Healing as a Tool for Equity
Description:
Throughout this experience, participants will engage in deep reflection, collaborative learning, and practical skill-building exercises aimed at growing and sustaining your equity-centered practice. Together with like-minded educators, you'll explore strategies for creating inclusive, culturally responsive learning environments that honor the diverse identities and experiences of all students, including racially, culturally, and linguistically diverse students, as well as students with disabilities. By the end of this workshop:
Workshop Objectives:
- Deep Reflection: Participants will engage in structured reflection activities to critically examine their current practices and beliefs regarding equity and inclusivity in education.
- Collaborative Learning: Through interactive discussions and group activities, participants will exchange ideas, share experiences, and co-create strategies for fostering inclusive, culturally responsive learning environments.
- Skill-Building: Participants will develop practical skills and strategies for implementing equity-centered practices in their classrooms, including culturally responsive teaching methods and inclusive instructional design.
- Equity-Centered Practice: Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the principles of equity-centered practice and explore ways to integrate these principles into their teaching approaches, curriculum design, and classroom management strategies.
- Culturally Responsive Environments: Participants will explore strategies for creating culturally responsive learning environments that honor and affirm the diverse identities and experiences of all students, including racially, culturally, and linguistically diverse students, as well as students with disabilities.
- Sustainability: Participants will reflect on strategies for sustaining their equity-centered practice beyond the workshop experience, including building support networks, ongoing professional development, and self-care practices.
Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Education: Reflect, Build, Integrate
Description:
Join us for an engaging workshop designed to deepen your understanding and implementation of Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Education (CRS-E). This dynamic learning series will guide educators through a reflective journey, examining the current state of CRS-E practice and empowering them to integrate these principles into their school year planning.
Participants will embark on a thought-provoking exploration of CRS-E, exploring its foundational principles and examining its relevance within diverse educational contexts. Through interactive activities and collaborative discussions, educators will reflect on their current practices, identifying strengths and areas for growth in fostering culturally responsive learning environments.
Building on this reflective foundation, participants will engage in practical strategies and tools for expanding and strengthening their CRS-E practice. From incorporating diverse perspectives into curriculum design to leveraging culturally relevant pedagogies, educators will gain insights into how to authentically integrate CRS-E principles across all facets of teaching and learning.
Finally, educators will explore strategies for integrating CRS-E into their school year planning, ensuring that culturally responsive practices are woven seamlessly into instructional delivery, assessment, and community engagement initiatives.
Workshop objectives include:
- Reflecting on the current state of CRS-E practice within your educational context
- Building out CRS-E practice through culturally responsive curriculum design and pedagogical approaches
- Integrating CRS-E principles into school year planning, including lesson planning, assessment, and community partnerships
By the end of the workshop participants will emerge with a comprehensive understanding of CRS-E principles and concrete strategies for infusing these principles into their educational practices, ultimately creating more inclusive, equitable, and empowering learning environments for all students. Join us in advancing the journey toward culturally responsive and sustaining education.
Anti-bias/Anti-racism workshops
Description:
Join us for an immersive training workshop designed to empower educators in cultivating an inclusive and equitable learning environment. Our workshop focuses on the intersection of anti-bias, anti-racism, and culturally responsive sustaining education (CRSE), providing participants with practical strategies and tools to dismantle systemic inequities in the classroom.
Through engaging discussions, interactive activities, and reflective exercises, educators will:
- Develop a deep understanding of the principles of anti-bias and anti-racism education.
- Explore the concept of cultural responsiveness and its significance in fostering student success.
- Examine their own biases and privilege to create a more inclusive classroom environment.
- Learn strategies to integrate diverse perspectives, histories, and cultures into their curriculum.
- Identify and challenge systemic barriers to equity in education.
- Cultivate empathy and empathy-building practices to promote understanding and solidarity among students.
- Develop actionable steps to enact meaningful change in their teaching practices and school communities.
Building Inclusive Futures
Description:
Join us for an inspiring training workshop designed to empower educators in envisioning and creating inclusive futures for black and brown students. Through collective visioning, freedom dreaming, and the principles of Ubuntu, participants will embark on a transformative journey to reimagine the future of education and take tangible steps towards equity and inclusion.
In this workshop, educators will:
- Engage in Collective Visioning: Explore the power of collective visioning to imagine bold and inclusive futures for black and brown students. Through guided exercises and group discussions, participants will envision alternative educational landscapes that prioritize equity, liberation, and cultural relevance.
- Embrace Freedom Dreaming: Embrace the concept of freedom dreaming as a tool for envisioning radical possibilities and dismantling oppressive systems. Educators will tap into their imagination and creativity to envision educational spaces where all students thrive, regardless of their background or identity.
- Embody Ubuntu: Embrace the African philosophy of Ubuntu, emphasizing interconnectedness, empathy, and community. Through reflective practices and dialogue, participants will explore how Ubuntu can inform their teaching practices and foster a sense of belonging and solidarity among students.
- Envision a Different Future: Challenge existing narratives and power structures in education by envisioning a future that centers the needs, experiences, and aspirations of black and brown students. Educators will explore strategies for centering marginalized voices, disrupting inequities, and creating inclusive learning environments.
- Action Planning: Translate vision into action through collaborative action planning. Participants will identify concrete steps and strategies for implementing inclusive practices in their classrooms, schools, districts and communities, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.
Collective Healing: Addressing Oppression in Trauma-Informed Education
Description:
Participants will explore the interconnectedness of trauma, oppression, and educational experiences, gaining insights into how systemic injustices can perpetuate cycles of trauma. Through interactive discussions and case studies, educators will learn practical strategies for creating inclusive, supportive environments that honor the diverse experiences of all learners.
Key topics include:
- Understanding trauma and its manifestations in educational settings
- Recognizing the effects of oppression on individual and collective well-being
- Cultivating resilience and empowerment through trauma-informed approaches
- Implementing anti-oppressive practices to promote equity and justice in education
- Building supportive networks and fostering a culture of belonging within school communities
Healing from Polarization
Description:
Amidst the challenges facing schools, there is a pressing need for spaces that foster healing and belonging, enabling communities to navigate difficult moments with resilience and empathy. In response, we present a workshop that seeks to empower educators with the tools and strategies grounded in Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Education (CRSE) and Healing Centered Engagement (HCE) to promote belonging in the face of polarization.
Our approach recognizes the importance of honoring students and families' whole selves in the educational journey, even amidst a politically charged climate that may hinder learning and social-emotional engagement. Drawing from the core tenets of CRSE, we will explore how to create inclusive environments where every voice is valued and respected, regardless of background or identity.
Additionally, we will delve into the principles of Healing Centered Engagement, acknowledging the impact of trauma and ongoing challenges on individuals and communities. Through this lens, we will explore strategies for centering assets and strengths as we work towards restoration and healing.
Key workshop components include:
- Understanding the principles of Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Education (CRSE) and Healing Centered Engagement (HCE)
- Exploring practical strategies for promoting belonging and inclusion in a polarized climate
- Examining the role of trauma-informed practices in fostering healing and resilience
- Cultivating empathy and understanding within school communities through authentic dialogue and reflection
By the end of the workshop, participants will emerge equipped with a deeper understanding of how to create environments that support healing, belonging, and resilience amidst challenging times. Join us as we embark on a journey towards fostering inclusive and empowering school communities for all.
Student-Led Implicit Bias Training
Description:
Student-led Implicit Bias Training is an educational initiative where students take charge of creating, organizing, and leading workshops focused on increasing awareness of implicit biases and their effects on behavior and decision-making. This method utilizes the unique viewpoints and experiences of students to promote a more inclusive and empathetic atmosphere within educational institutions.
Overview
The objective of this initiative is to empower students and staff to recognize and address implicit biases through a comprehensive, student-led training program. The approach includes three key components:
- Listening Sessions
- Student Leader Training
- Professional Development for Staff
Key learning components include:
1. Listening Sessions
Purpose:
To understand the unique context of the school and customize the training content.
Implementation:
Three listening sessions will be conducted with both staff and students.
These sessions will help gather insights and identify specific needs and challenges within the school community.
2. Student Leader Training
- Purpose: To equip student leaders with the skills and knowledge to deliver implicit bias training to their peers.
- Participants: 3-5 student leaders from 6th through 12th grade.
- Training Structure:
- Three 2-hour training sessions focused on:
- Understanding implicit bias
- Demonstrating cultural humility
- Four 2-hour debrief circles following peer-to-peer training sessions to reflect, discuss challenges, and share experiences.
- Three 2-hour training sessions focused on:
3. Professional Development for Staff
- Purpose: To ensure teachers and school leaders are well-prepared to support students and foster a school environment conducive to open, honest discussions about bias.
- Sessions:
- Session 1: Reflecting on Implicit Bias
- Focus on self-awareness and recognizing personal biases.
- Session 2: Holding Space for Difficult Conversations
- Strategies for facilitating and managing challenging discussions in the classroom.
- Session 1: Reflecting on Implicit Bias
Expected Outcomes
- Enhanced understanding of implicit bias among students and staff.
- Increased capacity for student leaders to facilitate meaningful conversations about bias.
- A more inclusive and supportive school environment.
Anti-Racism Initiative
CSS has developed national experience in supporting folx to consider the impact of race, power, and privilege on the work they do, both in schools and organizations outside of education. CSS works in partnership with folx to develop a shared understanding of the systems that impact our cross racial, cross-ethnic, and cross-cultural understandings, delving deep into the historical entanglements of racial inequity. Our belief is that an equitable and just society loves and invites its members to be their authentic selves and openly reflects on how disparities and historical oppressions contradict the principles of social justice. Our team promotes this reflection by building the capacity of stakeholders to challenge assumptions and embedded bias, building relationships that create pathways toward equity.
CSS provides a range of offerings designed to help communities critically analyze the way that racism persists in our society drawing from historical and systemic level understandings. Participants will explore the ways in which racism functions and how it can be undone, exploring implicit biases that hinder racial justice.
CSS Stakeholder Offerings:
K12 educators, administrators, families, and students:
CSS education-focused antiracism offerings prompt partners to understand the impact of how they are situated in both historical and contemporary oppression and navigate how their racial identity impacts how they teach, learn, engage, and relate to others. Offerings include training, coaching, consultation, strategic planning, curriculum development, equity audits and more. Support is tailored to the local context and prior efforts toward developing racially
equitable systems.
College and university senior leaders, faculty, staff, administrators, and students:
CSS higher education offerings provoke partners to grapple with issues of racial inequity on their campuses and within specific schools, programs, departments, and courses. Offerings include exposure and awareness building training series, consultative support for working groups, committees, task forces on anti-racism in the context of IDBE commitments, coaching, climate assessments, course content audits, and restorative
practices.
General Individual and Organizations:
CSS also offers a significant number of opportunities for individuals and organizations seeking to build capacity around developing a commitment to combating systemic racism and the culture of white supremacy that permeates office, organizational, and leadership environments. Offerings include executive coaching, exposure and awareness building training series, consultative support for working groups, committees, task forces on anti-racism, coaching, workplace racial climate assessments, and restorative practices.
Metro Center Intake Form
This form is being used to collect interest in engaging NYU Metro Center services. We are excited for new collaborations or partnerships and can't wait to serve your community! Below is an intake form to allow us to direct you to the appropriate service and center.
Please fill out the Intake Form here