Black Thriving Institute 2023

Facilitator: Dr. Sabrina "Bri" Moore, 3Ls: Literacy, Leadership & Liberation

Audience: Emerging Teachers

From this dynamic workshop, educators will walk away with an understanding of academically prepared, actionable strategies for Black student agency and authentic literacy conferring for Black students and families.

Facilitator: Marya Wright, Wright Community Services

Audience: All Teachers, Staff, Students, Caregivers

Grounded in the concept of Black Thriving and its importance in promoting educational equity and social justice, come explore your creative expression and artistic skills through the design of artwork that represents what Black Thriving means. Deepen your critical thinking skills by reflecting on the historical and systemic barriers that have impacted Black students' educational experiences and exploring strategies for promoting Black Thriving in K-12 education. Enhance your awareness of the diversity and richness of Black experiences and perspectives by sharing and discussing the artwork with other participants. Strengthen your sense of community and connection with other participants who share a common interest in promoting Black Thriving in PreK-12 education.

Facilitator: The Teaching Well

Audience: Emerging Teachers & Staff

Through Racial Affinity groups, participants will co-create a safe space to share perspectives and process experiences. The goal is to create a healing container so as to create the personal and interpersonal transformation required to create the conditions for Black Youth and Families to Thrive in OUSD. This session is for Black/African-identifying folks and is one of four racial Affinity groups that will be offered in this Institute.

Facilitators: ShakaJamal, Namaste Ready

Audience: Emerging Teachers, Staff, Students, Caregivers

Gain applied knowledge and understanding on how mindfulness and yoga can help improve mental and physical health inside and outside of the classroom, especially for Black youth.

Facilitators: Tyson Amir, Freedom Soul Media Education Initiatives

Audience: Developing Teachers, Staff, Students, Caregivers

Through reflective conversations, build your understanding of personal responsibilities in your role, explore systems and culture changes that assist disrupting anti-Blackness, and build community that facilitates disrupting anti-Blackness.

Facilitator: Matin Abdel-Qawi, Kingmakers of Oakland

Audience: Practicing Teachers, Staff, Students, Caregivers

In this Master Class, participants will: 1) discuss ways in which anti-Blackness is inherent within school structures; 2) reflect on their roles in mitigating anti-Blackness; 3) share data around disciplinary practices that reflect anti-Blackness; 4) receive a call to action.

Facilitator: Lindsey Fuller, Teaching Well

Audience: Developing Teachers, Staff, Students, Caregivers

Join us to express and metabolize rage because, hey, RAGE IS HEALTHY and an important part of healing! Through writing and somatic exercises, we'll explore and metabolize together!

Facilitator: The Teaching Well

Audience: Emerging Teachers & Staff

Through Racial Affinity groups, participants will co-create a safe space to share perspectives and process experiences. The goal is to create a healing container so as to create the personal and interpersonal transformation required to create the conditions for Black Youth and Families to Thrive in OUSD. This session is for Latinx-identifying folks and is one of four racial affinity groups that will be offered in this Institute.

Facilitator: Sergio Arroyo, 4Vida & CURYJ

Audience: Emerging Teachers & Staff

Through this engaging session, participants will gain an understanding of the continued legacy of solidarity & resistance between Black and Brown communities. What is the historical impact of colonialism on the Raza (Latinx) community and what impact does it have today? Explore meaningful strategies for engaging students in conversations about race and resistance in the classroom in order to create the conditions for our young people to thrive.

Facilitator: Tina Bathsheba Harambe, Innerworks Collective & Montera MIddle School

Audience: Developing Teachers, Staff, Students, Caregivers

Explore and experience Restorative Circles for heartfelt conversations and community building in the classroom. Learn authentic strategies to celebrate culture, connection and belonging in our Oakland school communities.

Facilitator: Schmian Evans, OUSD Community Schools & Student Services, LGBTQ Programming Specialist

Audience: Emerging Teachers, Staff, Caregivers

Black LGBTQ youth are among some of the most marginalized in our community, though they make up the largest portion of all LGBTQ-identified students across OUSD (alongside Latinx students). Join this interactive session to learn best practices for increasing safe and supportive environments for Black queer students/youth at your sites and in your families.

Facilitator: The Teaching Well

Audience: Developing Teachers, Staff, Students & Caregivers

Participants will learn how to Stay Grounded: How do we use trauma-sensitive and somatic tools in racially charged interactions? Come explore resiliency strategies for racial healing.

Facilitator: The Teaching Well

Audience: Emerging Teachers & Staff

Through Racial Affinity groups, participants will co-create a safe space to share perspectives and process experiences. The goal is to create a healing container so as to create the personal and interpersonal transformation required to create the conditions for Black Youth and Families to Thrive in OUSD. This session is for Asian, Pacific Islander, Southwest Asian and North African-identifying folks and is one of four racial affinity groups that will be offered in this Institute.

Facilitator: Jarrett Austin Thomas, OUSD Recruitment & Retention, Diversity & Inclusion

Audience: Emerging Teachers & Staff

Deepen understanding of the history and context of Black educators. How did we end up in the situation we are in with Black educators underrepresented compared to students being served? And, why does it matter? Learn about the experience of staff in the district. Engage peer-to-peer to discuss and identify personal and school-wide strategies for creating a school culture for Black staff to thrive.

Facilitator: Marya Wright, Wright Community Services

Audience: Developing Teachers, Staff, Students & Caregivers

What is racial bias and how does it manifest in school systems? What impact does racial bias have on students' academic achievement and well-being? Come identify strategies for addressing racial bias in school systems to create an inclusive and equitable learning environment. Together we can develop a plan for addressing racial bias and advancing racial equity in schools.

Facilitators: Dr Lee Porcsha Moore, Flourish Agenda

Audience: Emerging Teachers & Staff

Through the Healing Centered Engagement Framework, participants will learn an approach to activate the power of culture; co-create tools to lean into aspirational possibilities; and connect with others who also love Oakland.

Facilitators: Falilah Aisha Bilal, Black Organizing Project

Audience: Developing Teachers, Staff, Students & Caregivers

What is all this about the George Floyd Resolution (GFR) and what does it mean for my school site? Come understand the GFR and understand how the Black Organizing Project is creating Black Sanctuary spaces within OUSD. How can YOU help Build support and Power for Black students and Black families to Thrive in OUSD?

Facilitator: Iminah Laura Ahmad, OUSD African American Female Excellence

Audience: Emerging Teachers, Staff, Students & Caregivers

Be empowered to better support Black Female scholars through culturally responsive, self-esteem and SEL enhanced teaching practices. Participants will gain insight to further foster an anti-racist, growth-mindset lens in their teaching practice.

Facilitators: Cintya Molina of OUSD Office of Equity & Disability Justice Learning & Action Group

Audience: Developing Teachers, Staff & Caregivers

Understand the Disability Justice Platform adopted by the OUSD Community Advisory for Special Education and discuss how it can advance OUSD's support of Black and differently-abled students.

Facilitator: The Teaching Well

Audience: Emerging Teachers & Staff

Through Racial Affinity groups, participants will co-create a safe space to share perspectives and process experiences. The goal is to create a healing container so as to create the personal and interpersonal transformation required to create the conditions for Black Youth and Families to Thrive in OUSD. This session is for white-identifying allies and is one of four racial affinity groups that will be offered in this Institute.