Our next meeting is June 13th @ 6:30pm Check out our discussion/workshop registration page for more details and more meeting dates.
In our first meeting, we covered some of these topics (below) – and each week we add to our web/literature/visual resources. Our FB page is the place to see all of our discussion topics – visit here!
Our group has two basic goals:
- Empowering more educators to foster a culture of racial equity in classrooms
- Empower our community to be catalysts for change in racial inequities in the South Bay
Guiding Themes
#Awareness – Make a perspective of Social Justice more accessible to your daily life.
#Ownership – Build a capacity to understand how your decisions ripple out
#Responsiveness – Practice how to take steps toward activism but not get overwhelmed
#Courage – Support your children through challenging experiences
Some topics may be sensitive and you are empowered to participate within your safe zone.
Experiential Learning Circle
Kolb’s experiential learning theory works on two levels: a four-stage cycle of learning and four separate learning styles. Much of Kolb’s theory is concerned with the learner’s internal cognitive processes.
Effective learning is seen when a person progresses through a cycle of four stages: of (1) having a concrete experience followed by (2) observation of and reflection on that experience which leads to (3) the formation of abstract concepts (analysis) and generalizations (conclusions) which are then (4) used to test hypothesis in future situations, resulting in new experiences.
Meeting #1 Notes
Topic A: Belonging
We belong to many groups at once
Finding common groups wherever you go
Try to find shared values with those who may be different everywhere you go
Belonging to a group doesn’t define a person – it is a part of who they are
Speaking generally may be fueled by good intentions but they can be inaccurate, misguided and even unfair
“Everyone in that neighborhood is poor”
“Homeschoolers are weird”
“Gay men are such good cooks”
“Little brothers are a bother”
“All asians are smart”
“Only rich kids go to that school”
Generalizations minimize the complexity of a person
Some people have to respond to labels and generalizations more often than you think
Topic B: What you Know
Continuum of Action – actively participating refers to oppression or prejuduce (Stop the Hate)
The escalation of hate from the Anti-Defamation League
The pyramid of Alliance (also ADL)
You are getting in to the habit of seeing and appreciating each person as an individual
Humility & vulnerability can scaffold deeper understanding #Responsiveness
We are all on a “continuum of action” – we might be on different points on different issues
We come to issues of social justice/race/wealth & poverty/disabilities/gender from different starting points
We must become aware of our own beliefs and biases to fit other perspectives in our daily experience
Other continuum topics to explore:
classism
Ableism
Gender identity discrimination
Sexism
Ageism
Religious Identity
Something to keep in mind
We all have something(s) to teach and something(s) to learn
Intentional thoughts, words and actions matter #Ownership
#Awareness of prejudice, bias, exclusion, harassment matters