FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
|
|
RE·Center
Race & Equity in Education is growing into our new name and brand with a vision and mission that inspires us every day. We are talking with and listening to the students, parents, educators and community members who are building a bridge to a place we've never been - the equitable classroom/school/district! I'm proud to share stories and announcements about our work to end the impacts of racism in education. Let's continue to work together to see what is on the other side of that bridge...
|
|
|
|
Kate Busch Gervais |
Executive Director
|
|
Equity in Education Workshops
At Re-Center we believe that "changed people change systems" and the
Equity in Education workshops do just that—create opportunities for people to change and to make change.
These workshops - available in 3 different formats - help participants
understand their own roles and co-create what it takes to build more equitable learning environments. Workshops are relevant for educators, parents, representatives from the non-profit, health care, youth development, and higher education sectors.
One participant last year shared, "
This workshop was
deeply moving and powerful
. I have never participated in professional development that was as worthwhile as this was. I cannot tell you how appreciative I am for this. I feel that equity work is an obligation that I have to my community in a way that I previously did not."
Learn ways to create more inclusive, welcoming, and equitable learning communities. Commit to interrupting racism and other forms of oppression in our classrooms, workplaces, and communities!
Workshop dates:
INTRO to EQUITY (
2 hours)
11/14/18, 1/9/19, 3/13/19, 5/8/19
EQUITY in PRACTICE (
7 hours/1 day)
1/28/19, 3/25/19, 5/18/19
EQUITY INTENSIVE (
12 hours/2 days)
11/26 & 27/18, 2/25 & 26/19, 4/22 & 23/19
Workshops are held in our building at the CT Nonprofit Center, 75 Charter Oak Avenue (entrance from Wyllys Street) in Hartford. For more details and registration, go to
LINK.
PLEASE JOIN US!
|
|
Discovery Camp Important Update
Our thanks go out to everyone who made
Discovery Camp possible for 26 years! Since our camp program was first launched by Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward in 1992, we have served more than 24,000 students, and worked with more than 30 schools. We have been dedicated to teaching students about social justice and connecting with different communities. Year after year, our Discovery Camp evolved, providing students with memorable experiences.
Our recent strategic planning resulted in a revised mission that focuses on making long-lasting systemic change in school environments, so that every student can grow and thrive. This past spring, we changed our name to RE·Center
Race & Equity in Education,
which more fully expresses our dedication to helping transform K-12 schools into equitable learning environments free from impacts of racism and other forms of oppression.
After much deliberation, we've determined that camp no longer aligns well with our mission. With all its benefits, the camp program didn’t result in systems change or opportunity for the participating schools. Our new mission compels us to focus more on helping students and educators build equity within their schools.
This is why we've made the decision to discontinue our Residential Camp Program.
Students remain our priority! We hope to see you all in one of our other programs that help change school environments and that center student voices:
- EDIfy training workshops for educators and students at their schools using transformative activities and dialogue to co-create equitable learning environments,
- Equity in Education professional development workshops open to the public,
- Equity-Informed School Climate Assessments
- new leadership program for middle school students called Equity Teams for Positive School Change
Feel free to contact us if you s
hould you have any questions!
|
|
Hartford Performs
RE-Center is proud to be partnering with
Hartford Performs
to help them co-create more equitable approaches to arts-based education. This multi-level partnership includes professional development and consultation for full-time staff and a series of workshops and community engagement sessions for their teaching artists and broader community.
“Because our work centers on Hartford students, more than 80% of whom are children of color, it’s important that our programming be culturally relevant. Our partnership with RE-Center is helping us serve our students better.”
~ Rie Poirier, Executive Director
By creating a platform for open dialogue, collecting and analyzing data, and strengthening the connection to the Hartford community, we are working to identify and address barriers to equity.
|
|
Facing Race
Several members of our staff and Board have the opportunity to attend the
FACING RACE
conference in November, thanks to support from the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund and the Newman's Own Foundation. This national, bi-annual gathering is
powerful, educational, and inspiring. It is presented by
Race Forward: The Center for Racial Justice Innovation
(
an organization with nearly 40 years of experience advancing racial justice through research, media, and practice).
Keynote speakers will include Tarana Burke,
founder of the “Me Too” movement and social justice activist, and
Hari Kondabolu, comedian and writer.
“A uniq
ue collaborative space for racial justice movement making, Facing Race is the largest multiracial, inter-generational gathering for organizers, educators, creatives and other leaders. Facing Race offers unprecedented access to information and resources on racial equity, includes over 70 workshops and access to over 180 presenters.” The last conference hosted 2,000 attendees from all over the world.
|
|
Kingswood Oxford School
We are excited about our growing relationship with a local independent school
, Kingswood Oxford
, located in West Hartford. In partnership with Joan Edwards, Director of Diversity, and Jane Repp, Director of Teaching and Learning, we led a series of workshops designed to invite the full staff community into a process of transformation and skill-building while developing the common language and courage necessary to proceed with racial equity work. We also provided specific support in processing Debbie Irving’s book,
Waking Up White
, and helping K O's History and English departments as they prepare for an upcoming campus visit from author Colson Whitehead. Students and staff are currently reading his award-winning work
The Underground Railroad
.
Participant comments:
"
You did a magnificent job creating a container for us to have brave and fierce conversations.
"
"
Awesome! Very articulate and powerfully delivered. More events/conversations like this need to happen in every workplace in general.
"
|
|
Facilitators Training Institute
RE·Center held its 2nd annual Facilitator Training Institute!
As we deepen and expand our work in the region, we need to be able to work with talented and insightful people who can help us facilitate nurturing spaces where people can understand and challenge systemic racism and oppression. During this training institute, we shared our facilitation approach as well as build a community with the foundation of love and healing. Thank you to everyone who attended and welcome to the family. We look forward to collaborating with you on the transformational work we will do together this year!
|
|
University of St. Joseph
In late September, 240 first-year University of St. Joseph students participated in a workshop series called
Critical Consciousness for Connected Communities. Over 5 days, RE·Center facilitators guided students through discussion circles where they were able to:
- share feelings of empowerment and dis-empowerment connected to their social identities,
- critically question educational institutions they’ve been a part of, and
- imagine how to make the USJ culture more affirming for all.
While the work was not always easy, facilitators and participants alike were moved by the honesty, vulnerability and hope for the future expressed during their time together.
|
|
We are so grateful for the recent support from the following organizations:
Cigna Foundation
William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund
Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
Newman's Own Foundation
Katherine C. Childs Memorial Fund
and
Magrieta L. and
Sherwood S. Willard Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
~
|
Do you want to help make change so that all children can be their authentic selves and rise to their amazing potential?
YOU can help by making a donation to support this work!
|
|
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. PLEASE CALL US AT 860.284.9489.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
