Race Project KC Symposium 2019

Our morning educator workshop features two amazing speakers:

9:30-9:50 
Ok, So You're NOT A Racist! Now What?: Examining the realities of systemic racism in education with David Muhammad

9:50-11:20
Operationalizing Equity: The Power of Cultural Reciprocity with Stephenie Smith and Dr. Rodney Smith
Cultural Reciprocity and Responsiveness Training asks learners to focus on the exchange that must take place among and between individuals who are coming from different cultural backgrounds. Cultural reciprocity and responsiveness calls for constant introspection that promotes a willingness to reflect upon the often unquestioned aspects of our dominant culture in juxtaposition to the culture and customs of individuals outside of dominant cultural norms. Central to the tenets of cultural reciprocity and responsiveness is an examination of the culturally-based biases that many individuals harbor, unknowingly. For educators, it requires an examination of school culture, specifically, aspects of school culture that educators take for granted, but aspects that are not so common to individuals unfamiliar with school culture. We invite participants to become curious about how educational outcomes might be better for all if cultural responsiveness increases.

The publishing industry is finally keying in to the fact that people want to read books about different races, classes, families, situations, etc... which is fantastic! But it’s adults who are deciding what is published and who can write these stories – and sometimes these adults are getting books cancelled or postponed because they don’t meet the Internet standards. I’m tired of hearing what the adults think about diverse literature and want to know - what are you reading? What genres would you like to be reading? And what is annoying you about Twitter call out culture, in regards to books?