THIS POST IS NO LONGER BEING UPDATED. Please visit our new Equity Community Workshop webpage to see all upcoming community meetings and access video recordings.
Burlington School District’s (BSD) Office of Equity is excited to sponsor a series of free, participatory Equity Workshops open to the greater BSD community. Based on the success of last year’s Equity Webinar series, this year’s workshops are intended to be an interactive learning experience that makes space for authentic engagement with small-group breakout sessions.
The workshops are free to attend and open to any community members interested in learning more and becoming more invested in equity. The first of the series, “Let’s Talk About Restorative Practices” will take place Thursday, October 21st from 6-7 pm via Google Meet: http://meet.google.com/ybe-zoyj-ghs
“It’s so gratifying to see our school community lean into deep learning on equity issues together,” said Superintendent Flanagan. “These sessions are designed to help us all grow personally and learn from one another, taking the next step toward more equitable schools and a more equitable city.”
“The goals of this workshop series are to highlight inequities and disparities in our district, to provide educational opportunities for attendees, and to create public forums for open dialogue as community problem solvers,” said Autumn Bangoura, Equity Instructional Leader at the Burlington School District. “They are intended to be impactful and have you come away from a session feeling like you not only learned something but also have genuine hope for positive change at BSD.”
By inviting the broader community to this series of Equity webinars, the Office of Equity hopes to highlight the importance of community members as school partners and provide opportunities for adults and students to have critical conversations around topics such as identity, race, gender identity, ableism, and more.
All webinars will be offered via Google Meet and will be recorded and shared on the District’s YouTube page. See the full list below and be sure to join us on October 21st for “Let’s Talk About Restorative Practices.”
BSD Equity Community Workshops
Let’s Talk about Restorative Practices
Thursday, October 21, 2021 6:00-7:00 pm
What is happening with implementation of Restorative Practices (RP) in BSD? How do students and staff engage in circles throughout their school experiences? How does RP serve as a tool for equity? Participate in a virtual Restorative Circle facilitated by BSD students. Facilitated by BSD’s RP Coordinator Mika Moore and BSD student facilitators. Join on Google Meet
Let’s Talk about Anti-Racism
Wednesday, November 17, 2021 6:00-7:30 pm
How are students and teachers learning about race and racism in BSD? What does examining systemic racism look like in K-12 schooling? What is Critical Race Theory and why is there so much controversy surrounding it? Facilitated by Dr. Eliaquin Gonell and the Office of Equity. Join on Google Meet
Let’s Talk about Student and Family Rights
Wednesday, January 19, 2022 6:00-7:30 pm
What rights do students and families have? What are the protected identity categories under Harassment? What responsibilities do schools have to respond to bullying incidents? What can you do if you or your child is being bullied? How do schools hold people accountable? Facilitated by BSD’s Director of Equity, Sparks, and BSD’s HHB Coordinator Jay Lawson.
Let’s Talk about Gender Identity and Expression
Tuesday, February 8, 2022 6:00-7:00 pm
What is the gender spectrum and how can we support transgender and non-binary youth in our schools and our community? What is the difference between Gender Identity and Gender Expression? Come join in an open discussion facilitated by BSD staff and students. Join on Google Meet
Let’s Talk about Whiteness
Tuesday, March 8, 2022 6:00-7:00 pm
Why is it important to discuss “whiteness” in anti-racism work? What is white privilege, white fragility, and white supremacy organizational culture, and how do these show up in schools? Why is it important for white people to do the work to dismantle these systems and eradicate racism? Facilitated by BSD’s Equity Instructional Leader Autumn Bangoura, and BSD’s Youth and Family Restorative Liaison Virginia Litchfield. Join on Google Meet
Let’s Talk about Disability Advocacy
Tuesday, April 12, 2022 6:00-7:00 pm
What is an IEP and a 504 plan and how do these protect students? Why is it important to focus on disability rights in schools? What are the struggles that people with disabilities have gone through in history and still persist today? Facilitated by BSD student alumni and the Office of Equity. Join on Google Meet
