webinar

Culturally-Affirming SEL

Radically Reimagining Education with Communities for Just Schools Fund

Join leaders of youth, parent and teacher-led organizing efforts to discuss culturally-affirming SEL as described in an upcoming report from Communities for Just Schools Fund (CJSF). What does it mean to radically reimagine what education can be?

Past Event

DATE

October 28, 2020

TIME

2-3p ET / 11a-noon PT

LOCATION

Virtual

Join leaders of youth, parent and teacher-led organizing efforts to discuss culturally-affirming SEL as described in a report from Communities for Just Schools Fund (CJSF).

What does it mean to radically reimagine what education can be? It means following the organizers who are honoring young people’s unique cultures, languages and legacies, celebrating the humanity in each other, and fighting for a world rooted in equity and justice.

Using CJSF’s report as a touchpoint, we will talk with organizers who are designing and implementing culturally-affirming SEL in their communities. We will elevate the report’s key findings and identify specific actions funders can take to advance policy, practice and research in support of culturally-affirming SEL.

Webinar Recording

Speakers

Jenny Arwade

Co-Executive Director, Communities United/Voices of Youth in Chicago Education (VOYCE)

Jenny Arwade brings 20 years of experience to her role in advancing transformative youth leadership development and civic engagement efforts. Jenny has supported young people in creating the nation’s most comprehensive statewide school discipline reform in Illinois, advancing solutions to preserve long-term affordable rental housing, and advancing health equity. Jenny is a graduate of Princeton University and serves as Field Advisor to Funders for Justice.

Raul Botello

Co-Executive Director, Communities United/Voices of Youth in Chicago Education (VOYCE)

Raul has developed and evolved the organization’s approach to healing-centered and trauma-informed youth development that has been recognized with a Hope & Courage Award from the Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago for “exceptional commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of children and youth” and an inaugural Obama Foundation/Chicago Public Schools Civic Recognition award. Raul is an immigrant from Guanajuato, Mexico, and brings 20 years of youth organizing experience to his role.

Maria Degillo

Youth Director, Communities United/Voices of Youth in Chicago Education (VOYCE)

Maria became Youth Director in 2016, having begun 10+ years ago as a volunteer youth leader after she was pushed out of school. A survivor of violence stemming from the home, Maria was a founding youth leader of VOYCE, organizing to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline. Maria draws on her lived experiences in her work to create safe spaces in which young people of color can design solutions addressing the problems they face, share their lived experiences, and build collective power and a culture of support and love. In 2018, Maria was recognized by the Bright Promises Foundation for her work.

Amanda Gallegos

Field Organizer, Youth Rights, SouthWest Organizing Project

Amanda was born and raised in the North valley of Albuquerque, New Mexico. She was lucky to grow up deeply ingrained in her Chicano/ Mexican roots, farming on her grandparents’ land. Amanda got involved in SWOP in 2010 when her mother, Trish, was doing a college internship at SWOP. Since then she has spent many years organizing with SWOP, contributing to campaigns including food justice, the Student Bill of Rights and youth employment. Amanda also plays a key role on the SWOP fundraising team and is working on her Bachelors in Chicana/o Studies.

Moderators

Jamie Koppel

Co-Director, Communities for Just Schools Fund

Jaime T. Koppel is Director of the Communities for Just Schools Fund (CJSF), a national donor collaborative that brings together the resources of philanthropy with the power of grassroots organizing to ensure that all schools welcome students and nurture their full potential. A self-identified policy wonk, Jaime is also a steadfast believer in the fundamental importance of centering organizers’ expertise as we journey towards justice and the schools children deserve.

Cierra Kaler-Jones

Education Anew Fellow, CJSF & Teaching for Change

In addition to her work as an Education Anew Fellow at CJSF and Teacher for Change, Cierra Kaler-Jones is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Teaching and Learning, Policy, and Leadership at the University of Maryland, College Park. Her work explores how Black girls use arts-based practices as mechanisms for identity development and resistance.

Presented by

Grantmakers for Thriving Youth

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