Why Black Lives Truly Matter
Transcript of Why Black Lives Truly Matter
Why Black Lives Truly MatterHow To Leverage Conversations with Youth on Race, Equity, and Black Lives Matter: Leveraging your position of power to have difficult conversations with youth on today's racial climate.
Objective 1 – Understanding what the BLM movement is all about
Objective 2 – Understanding where you stand on implicit bias
Objective 3 - Introduction to “RACE TRAUMA” and its weight carried by youth
Objectives – Session 1 Recap:
Objective 1 – Travel Up and Down BLOOM”S, but Hang –out In The Penthouse (Top Level of Chart)
Objective 2 – Build a Continued Awareness of Impact and Deficit Thinking
Objective 3 - Move Beyond the BLM Organization
Objectives – Session 2Recap:
Objective 1 – Travel Up And Down BLOOMS
Objective 2 – Leave Today With A Plan In Mind – APPLY And CREATE (BLOOMS)
Objective 3 – Build A Continued Awareness Of Impact and Deficit Thinking
Objective 4 - Show That Your Past Is Relevant To Your Future
Objectives – Session 3
Housekeeping• Be present• Trust the process• Personal stories shared in this
space stay in this space unless you have explicit permission from the owner to share
• Judgement free zone• Face your fears and embrace your
hopes
• ACT (*Actions Create Transformation) so that you create better habits by acting
*CWB
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In our first session you learned about who I am TODAY. However, I didn’t just arrive here. Life has been a process. While I am living my dreams now, a decade ago I was simply dreaming……….
HARLEMWhat happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore—
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over—
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
Langston Hughes
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Who am I (A Decade Earlier 2010-2020):
I am Cyndi Weekes Bradley. I am a woman simply trying to find her place in the workplace and balance that with family and all the things I loved. I was committed to finding myself in a way that mattered to me. I began wearing my mask, as Oprah would say. It's the airplane oxygen-mask theory: If you don't put on your mask first, you won't be able to save anyone else.” ― Oprah Winfrey
com·mit·ment (kəˈmitmənt)noun1.the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc."the company's commitment to quality"
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Who am I (Two Decades Earlier 2000-2010):
I am Cyndi Weekes. A young unmarried mom trying to find myself. A two-time college drop out. A hair school graduate. Still getting my Earned Income Tax Benefit. Dean’s list at RCC. ECE Certified Teacher and Director Qualified. Full scholarship to UMB (Dean’s List here too). ESOL and ABE Teacher. Lost full ride to UMB and had to pay. My children came before me. Never wore my mask (airplane and Oprah metaphor). First time homeowner. Simmons University (College) graduate with my master’s degree. First job in a public-school teaching 6th – 8th grade ELA, 3rd
grade teacher, school-based manager, Dean and so much more. These uniquely lived experiences has brought us together today.
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An Oxymoron between:Who I said I would never beWhom everyone I loved thought I should beWho I needed to beSomeone who broke cycles of generational dysfunction
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Eye of the Storm - Brown Eyes and Blue Eyes Racism Experiment Children Session - Jane Elliott
Jane Elliott is a lecturer and diversity trainer who developed
the famous Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes exercise
Deficit Thinking Mindsets Have An Impact? 1970 or 2020
Jane's Why
Growth or No Growth - What's Next• First answer questions on the “Typical
Statements”• Review “Clarification To The Typical
Statements” – What Does Your Answers Imply
• STOP – Ask yourself “How much has really changed”?
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Commitment To Combat RacismThis is our third session. What have you done to make changes? What are your commitments? What is different within you?
Commitment - Assess Yourself 13
JOURNALBREAK
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It’s not enough to just want to do better or be better. Our students deserve the BEST! Let’s commit to giving them more!!
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Dear Team,
Many Americans are currently dealing with their own health concerns or that of their families and friends due to COVID 19. Many Americans are dealing with the aftermath and recovery of COVID 19. They are still picking up the pieces. Many Americans are filled with anxiety over the second wave expected with COVID 19. We are people living and experiencing life in America during this crisis.
Please know that the next few slides may be a painful reminder to some or all of us. The pandemic has changed our lives! However, we must center ourselves and address the pandemic in the context of Black Lives Matter, especially regarding the Black and Brown people in our camps.
Thank you for trusting me in this process. Step away as needed. Cry as needed. Breathe as need. Your emotional self-care matters.
XoXoXo, Cyndi
Vocabulary as a Framework
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Can You Identify The Similarities and Differences?
Pandemic Flu Virus 1918 Flu (Spanish Flu)COVID 19
1918
2020
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Black America and Pandemics :THINK PANDEMIC
Let's Talk The Spanish Flu - Complex and Long Read
Let's Talk The Spanish Flu - Easier and Shorter Read
Vs.
Let's Talk COVID 19 - Complex and Long Read
Let's Talk COVID 19 - Easier and Shorter ReadActual Poll Information Can Be Found Here
In Your PLC’s - Small Groups• Choose a facilitator to ensure smooth operations of this
process (That’s YOU for main group)
• Facilitator ask for teammates to play a role (timekeeper, note catcher and someone to move the group when off
task)
• Facilitator play video
• Break into smaller groups to discuss (10 mins)
• Repeat steps 1 & 2 in smaller groups
• Note catcher record big ideas
• Return to main space & share out & assess – thumbs up and thumbs down (7 mins)
• Independent Journal (3 mins)
• Create next steps (5 mins)
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Our Own Students at Work
A Facilitator's Guide
Objective 1 – Travel Up And Down BLOOM”S
Objective 2 – Leave Today With A Plan In Mind – APPLY And CREATE (BLOOMS)
Objective 3 – Build A Continued Awareness Of Impact and Deficit Thinking
Objective 4 - Show That Your Past Is Relevant To Your Future
Objectives – Session 3
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The Lens Of The Black Voter's - Town Hall (Not about the vote alone....Find the themes of BLM)
Black Voices - Our Black Lives Matter
Netflix Recommendations: Take your Pill Documentary Trial 4 My Next Guest
Lizzo – Think how can I ensure that a diverse pool of students are in band and learning to play instruments? How can I encourage our music department to have music and plays that reflect the diversity of our school.
Kanye – Think about the impact of trauma of mental health and its impact on families? Sprained Brain?
Obama - Don’t think politics. Listen to the voice beyond his presidency.
Melinda – Think, what if we applied her theories and strategies to race and not only poverty?
Jay Z - Think future potential. Think of family impact. Think of your response to the younger Jigga vs. the man he has become.
Whole Group Q & A
Congratulations on completing Day-3BUILDING AN ALLYSHIP WITH YOUTH 11/20/2020CYNDI WEEKES BRADLEY
Contact informationLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cyndi-weekes-bradley-205a10118/Email: [email protected]