Border Crossers
Program Report Fall 2012
Bringing classrooms together for social change.
Border Crossers Mission & Vision Border Crossers is an education equity nonprofit that utilizes creative tools to encourage educators in explorations of race, class and cultural differences with young students. We believe that if educators are prepared to have meaningful conversations about diversity, students will be better equipped to interrupt patterns of racism and injustice in their own lives and thrive in a multicultural society.
Staff Jaime-Jin Lewis, Executive Director J’nelle Chelune, Program Director Lizzy Mirisola, Program and Communications Intern Vivienne Peng, Development and Operations Intern
Board of Directors Nadia Gomes, Chair Sachi Feris Elizabeth Horton, Finance Committee Chair Natania Kremer Megan McDonell, Communications Committee Chair Rachelle Oribio, Fundraising Committee Chair Christopher Persley David Rosas Alexis Rubin JoAnn Schneider Lori Taliaferro, Program Committee Chair
National Advisory Board Jane Bolgatz, Ph.D. Amy Ellenbogen Kevin Feinberg Sherick Hughes, Ph.D. Lisa Kadin, J.D. Pedro Noguera, Ph.D. Seth Freed Wessler Border Crossers 32 Broadway, Suite 1801 New York, NY 10004 (646) 688-4470 www.bordercrossers.org ——— Border Crossers Fall 2012 Program Report
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Border Crossers | FALL 2012
A NOTE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dear friend, It’s hard to believe that our “Talking About Race With K-5” initiative is already in its second year! On October 29, 2011, fifteen educators gathered for our first workshop at Teachers College. Fourteen months later, we have already trained 275 Teacher Leaders, developed customized professional development sequences for four schools, presented at three national conferences and partnered with dozens of activist and community organizing groups to take on institutional change. We have seen the conversation on race and equity in schools begin to shift, teachers organize and support each other in creating change in their schools and, ultimately, the positive impact this has on students. We are honored to be a part of that real change. This report summarizes Border Crossers’ accomplishments during Fall 2012. Please read, share and join us in our movement to shape a better, more equitable education system.
Sincerely,
Jaime-Jin Lewis Executive Director
——— Border Crossers Fall 2012 Program Report
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I. Workshops This semester alone, the Border Crossers team has trained over 150 teacher leaders through our innovative workshops. Each session is designed to equip teachers with the tools and practice needed to effectively talk about issues of race with young students.
BORDER CROSSERS APPROACH Foundations What words do we use when we talk about race? How do we recognize individual, institutional and cultural racism? How do children come to understand race? Application When do you talk about race in the classroom? What do Teachable Race Moments look like? Practice What does an appropriate response to a child’s question about race look like? How do we affirm children’s lived experiences? How do we use our words to interrupt patterns of structural inequity?
Two Citywide Workshops August and October 2012
43 46% 76%
Teacher Leaders trained increase in preparedness to turn racial incidents in their classrooms into Teachable Race Moments. of participants gained concrete “to-do” strategies for their classrooms. What participants are saying… “I wanted to gain some tools for having conversations about teachable race moments. I definitely feel like I have a tool kit now and teachers who I can count on as allies.”
“I pledge to incorporate discussions of race into my curriculum, and address the tough questions/situations whenever they arise.”
——— Border Crossers Fall 2012 Program Report
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Three Schools Border Crossers provided customized trainings on race and identity to the staff and faculty of three school communities.
3 117 73%
Schools Teacher Leaders trained of participants noted gained knowledge and understanding of race had been broadened by the concepts they had learned
What participants are saying… “I thought I was very open and progressive on the issue of race – I have much growth ahead of me.” “I will be prepared, open and supportive in all talks of race in my classroom. I will foster an honest, open and respectful community!” “I am going to lean into my own discomfort and support open dialogue about race in my classroom.”
II. Conferences & Conventions Advancing the Legacy of Mendez and Brown: A National Conference on School Diversity Panel: “Promoting Cross-Racial Contact and Awareness Outside of School” National Coalition on School Diversity May 17, 2012 | Washington D.C. 20 attendees People’s Education Convention Workshop: “Talking About Race With K-5; Bridging Theory and Practice” Save our Schools (SOS) August 3-5, 2012 | Washington D.C. 25 participants Facing Race 2012 Workshop: “How to Talk About Race in the Classroom” The Applied Research Center November 15-17, 2012 | Baltimore, MD 62 participants ——— Border Crossers Fall 2012 Program Report
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III. Border Crossers in New York City Epic Theatre Ensemble “Dispatches from (A)mended America” Moderator, post show forum October 16 and November 7 The show documents the experiences of two Epic Artists – one black and one white – as they travel around the southern United States in the wake of President Obama’s election, conducting interviews and attempting to address the “race question” in the United States. The forum discussed important takeaways from the show, and then applied these ideas to starting conversations about race with young people.
Queens College October 23 Border Crossers provided a workshop for Queens College Educational Leadership Program’s “Human Relations” class for post-graduate educators working towards becoming school administrators. This workshop explored how diversity education can be implemented at an administrative level.
Border Crossers Learning Circle Monthly Border Crosser's monthly Learning Circle is for educators, parents, thinkers and allies who want to dig deeper into the issues inherent to guiding young children in crossing borders. The Learning Circle is an integral part of Border Crossers. As a dynamic, ambitious, constantly changing organization, it is enormously constructive for us to read relevant research, try out new activities, and discuss current events with a group of committed educators. This is how we stay reflective and guided in our work as an organization and in our work as individuals.
——— Border Crossers Fall 2012 Program Report
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Support Border Crossers Give a gift Each donation enables us to continue to provide workshops and trainings at a low cost and organize within school communities to create institutional equity. Please consider making a gift to ensure that Border Crossers can continue to do this work for the years ahead. To make a donation, visit www.bordercrossers.org/donate Or mail a check to: Border Crossers 32 Broadway, Suite 1801 New York, NY 10004 Volunteer Border Crossers is always seeking people experienced in grant writing, event planning, fundraising, communications, web design and program design to donate their time and expertise to our work. Email volunteer@bordercrossers.org to get more information.
——— Border Crossers Fall 2012 Program Report
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——— Border Crossers Fall 2012 Program Report
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