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Registration begins onsite at 8:30 AM. No advance registration keynote speakers Gregory Michie author of the highly acclaimed books, Holler If You Hear Me: The Education of a Teacher and His Students and See You When We Get There: Teaching for Change in Urban Schools, will discuss the important connections between education, diversity and democracy. Dr. Michie shares an honest and moving account of life as a Euro-American heritage teacher in a culturally diverse urban school system. Michie’s first-hand account explores the possibilities for promoting positive change, while also examining the problematic role of promoting change from a position of relative power and privilege.  [see related appearances Jan 11 and 12] Damani Johnson has been teaching at Western Washington University for many years, specializing in race and public policy. A long-time active participant in human rights efforts throughout the region, Dr. Johnson is one of the original founders of the Whatcom Human Rights Task Force and is widely recognized as an influential leader in the area.

This year’s workshops are set up in three interconnected tracks:
Educator Track
The Educator Track will include workshops and training designed specifically for a multicultural approach to education. The event is being supported by the Bellingham School District and the Woodring College of Education. Seven continuing education clock hours are available for educators.

Youth Track
The Youth Track will feature presentations both for and BY local area students, including a county-wide Youth Summit.

Community Track.
The Community Track will offer “general interest” workshops, discussion forums, and presentations. The intention of the conference is to provide a safe and neutral space wherein all interested parties can learn and share ideas about human rights, education and democracy.

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CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
REGISTRATION

8:30 – 9:00 Registration, Coffee & Bagels (Lobby)

OPENING CEREMONY

9:00 - 9:05 Welcome & Introductions (Auditorium)

9:05 – 9:10 Spoken Word Performance by Antasia Parker (Auditorium)

9:10 – 9:50 Keynote Address: Dr. Gregory Michie: “In the Noise of the Whirlwind: Teaching for Social Justice in Troubled Times” (Auditorium)

AM WORKSHOPS - SESSION I

Community Track
10:00 - 11:30 Empowering the Feminine Voice in Democracy (104)

10:00 - 11:30 Resistance & Power: Dr. King’s Legacy of Civil Disobedience (108)

Educator Track
10:00 - 11:30 Windows and Mirrors: Bringing Students' Lives and Experiences into the Classroom (Auditorium)

Youth Track
10:00 - 11:30 Think Twice before You Buy (212)

10:00 - 11:30 Busted! The Student Guide to Surviving Police Encounters (211)

10:00 - 11:30 Understanding Racism (216)

AM WORKSHOPS - SESSION II

Community Track
11:45 - 1:15 History of Immigration 101 (104)

11:45 - 1:15 Civil Liberties 101 (ACLU Part 1) (105)

Educator Track
11:45 - 1:15 Social Justice and Environmental Equity (108)

11:45 - 1:15 Cultural Competency in Action: Moving beyond heroes and holidays (107)

11:45 - 1:15 The Elementary Classroom: A Child’s Democratic World (216)

Youth Track
11:45 - 1:15 Environmental Justice (212)

11:45 - 1:15 Don’t Be a Sucker: Your Right to Free Speech at School (211)

1:15 - 2:30 LUNCHEON

1:30 - 1:45 Keynote: Dr. Vernon “Damani” Johnson (Auditorium)

1:45 - 2:15 Performance by Improvising Change (Auditorium)

PM WORKSHOPS - SESSION III

Community Track
2:30 - 4:00 Building a Solidarity Movement: Struggles in Antiracist Organizing in New Orleans (212)

2:30 - 4:00 Abuse of Power: Past and Present (ACLU Part 2) (105)

2:30 - 4:00 Food Justice (216)

Educator Track
2:30 - 4:00 Poverty: The Inevitable Institution (104)

2:30 - 4:00 What Do Children Hear? (108)

2:30 - 4:00 Quantitative Reasoning for Everyone: Teaching Mathematics as if Race, Class, and Gender Mattered (211)

Youth Track
2:30 - 4:00 Youth Summit (Auditorium)

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CONFERENCE IS FREE AND OPEN TO ALL

For information about previous conferences
please view: 2001, 2002. 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006

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