February 15 / 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Educator's Anti-Racism Conference
Shifting the System from Within
In-person and online
York University, Toronto, ON
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Empowering educators to embed anti-racism practices in the classroom
Educators have a critical role to play in creating classroom communities that not only challenge racism, but also build a learning environment that is explicitly anti-racist.
To support K-12 educators, this one-day hybrid conference will build knowledge of anti-racist and decolonial theory in the education sector.
Conference participants will learn ways to practically apply data, evidence, and community insights to create anti-racist classroom spaces.
What to Expect
Learn the newest most relevant anti-racist best practices for your classroom
Deepen your understanding of the barriers Black, Indigenous, and racialized students face within the classroom space
Learn how to reduce barriers and create a space where all students can thrive
Engage in cross-cultural dialogue and foster solidarity with educators across Canada
Speakers
Dr. George Dei
A professor in the Social Justice Education department at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto, Dr. Dei is a professor, community leader and top Canadian scholar. He is a pioneer devoted to addressing decolonization, racism, indigeneity, and more.
Dr. Lindsay Morcom
An Associate Dean of Graduate Studies for the Faculty of Education at Queen’s University, as well as Canada Research Chair in Language Revitalization and Decolonizing Education. She is an interdisciplinary researcher with experience in education, Indigenous languages, language revitalization, linguistics, and reconciliation.
Dr. Alana Butler
An Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education at Queen’s University since 2017. Her research interests include the academic achievement of low-socio
economic students, race and schooling, equity and inclusion, and multicultural education. She is
currently Principal Investigator on a Insight Development Grant for a study on post-secondary access for low-income youth and co-investigator on a number of projects including on anti-oppressive, anti-racist pedagogy for secondary schools.
Agenda
February 15, 2023
Virtual, or in-person at
York University, Toronto, ON
All times listed in Eastern Standard Time (EST).
Participants will pre-select which workshops they would like to attend.
Keynote will be livestreamed to the virtual audience.
Workshops will be either in-person or virtual and will not be hybrid.
There will be one virtual stream for French and the keynote will have translated subtitles.
9:30 - 10:00
Registration and Networking
10:00 - 11:00
Opening Keynote + Q&A
11:00 - 11:15
Break
11:15 - 12:45
Workshops
12:45 - 1:45
Lunch and Networking
1:45 - 2:00
Large Group Activity
2:00 - 3:30
Workshops
3:30 - 3:45
Break
3:45 - 4:45
Reframing Anti-Racism for Contemporary Times Closing Keynote
4:45 - 5:00
Closing and Debrief Activity
Tickets
$70 + HST
$45 + HST
$50 + HST
$20 + HST
CONFERENCE SOLD OUT
The conference is now sold out, sign up for e-newsletter to get notice about next year's event.
Scholarships are available, please email info@harmony.ca to discuss options if cost is a barrier.
Educators can also consider reaching out to their union to get conference fees and travel costs covered.
In-Person Workshops
Overcoming Systemic Racial Barriers Through The Use of Three Levels
Unpacking and outlining systemic racial barriers through decolonial thinking on three levels (in the classroom, the school community and the global community) while developing a deeper understanding of the impact on students and the larger education system. In this workshop participants will share strategies to challenge systematic barriers through collaboration across all three levels. This session will highlight the importance of how these levels work harmoniously to move closer to meaningful systemic change. Some topics that will be discussed are: cross curricular planning, use of social media to reach out to families and the global community, building school wide community support, leading full staff capacity building initiatives.
Navi Manners, Meena Johal, Samar Ahmed, Tanesha Forbes-Bunsie, Khulood Agha Khan
Urban Language Revitalization: Thoughts and practices for teaching each other in urban spaces
This workshop will begin with a short presentation about Indigenous languages in urban contexts and how we can work together as an urban Indigenous community, in partnership with other organizations such as school boards, to ensure access to language. We will also critically examine the opportunities and challenges of language revitalization in this context. Finally, we will engage in a sample session of community-based language learning as an example of what the Kingston Indigenous Languages Nest (KILN) offers to local community members.
Dr. Lindsay Morcom, Assistant Professor from Queen's University
Beyond Representation: Exploring tools for countering marginalization and creating environments of belonging
In this workshop, we will work to move beyond assimilation, tokenism and performativity towards Justice and Equity for students, families, and staff of marginalized identities. Through case studies and interactive activities, participants will explore tools for assessing bias in curricular materials. Centering Muslim students, families, and staff as the sample marginalized demographic, participants will work through a comprehensive scanning tool that generates inquiry pathways for identifying next steps in creating environments that intentionally foster belonging. Participants will be able to take this tool with them, apply it to their own contexts, and adapt it to support students, families, and staff of other marginalized identities.
Rizwana Kaderdina, Sufia Khan-Hussaini, Anjum Naazneen
Policing Free Schools
Equity-driven, anti-oppressive, anti-racist, liberatory, life-affirming and healing educational spaces are not possible with policing and carcerality. At Policing-Free Schools, we know that police(ing)-in-school programs are only one of the multiple ways that policing and carcerality show up in educational spaces. Join, #PoliceFreeSchools Moving Towards #PolicingFreeSchools for deeper (un)learning in recognizing that the removal of police-in-school programs is part of a larger process and what that means for those who are looking to co-create anti-racist classroom communities and push for a systemic paradigm shift.
Andrea Vásquez Jiménez from Policing-Free Schools
Centering Anti-Racist and Anti-Colonial Pedagogy in Early Years Literacy
Learning how to read and write is a fundamental human right that all students deserve. In this workshop, attendees will learn how to embed anti-racist and anti-colonial pedagogy in early years literacy, in addition to learning more about the ways in which White supremacist logics continue to harm Black, Indigenous and Racialized children. Not only will participants learn about the importance of interrogating assessment and instructional strategies, they will also learn about the significance of hip hop pedagogy, counter narratives that affirm racial and ethnic identities, and land based literacies, that are particularly important for the academic and emotional development of Black, Indigenous and Racialized learners.
Hardeep Shergill, Early Reading Coach from the Toronto District School Board and OISE Ph.D. student
Virtual Workshops
Addressing Anti-Indigenous Racism Through Awareness and Empathy
This workshop will allow learners to understand how the racist policies of the Indian Act have given power to the historical systematic measures of reserves, residential schools, Indian day schools, Indian hospitals, and the 60's Scoop and how that in turn has contributed to the current systemic issues of the Millennium Scoop and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Learners will also make the connections between the racist policies of the Indian Act and the historical systematic measures and how they contribute to the current systemic issues we see in all parts of society where education, healthcare, child and family services, law enforcement, and the justice system are all unsafe places for Indigenous Peoples. Through awareness, understanding, and empathy we can create safer places in all parts of society through increased education amongst our educators and in our classrooms.
Warren Lewis from the Indigenous Training Collective
Addressing Anti-Asian Racism: Bridging the Gaps in Curriculum
Racism impacting Asians has been and continues to be invisible. While the pandemic surfaced current manifestations, the discrimination of anti-Asian racism has been felt by students, families and communities for over a century. This workshop will enable participants to gain a better understanding and to acknowledge the manifestations and impact of anti-Asian racism in our classrooms, schools and communities. Discussions of the myth of the model minority and the concept of forever foreigner will build educator capacity to address and combat anti-Asian racism. Members of the Asian Canadian Educators Network (ACENet) will share culturally relevant learning resources, lesson plans and case studies to foster an inclusive classroom.
Sandy Yep, Linda Kwan, Philip Qian from the Asian Canadian Educators Network
Cultivating Safer Spaces
The Safer Spaces workshop is designed to empower participants to become actively anti-racist and provide them with the tools and knowledge to better understand how to serve racialized students. Many beliefs and attitudes in society are reinforced at school; therefore, to have meaningful change, these difficult conversations must take place at school. From our research, educators and school administrators have indicated that there is a general lack of awareness and resources around how to create safe spaces for students. This lack of awareness and resources can lead to unconscious bias and microaggressions when interacting with racialized students. In this workshop, facilitators will cover anti-racism programming, culturally responsive teaching, and how to cultivate safer spaces within the classroom.
Ruth Nakalyowa, Venecia Williams from the Power of Discourse Consulting
A C.R.A.S.H. Course on Anti-oppression
This workshop will examine the oppressive forces of Classism, Racism, Ableism, Sexism and Heterosexism on humans. It will provide insight into how hegemony, colonialism and white supremacy impact Racialized and Indigenous communities. Concrete strategies to challenge oppression will be provided. Warren Lewis from the Indigenous Training Collective
Chris D'Souza
Principals as Equity Champions
School leaders must be able to see themselves engaging and leading equity work within their schools and system. In this session, participants will gain confidence and practical skills to engage in the work from multiple entry points in order to influence the culture and the pedagogical practices in their buildings.
Irfan Toor from the Ontario Principals Council
Centering Anti-Racist and Anti-Colonial Pedagogy in Early Years Literacy
Learning how to read and write is a fundamental human right that all students deserve. In this workshop, attendees will learn how to embed anti-racist and anti-colonial pedagogy in early years literacy, in addition to learning more about the ways in which White supremacist logics continue to harm Black, Indigenous and Racialized children. Not only will participants learn about the importance of interrogating assessment and instructional strategies, they will also learn about the significance of hip hop pedagogy, counter narratives that affirm racial and ethnic identities, and land based literacies, that are particularly important for the academic and emotional development of Black, Indigenous and Racialized learners.
Hardeep Shergill, Early Reading Coach from the Toronto District School Board and OISE Ph.D. student
Event Partners
Got Questions?
Phone Number
(416) 669-2051
Email Address
info@harmony.ca
YORK UNIVERSITY
Second Student Centre
15 Library Lane
Toronto, ON
Who is Harmony Movement?
Harmony Movement works to enable all Canadians to fully participate in society by breaking down social and cultural barriers through education and empowerment. Guided by our fundamental belief that diversity strengthens our communities, we build equitable and inclusive schools by empowering and inspiring youth and educators to develop an equity lens, as well as empathy, respect, and leadership skills for social change.
Founded in 1994, we continue to develop and offer interactive, impactful programs that encourage critical thinking, provide the skills necessary for courageous conversations, and guide hands-on strategy building to create inclusive school communities.
