice, promote educational equity, excellence and a relational community of learners. This workshop aims to find a path to such climates by exposing attendees to restorative practices such as circles, classroom meetings and processes for co-creating community and addressing conflict in ways that promote accountability and respect. In the current, racially divided, school to prison pipeline context, there is an added urgency for alternatives to suspension and punitive approaches.
Presenters: Catherine Hoffman (Peaceable Schools and Communities, Cambridge Restorative Justice Workshop) Steven Brion-Meisels (Peaceable Schools and Communities Educator)
Equitable and democratic school climates allow and affirm each person's voice, promote educational equity, excellence and a relational community of learners. This workshop aims to find a path to such climates by exposing attendees to restorative practices such as circles, classroom meetings and processes for co-creating community and addressing conflict in ways that promote accountability and respect. In the current, racially divided, school to prison pipeline context, there is an added urgency for alternatives to suspension and punitive approaches.
Presenters: Catherine Hoffman (Peaceable Schools and Communities, Cambridge Restorative Justice Workshop) Steven Brion-Meisels (Peaceable Schools and Communities Educator)
Session #3: 2:30-3:30
Ethnic Studies in the Educational System: Advocate for Implementation in Your School
This youth led workshop will focus on raising awareness among the participants about the differences and similarities of those in their communities. Participants will explore the history and importance of Ethnic Studies in the educational system through engaging conversations and activities. It will also provide attendees with the opportunity to build skills that are necessary to advocate for the implementation of Ethnic Studies in their schools. Attendees will leave with ideas of how to get more involved in their communities and education. The participants will come up with a set of actions and plans that will contribute to the Ethnic Studies campaign.
Presenters: Naomie Pacouloute, Michael Vallejo, Omar Sanabria, Brenda Terrero, Pedro Montanez, and Sackona Fitts. ethnicstudiesnow.org/movimiento
This youth led workshop will focus on raising awareness among the participants about the differences and similarities of those in their communities. Participants will explore the history and importance of Ethnic Studies in the educational system through engaging conversations and activities. It will also provide attendees with the opportunity to build skills that are necessary to advocate for the implementation of Ethnic Studies in their schools. Attendees will leave with ideas of how to get more involved in their communities and education. The participants will come up with a set of actions and plans that will contribute to the Ethnic Studies campaign.
Presenters: Naomie Pacouloute, Michael Vallejo, Omar Sanabria, Brenda Terrero, Pedro Montanez, and Sackona Fitts. ethnicstudiesnow.org/movimiento
Anti-Racist Teaching using Literature
This workshop will be based on chapters from the book Anti-Racist Teaching and will focus on image and presentation when teaching literature that may be racially sensitive. This is especially geared toward white teachers who have students of color in the classroom and teach literature such as To Kill A Mockingbird, The Bluest Eye, Tom Sawyer, House On Mango Street, The Joy Luck Club, etc. Participants will be introduced to activities that would make them feel more comfortable about opening up to some of the challenges in presenting and teaching this material, and offering some strategies to take back to the classroom.
Presenter: Leslie Smart (Needham METCO Middle School Coordinator)
This workshop will be based on chapters from the book Anti-Racist Teaching and will focus on image and presentation when teaching literature that may be racially sensitive. This is especially geared toward white teachers who have students of color in the classroom and teach literature such as To Kill A Mockingbird, The Bluest Eye, Tom Sawyer, House On Mango Street, The Joy Luck Club, etc. Participants will be introduced to activities that would make them feel more comfortable about opening up to some of the challenges in presenting and teaching this material, and offering some strategies to take back to the classroom.
Presenter: Leslie Smart (Needham METCO Middle School Coordinator)
Using icebreakers to engage, motivate, build relationships, and promote productivity in groups
Interactive methods (icebreakers) are powerful tools that can lead to increased productivity in meetings. When used consistently and strategically – with purpose in mind, and connected to the work of the group – interactives turn into something more powerful. In this workshop participants will explore the richness of interactive exercises, and their ability to increase positive engagement, participation, create and maintain relationships, and discuss challenging topics within both adult and youth groups. Participants will learn through direct experience how to choose and debrief activities to suit their particular learning goals and needs when leading a group.
Presenter: Heang Ly, Center for Teen Empowerment www.teenempowerment.org
Interactive methods (icebreakers) are powerful tools that can lead to increased productivity in meetings. When used consistently and strategically – with purpose in mind, and connected to the work of the group – interactives turn into something more powerful. In this workshop participants will explore the richness of interactive exercises, and their ability to increase positive engagement, participation, create and maintain relationships, and discuss challenging topics within both adult and youth groups. Participants will learn through direct experience how to choose and debrief activities to suit their particular learning goals and needs when leading a group.
Presenter: Heang Ly, Center for Teen Empowerment www.teenempowerment.org
United for a Fair Economy: Teaching Economics as if People Mattered
This workshop is for economics & social studies teachers, and others who want exposure to an innovative approach to classroom education that addresses the human implications of U.S. economic policies. The participants will explore non-traditional classroom activities that engage students in discussions about income disparities, the racial wealth divide, taxation, and other economic issues, and inspire students to take action to address economic inequality. Participants will gain an appreciation of the centrality of economic inequality (rather than "poverty") as a key frame for building a broad-based, democratic, multi-racial social movement for social & economic justice." All participants will receive a free copy of UFE's high school economics curriculum guide "Teaching Economics As If People Mattered."
Presenter: Steve Schnapp www.faireconomy.org
This workshop is for economics & social studies teachers, and others who want exposure to an innovative approach to classroom education that addresses the human implications of U.S. economic policies. The participants will explore non-traditional classroom activities that engage students in discussions about income disparities, the racial wealth divide, taxation, and other economic issues, and inspire students to take action to address economic inequality. Participants will gain an appreciation of the centrality of economic inequality (rather than "poverty") as a key frame for building a broad-based, democratic, multi-racial social movement for social & economic justice." All participants will receive a free copy of UFE's high school economics curriculum guide "Teaching Economics As If People Mattered."
Presenter: Steve Schnapp www.faireconomy.org
Da FORCE: Myths and Facts about Racism in the Juvenile Justice System
This introductory workshop defines “juvenile justice system” and “racial disparities” using an interactive map of the whole system and new data from the courts. The agenda features storytelling, interactive games and discussion on myths and misconceptions about the juvenile system. We break down stereotypes about the system and the youth getting trapped there and discuss how that effects our communities. Lastly, we identify organizing strategies against racism.
Presenters: Mallory Hanora, Cindy Printemps, and Janine Quarles, Reflect +Strengthen and Project Hip Hop
This introductory workshop defines “juvenile justice system” and “racial disparities” using an interactive map of the whole system and new data from the courts. The agenda features storytelling, interactive games and discussion on myths and misconceptions about the juvenile system. We break down stereotypes about the system and the youth getting trapped there and discuss how that effects our communities. Lastly, we identify organizing strategies against racism.
Presenters: Mallory Hanora, Cindy Printemps, and Janine Quarles, Reflect +Strengthen and Project Hip Hop
Building a curriculum for social justice...even in a math class
This session will highlight three main underlying ideas that teachers can use to make their classroom curriculum support goals of social justice: 1. Respecting students' knowledge; 2. Teaching (lots of) content knowledge; 3. Reflecting on the connection between knowledge & power. I’ll present examples from my own experience teaching math & quantitative reasoning at the high school & college level to illustrate these concepts. Attendees will also have time to discuss how these principles could apply to their own classrooms--regardless of academic discipline.
Presenter: Marilyn Frankenstein, College of Public and Community Service, UMass Boston
This session will highlight three main underlying ideas that teachers can use to make their classroom curriculum support goals of social justice: 1. Respecting students' knowledge; 2. Teaching (lots of) content knowledge; 3. Reflecting on the connection between knowledge & power. I’ll present examples from my own experience teaching math & quantitative reasoning at the high school & college level to illustrate these concepts. Attendees will also have time to discuss how these principles could apply to their own classrooms--regardless of academic discipline.
Presenter: Marilyn Frankenstein, College of Public and Community Service, UMass Boston
Young People's Role in the Anti-Violence Movement
This workshop is about Youth in the Anti-Violence Movement. We will discuss the importance of youth organizing against dating, domestic, and sexual violence through campaigns, education, protests, marches, and awareness work. We will share the pluses and the deltas of youth efforts to end violence in our communities. And lastly, this workshop is to discuss the importance of teen dating violence in schools and the positives of anti-violence education for young people.
Presenters: Danny Thang Ho, Asian Task Force
This workshop is about Youth in the Anti-Violence Movement. We will discuss the importance of youth organizing against dating, domestic, and sexual violence through campaigns, education, protests, marches, and awareness work. We will share the pluses and the deltas of youth efforts to end violence in our communities. And lastly, this workshop is to discuss the importance of teen dating violence in schools and the positives of anti-violence education for young people.
Presenters: Danny Thang Ho, Asian Task Force
The Implications of Funding Cuts to Our Schools
We will explore and educate each other on the implications of shrinking budgets for the holistic education of students in our schools. Topics of discussion will include a historical overview of how education funding has changed over the years, an examination of the how shrinking budgets have affected our ability to educate students holistically, the effect of the charter school funding formula on district budgets, and the implications of student weighted funding formulas as recently implemented by the Boston Public Schools. Participants will become more educated about the ways that funding affects programs as well as some of the hidden pitfalls in current funding schemes.
Presenters: Marc Seiden, Brighton High School Teacher; TAG Boston organizer & Mike Russell, Parent-Teacher Alliance
We will explore and educate each other on the implications of shrinking budgets for the holistic education of students in our schools. Topics of discussion will include a historical overview of how education funding has changed over the years, an examination of the how shrinking budgets have affected our ability to educate students holistically, the effect of the charter school funding formula on district budgets, and the implications of student weighted funding formulas as recently implemented by the Boston Public Schools. Participants will become more educated about the ways that funding affects programs as well as some of the hidden pitfalls in current funding schemes.
Presenters: Marc Seiden, Brighton High School Teacher; TAG Boston organizer & Mike Russell, Parent-Teacher Alliance