NYU Metro Center hosted a far-reaching conversation on the importance of equity and culturally responsive and sustaining practices in school settings. This online webinar entitled Prioritizing Equity in our Schools as the World “Returns to Normal,” highlighted the significance of continuing to center racial and social justice in our schools amidst the execution of anti-equity efforts across the country.
The magnitude of 2020’s racial reckoning and coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic then refocused the nation on the vast racial disparities within the U.S. healthcare, economic, justice, and educational systems. The loud protests and calls for equity were met with introspection and a commitment to do better by numerous organizations throughout the country.
During this time, a multitude of external institutions approached NYU Metro Center for expertise in recommitting to educational equity focusing on those who have been historically marginalized by our educational system.
As we close the 2022 academic school year, educators now find themselves in the midst of a dwindling national conversation surrounding equity and justice, facing a heightened opposition to the practices and methodologies that uplift and empower those from underserved communities.
How do educators sustain themselves to show up and contend against attempts to restrict what they can teach students? How do educators center racial and social justice in our schools amidst the execution of anti-equity efforts? A panel comprised of NYU Metro Center leadership, including Executive Director, Fabienne Doucet, Director of the Center for Strategic Solutions (CSS), Wenimo Okoya, and Director of the Educational Justice Research and Organizing Collaborative (EJ-ROC), Matt Gonzales, shared multiple perspectives on not only what equity in school settings should ideally look like, but also offered insightful recommendations on how to implement those practices for underserved populations.
The more than 140 registrants for the Prioritizing Equity in our Schools as the World “Returns to Normal” webinar accessed vital information and resources as they plan to move their racial equity and social justice work forward in the 2022-2023 school year and beyond.
Watch the full webinar recording: