New Date Set for UnConference: Race Equity in Practice
Registration is now open for Trying Together’s “UnConference: Race Equity in Practice,” which will be held on Saturday, February 11, 2023, at the Frick Pittsburgh.
This article was updated on December 2, 2022 to included rescheduled date.
Learn More
From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., participants will attend sessions and workshops that focus on race equity in practice in the early childhood education (ECE) field. This Unconference will include a variety of ways that ECE staff can support and advocate for more racially equitable programs through play, literacy, environment, and more.
Registration is now open. The cost is $25 to attend. There is limited space in each workshop and workshop placement is based on the date of your registration, so register early. Please register by no later than Thursday, February 9, 2022.
Sponsors are PNC Grow Up Great and Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC).
Keynote Speaker
Keynote speaker Dr. Rosemarie Allen will be presenting “Aware is Only Halfway There: Concrete Strategies for Supporting Children’s Racial Identity Development. Are you Ready?” Dr. Allen will discuss how awareness of racial equity is important, but not enough.
This presentation will deepen the participants’ equity journey moving them from theory to practice, from awareness to implementation. Participants will engage in activities that support the racial identity development of young children including strategies and techniques that can be implemented at the classroom level. This presentation will help participants assess their readiness to create an anti-racist/anti-bias classroom, identify culturally responsive and culturally sustaining practices, identify stages of racial awareness for young children and develop concrete strategies for promoting racial identity development in children.
Workshops
Following the keynote, there will be two workshop rounds. Sessions will focus on race equity in practice in the early childhood education (ECE) field. This Unconference will include a variety of ways that ECE staff can support and advocate for more racially equitable programs through play, literacy, environment, and more.
Creating an Anti-Racist Early Childhood Environment, Dr. Rosemarie Allen
Participants will identify factors that promote an equitable, anti-bias/antiracist educational environment. They will identify critical factors related to equitable practices, including the importance of discussing race, recognizing messages and actions that ensure a sense of belonging and inclusion, and developing a positive racial identity in all children. Participants will identify the seven principles of culturally responsive practices.
Becoming Culturally AWARE - Understanding Oppression; Breaking Down the Terms, Tammi McMillan
This session will engage learners in courageous conversations regarding race, culture, socio-economic status, and bias. Following this session, participants will have a thorough understanding of the “isms” and, historically, how we got to this point.
Reading and Representation: Black Children's Literature and Storytelling, Cynthia Battle
The history of representation of Black Children in children’s literature is long and complex. However, recognizing what real representation is and the inclusion of books that aim at representation is crucial for a child’s identity development. In this workshop, participants will explore the history of storytelling that reflects African American people and culture, the authors that wrote these books, and how books with poor and positive representation impact children in the ECE setting.
Inquiry, Identity, and Art: The Practice of Using Art to Celebrate Identities, Stacey McSorley and Amanda Awanjo
What does it mean to see ourselves in the art that we make and the art that surrounds us? In this workshop, instructors will discuss how art is crucial to understanding and expressing diverse identities. Educators will not only participate in their own art making but will learn the developmental appropriateness of identity-focused art as well as its impact on children.
From Habitual Reactions to Genuine Responses: Relational Practices for Racial Justice Conversations, Hanna du Plessis
In the work of racial justice, we can feel disappointed in or frustrated with ourselves when we don’t show up as we hope. We might react to situations with silence or over-reactions, which often harms relationships. In this workshop, participants are invited to reflect on their reactions through a trauma-informed lens, gain insight into why individuals overreact or freeze, and imagine how a framework of supportive practices can lead to better responses and relationships.
Questions?
For questions, please contact Allison Hritz at allison@tryingtogether.org. More event details can be found on the UnConference: Race Equity in Practice page.