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(Past Event) Creating Culturally Affirming Spaces: A Systems Orientation

REL Webinars

Date: October 27, 2021
Time: 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. (PT) /1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. (ET)

Join REL West for the second webinar in a two-part series designed to expand knowledge on how culturally responsive strategies can be used to support academic and social and emotional development and to present systemic leadership approaches and strategies for implementing culturally affirming environments.

Learn about what culturally affirming schools and school systems look and feel like and how to create evidence-based, systemic, sustainable changes that center and respect the identities of culturally, linguistically, and racially diverse students. Researchers and practitioners with real-world knowledge will share their expertise and insights. Read more about the panelists and presenters below.

What You Will Learn

In this webinar, district and site leaders will:

  • Deepen understanding of culturally affirming school and classroom cultures and climates and how they shape student and staff outcomes
  • Explore systemic approaches for embedding culturally affirming spaces and practices at the school and district level
  • Learn about promising leadership practices and adult behaviors that foster culturally affirmative schooling experiences from practitioners in the field

Webinar Panelists

Dr. Ayana Allen-Handy is an Associate Professor of Urban Education and the Founding Director of the Justice-oriented Youth (JoY) Education Lab at Drexel University’s School of Education. A native Philadelphian and former elementary school teacher and high school counselor, Dr. Allen-Handy’s 20-year career has been dedicated to education, social, and racial justice.

Dr. Ayanna Cooper is an author, educational consultant, and advocate for culturally and linguistically diverse learners. She has held positions as an English as a Second Language teacher, ELL Instructional Coach, Urban Education Teacher Supervisor, ELL/Title III Director and ELL/Bilingual Program Specialist.

Jabari Lyles is an educator, community organizer, servant leader, and consultant with over 15 years of experience leading initiatives that emphasize his passion for people, education, and justice. He is the former Senior Advisor and Director of LGBTQ Affairs for the Office of the Mayor in Baltimore City, where he supported the needs and interests of the LGBTQ community.

Dr. Rosa Perez-Isiah is the Director of Elementary, Equity, and Access in Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District. She founded the #WeLeadEd Twitter chat and the WeleadED BAMradio podcast focused on Ed Leadership and Social Justice. She is a co-author of books on the whole child, equity, leadership, and the power of relationships.

Reed Swier is the Associate Director of Training and Development at The Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools, an NYU Steinhardt department. A former teacher and administrator, he is focused on building the capacity of educational institutions to understand the systems of inequality that disproportionately impact students.

Webinar Presenters

  • Erin Browder, Senior Program Associate, REL West
  • David Lopez, Senior Technical Assistance Specialist, WestEd
  • Rawlin Rosario, Program Associate II, WestEd
  • Lori Van Houten, Senior Program Associate, REL West