Join us for two dynamic speakers who will tackle the important topic of how to approach race and culture in and out of the classroom!

Cultural Responsiveness In and Outside the Classroom - Dr. Courtney Bell-Duncan

Dr. Courtney Bell-Duncan defines epistemological oppression as the lack of understanding and knowledge of one's experience and identity by self or others because of historic exclusion or limiting of access to information. This oppression, which impacts both disenfranchised and franchised children in our schools, leads to false inferiority (or superiority) and racist ideologies, systems and behaviors that often result in a loss of life or life chances as children move into adulthood. In this talk, Courtney will discuss how culturally responsive pedagogy has the power to counter and actively disarm epistemic violence against K-12 schools. She will also lay a foundation for transformational shifts in thinking about culture in schools and the broader society.

Let's Talk About Race in School - Derek Francis

Until the 1960s, legal and de facto racial segregation existed in almost every corner of the U.S. This politically and socially enforced separation of white and Black people over the course of hundreds of years created a society in which discrimination thrived. Today, in the wake of a renewed civil rights movement, we are faced with the reality that racism and discrimination are alive and well. What's worse is that as a society, we still haven't figured out how to have honest conversations about race. In this EDTalk, Minneapolis Public Schools counseling services manager Derek Francis will talk about the critical importance of talking about race in our classrooms, and offer some strategies on how to do it right.