This is the fourth Transforming Education for Social Justice conference for PK-12 educators, pre-service teachers, school and district leaders, students and community members in Massachusetts to gather and see what we can all figure out together about creating more equitable classrooms, schools, and communities. Youth are central to our conference and shape the experience in various ways including through presentations, planning, and creating the vibes.
Since our first conference in 2017, our regional networks of dedicated social justice educators and youth leaders have deepened and expanded across western Mass., and beyond. This year's conference will focus on Bridging and Belonging without Othering: Youth Civic Engagement. Ongoing tensions at the national and global levels have been accompanied by an increase in anxiety among young people. Locally, we believe it's imperative to create a space for school community members to learn from, challenge, and support one another to navigate polarization and fragmentation in our communities. Anxiety is a normal biological response to being overwhelmed by the accelerated change we are experiencing related to climate, technology, globalization, demographic change, ethnonationalism, pandemic, war, and more. Those anxieties can deepen polarization, which shows up in our communities and schools. During this conference, we frame and explore tensions across social differences and ideologies that are present in our schools as we seek to find ways for all students and staff to feel a sense of true belonging. We focus on ways to find shared values, create connections through stories, and bridge across differences in order to make generative and lasting change.
Conference sessions will cover a variety of social justice and equity topics as they relate to K-12 schools. Join us for:
- A powerful keynote session and closing session
- Two opportunities (morning and afternoon) to choose workshop sessions focused on topics and initiatives for social justice and equity in education
- Opportunities for powerful networking and connections with local educators and administrators as you share curriculum, lunch and facilitated conversation
- Time to laugh and play with old and new friends
- Youth-led sessions that provide opportunities to learn from young people and support the development of student leadership
The keynote speaker for the conference will be Tiffany Jewell, author of This Book is Anti-Racist.
Conference tracks include Early Childhood, Elementary, Secondary, Youth-Led, School and District Leaders.
Do you want to contribute to the Transforming Education Conference?
Support our students to attend for free. If you are able, please make a donation so we can keep this event free for students and low-cost for you! $35 will cover the cost of attending for a student; but no donation is too small and we're grateful for whatever you may be able to give. All donations are tax-deductible.
Volunteer to help. We are actively seeking volunteers for the conference; please email Safire DeJong at sdejong@collaborative.org.
Transportation: We are working on coordinating possible transportation from Springfield to the conference in Easthampton. If this would be of interest to you, please be sure to fill out the survey that will be mailed in your confirmation once you've registered.