2011 Workshop Listings

A.        The Culturally Proficient Professional: Guerilla Tactics

Target Audience: All

One of the greatest frustrations of doing this work is being in an environment that is committed nominally to cultural proficiency, but which, on a daily basis, fails to address the barriers to movement in that direction.  Worse yet, is knowing what needs to be done, but having no positional power to make it happen.  In these cases, a direct collegial approach may not be the most effective one.  This workshop will share tactics and strategies for influencing change that no one really wants.

Dr. Kikanza J. Nuri-Robins

Organizational Development Consultant

The Robbins Group, Los Angeles CA

B.        Racism in the Classroom

Target Audience: All

You cannot become a culturally proficient educator until you first become comfortable discussing race.  During this workshop teachers will learn where racism and the classroom intersect. Specifically, what makes it so hard to discuss the “R” word?  Why is it the one word that stops us in our tracks and has the power to shut down a classroom?  Teachers will learn first hand how racism effects learning.  This interactive workshop addresses the “need to” and the “how to's” of discussing race in the classroom.  During this session we will define cultural proficiency, identify the key components necessary to train more effective teachers, and examine ways to foster trustworthy relationships between teachers and students in the classroom.

Kalise Wornum

Wellesley METCO Director

Wellesley Public Schools, Wellesley, MA

C.        Culturally Proficient Approach to Educating Black Males

Target Audience: All

A large number of our African American males are failing in our schools today.  They are not engaged in the educational process and are dropping out or checking out at alarming numbers compared to their white counterparts. Who is to blame - teachers, the principal, parents, child or the boggieman?

Have you heard or said any of the following statements?

•     “If only they would work harder.”

•     “What can you expect, they come from difficult family situations.”

•     “He’ll get an athletic scholarship because he is good at  basketball.”

•     “If only they weren’t so threatening/scary.”

•     “They should be more like white students.”

What does it mean to be culturally proficient in educating black males?  Is there a black male culture?  Who are they anyway?  Why should I have to change?

This workshop will examine the issue of cultural proficiency and strategies for motivating black males to achieve in school and in life. 

Dr. Carroll W. Blake

Executive Director of Achievement Gap

Boston Public Schools, Boston, MA

D.        Enacting Cultural Responsiveness: Fostering the Development of Positive Racial and Academic Identities of Students of Color

Target Audience: All

In this interactive workshop, participants will explore theories for understanding the significance of race to the academic achievement of students of color. Participants will also apply theories to begin designing specific academic interventions -- at the classroom and building levels -- for enhancing the schooling experiences of students of color. Dr. Carter will draw on her research examining the school experiences of African American students in predominantly white schools to help participants better understand culturally responsive teaching and leadership that enhances the identities of students of color and subsequently their academic success.

Dr. Dorinda Carter Andrews

Assistant Professor, Department of Teacher Education

Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

E.        Hip-Hop:  Beyond Beats and Rhymes.  Moving Past Narrow Visions of Masculine Identity

Target Audience: All

In this workshop, filmmaker/activist Byron Hurt will engage the audience using his award-winning documentary film, Hip-Hop:  Beyond Beats and Rhymes.  The film will generate a powerful discussion about commonly held notions of masculine identity and their impact on boys and men in the real world, good and bad.  This workshop will be highly interactive, and thought provoking exercises will prod the audience to think deeply about gender identity among boys and men.

Byron Hurt

Producer/Director, Soul Food Junkies

God Bless the Child Productions, LLC

Newark, NJ

F.       Culturally Responsive Teaching: Courageous Practices and Leadership

Target Audience: All

The workshop will focus on how teachers can construct culturally responsive instructional practices to connect with and meet the increasingly diverse needs of their students. In particular, teachers will be empowered to understand basic principles and tenets of culturally responsive teaching and develop lessons and related experiences that allow teachers to interpret their curriculum and transform it to address a range of cultural needs of students. While the thrust of the workshop will focus on teachers and teaching, the session will also focus on how leaders can transform their entire school to be culturally responsive. Areas of emphasis will include family/community involvement, building and sustaining relationships with students, culturally-centered teacher expectations, and curriculum and instructional transformation.

H. Richard Milner

Associate Professor of Education

Editor-in-Chief, Urban Education

Department of Teaching and Learning

Peabody College of Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN

G.        The African American Scholars’ Calculus Project

Target Audience: High School Educators and Administrators

The African American Scholars’ Calculus Project (AASCP) has successfully narrowed the achievement gap by increasing the number of African American students who enroll into honors and advanced level mathematics courses at Brookline High School.  The AASCP is unlike any initiative in public education to close the achievement gap because the curriculum can adapt to the needs of all school districts. 

Participants will 1) learn how to begin the process for developing a program to address the achievement gap that exists in mathematics in their respective districts;  2) learn methods for recruiting African American students to participate in a program aimed at closing the achievement gap in mathematics; and 3) learn strategies for galvanizing support and acquiring funding to support an initiative that addresses the achievement gap in mathematics. 

Dr. Adrian Mims

Dean of Students

Brookline Public Schools, Brookline, MA

H.        Cultural Proficiency: A METCO Director’s Perspective

Target Audience: All

This workshop will provide a historical framework of METCO while allowing educators to practice and examine their cultural proficiency skills.  We will discuss some of the challenges educators encounter on a daily basis, and the nuances faced in reaching a solution. This workshop will explore the value of cogent partnerships in educating students of color in a suburban environment.  Please be prepared to share while learning, as this workshop will be very interactive.

Mabel Reid-Wallace

Wayland METCO Director

Wayland Public Schools, Wayland, MA

David Fuller

Weston METCO Director

Weston Public Schools, Weston, MA

I.          Do More, Learn More, Act More

Target Audience: All

In today’s fast-paced world, it is imperative that one demonstrate an ability to quickly identify worthwhile opportunities consistent with ones goals, then, be able to capitalize on those opportunities in efficient and progressive ways.  This is not always easy in a world full of distractions, conflicting priorities and tight schedules. We are also burdened by cultures, attitudes, behaviors and social mores in conflict with our own.  For this reason, many of us remain static and unable to move forward in planned and meaningful ways.  It is critical for today’s professional and citizen that s/he understands the role cultural proficiency plays on personal success and individual growth.

Mr. Thomas takes a proactive approach by providing tools you can use to become personally effective through cultural proficiency.  This workshop stresses true individual transformation so that personal effectiveness and cultural proficiency become a natural part of one’s growth and development.  How to stay motivated and energized is also a topic which will be central to this discussion, along with the developing the most effective time management strategies.  Participant will leave with a greater sense of cultural proficiency, self-understanding and purpose, and be ready to make the most effective use of it in today’s ever-changing society.

Kevin Wayne Thomas

Author, Consultant

The Big Motivator

Boston, MA