Creating Grassroots Education Forum

"The Creating Grassroots Education Forum creates a space for Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) students, who want to become teachers, to engage with professional educators who practice a social justice philosophy in their everyday job," Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership and Development Gabriel Alejandro Cortez, Ph.D. said. 

On March 10, members of school and social justice organizations such as Social Justice High School, Village Leadership Academy, Instituto Health Science Career Academy, Uplift High School, Education for Liberation and Project Nia took part in the "Creating Grassroots Education: A Collaborative Forum" for students, featuring speakers, discussions, workshops and a movie. A live DJ and a spoken-word group poetry performance by youth members of Kuumba Lynx, recent recipients of the 2012 Chuck D Lyrical Terrorist Award, provided a source of entertainment and showcased how creative outlets can be used to express notions concerning social justice and societal oppression. Kuumba Lynx, "an arts and education organization dedicated to presenting, preserving, and promoting urban arts and education as a tool for empowerment and justice," according to their literature, was one of a number of social organizations present to promote the implementation of social justice pedagogy within school curriculum.

Breakout sessions featured informational workshops for future and current educators and administrators. Separate workshops dealing with elementary, middle and high-school levels provided attendants with materials and ideas to utilize in the classroom.  Participants of the Social Justice High School workshop were asked to create and share a curriculum that incorporated social justice issues. Another workshop, attended by NEIU Math and Secondary Education student Robert Liesecki, involved the setup of a garden on school grounds. "Students were excited for the garden and the teacher set up math work for them to calculate perimeter and area," Liesecki said. Lisiecki pointed out the importance of empowering students in order to motivate and accelerate their inherent desire to learn. "This kind of engaged teaching allows the students to know that they matter, and it builds confidence." Other workshops focused on school counseling and developing thematic curricula.

"I think what stood out the most was all these speakers that came to us. It showed that curriculum is a big issue, and we must face it together," says Lisiecki. Two discussions took place permitting forum attendants to engage in conversation, first with educators and youth-workers involved in social justice implementation in the classroom and another discussion with administrators and counselors from different schools throughout the city answering questions regarding academic standards in relation to the incorporation of social justice curriculum. The latter discussion was suggested after last year's forum left some participants with unanswered questions pertaining to administrative duties and acceptance of these ideas in their respective institutions.

"Do you have the courage, sensitivity and energy?" District Administrator of the Laraway School District Douglas Gordon Hesbol asked, in response to a question pertaining to how to stay motivated in a school system that seems to limit the potential for teachers to educate their students on social oppression and unfair treatment towards different social groups, social classes, minorities, the LBGTQ community, etc. Hesbol posed hypothetical questions for the audience to ponder, relating to circumstances that one might encounter in the school system. For example, Hesbol asked what one would do if they found out that a student was homeless or if a school showed a dramatic 50% increase in minorities. These types of questions, Hesbol suggested, are questions that future educators and administrators may encounter as part of their respective schools.

Citing the drastic downturn of the economy, Dr. Cortez said, "it is crucial for teachers to engage in the personal development of their students and become aware of how students can learn to and participate in improving social services and advocate for improved conditions in their local communities."

This is the second forum conducted at NEIU. The previous year attracted about a quarter of the number of participants.The dramatic increase of attendants demonstrates an evident growth of interest in embedding social justice issues within the classroom and school environment. More than 13 organizations assisted in co-sponsoring the event.

For those interested in purchasing books, obtaining suggestions for curriculum and contacting other like-minded educators, administrators and organizers, here are some websites and contacts that can help:

www.streetlevel.org

www.rethinkingschools.org

www.project-nia.org

www.teachersforjustice.org

chicagotaskforce@gmail.com

www.kuumbalinx.org