Night At the Movies: Louder Than a Bomb

November 28, 2010 0 comments

Civic Cinema: Louder Than a Bomb

Tuesday , December 14 –  6:00 PM –  Chicago Cultural Center Claudia Cassidy Theater
LTABJoin TSJ for this special screening of the award-winning documentary Louder Than a Bomb, a film about passion, competition, teamwork, and trust. It's about the joy of being young, and the pain of growing up. It's about speaking out, making noise, and finding your voice. It also just happens to be about poetry. A panel with filmmakers Jon Siskel and Greg Jacobs and Kevin Coval, co-founder of the youth poetry festival Louder Than a Bomb, will follow the screening. Plus, LTAB poets will grace us with a performance. 

Update: Tickets are no longer available and registration has been closed. Keep an eye out for another screening in the new year!
 

Lean more about the event.

See below for a preview.

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10th Annual Teaching for Social Justice Curriculum Fair!

November 17, 2010

(En Español)
We are very excited that this November 20, 2010 will be the 10th Annual Teaching for Social Justice Curriculum Fair,  co-sponsored by Rethinking Schools. This year's theme is "Another Education is Possible, Another World is Necessary!"

In "science fair" format, and completely grassroots volunteer-organized, the Curriculum Fair will provide over 600 educators, activists, parents, youth & community members with a space to share curricula, resources, and inspiration. We'll be making friends & building relationships, exploring ideas & projects, connecting our histories & struggles. All in a spirit of social justice and education for liberation.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2010
10:00AM - 5:00PM
Doors open at 9:30am
Orozco School 
1940 W. 18TH Street (map & directions)
Chicago, IL
(download Program PDF)(es Español)
(download Press Advisory)

*Pre-Registration Online is Closed. Feel free to register in person!
 
  • OPENING PROGRAM: (10am-noon) Always diverse, poignant, and inspiring, take a peek at this year's 2010 Opening Program Keynote Speakers & Performers.
  • CURRICULUM FAIR: (all day) K-12 Teachers will be on hand at the Curriculum Fair with poster-board visuals to discuss their favorite curriculum. Check out the Full List of 2010 Curriculum Exhibitor Topics.
  • RESOURCE TABLES: (all day) Local & national organizations will have tables to share relevant resources & books. Check out the full list of 2010 Resource Tables.
  • WORKSHOPS: (2 Sessions, beginning at noon) Community leaders will be facilitating dialogue through a number of workshops on vital educational & justice-related issues. Check out descriptions for the 14 2010 Workshops.
Also at the Curriculum Fair...

  • LUNCH: Lunch is provided for all, to sustain us as we move through our day. Donations from local restaurants and chefs will provide us with various options, including vegetarian & vegan.
  • EXHIBIT & INTERACTIVE ARTS. Movement artists will be on hand to inspire & amaze through social justice-themed paintings & banners, and will be inviting you to create with them.
  • CHILDCARE: We'll be offering childcare from 10am-5pm with thanks to the Chicago Childcare Collective. Registration through Online Registration.
  • HEALING SPACE: TSJ is collaborating with Sage Community Health Collective to provide a Healing Space for fair goers. There will be session signups for massage and acupuncture, as well as an ongoing quiet place where all you hardworking teachers can get away from the day's stress & relax.
  • TRANSLATION: For the first time, we've committed to expanding language access at the fair to spanish speakers. The opening program will be translated simultaneously and workshops will include translators upon request. 
  • TSJ GEAR: One of our favorite things to do in prep for the fair is to get teachers together and create our own art. This year we've got some hot new t-shirt, totebag & button designs- come by the TSJ table to pick up yours!
After the Fair
   
AFTER-EVENT! "Liberation Lounge on Marshall". The unnofficial after-party, where TSJ members invite you to a night of arts, dancing & drinks. Details on Facebook. Featuring: 
Update: (download Program PDF)(es Español
 
Update: (download Press Advisory)


Update: Our Setup/Cleanup committee has committed to recycling paper & plastic this year and TSJ is striving to have a plastic-water bottle free event. Please bring a bottle of your own.

Update: We have also committed to having gender-neutral bathrooms, which will be clearly marked at the fair. 

Update: Please support La Casita Community Library - Bring a Spanish-language children's book (3rd - 7th grade level most needed) to donate! Drop them by the La Casita Young Librarian's table where Whittier students will update you on their struggle for a library and community space.

We hope you'll help us shape this space to be accessible for people with disabilities, accommodating to those with language & dietary needs, and safe for all people to be their full selves.


A note on registration: we missed emails from Online Registrants before Nov. 2. If you registered online before then, we most likely have your info and can send you the program if you drop us your email. Either way, there is plenty of space and we'll look forward to seeing you on Saturday.

There is no registration cost, though we request a $5-10 donation (includes lunch) if you can give. This is an all-volunteer event and all volunteering, monetary donation & in-kind support is appreciated so we can cover costs. The Childcare Space & Healing Space will accept tips as well. Thanks!


Why a Curriculum Fair? 
Following on the US Social Forum in Detroit in June, the national upswing in education organizing, the victory in Milwaukee against Mayoral takeover of their public schools, and the recent tremendous victory by CORE for Chicago Teachers Union leadership, we recognize the need more than ever to build the momentum of the Education for Liberation movement.

For 10 formative years of the Curriculum Fair, we have come together based on our commitment to education for social justice. Along with educators countrywide, we are working toward classrooms and schools that are anti-racist, multicultural / multilingual, and grounded in the experiences of our students. We believe Another Education is Possible and understand that we must take on discussions of school policy in order to create more just and humane schools, but we're also connected to a national & international network of educator activists and recognize together more and more that Another World is Necessary.
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This Year's Keynote Speakers & Performers!

(download full Program PDF)(es Español)

Patrick Camangian is an assistant professor in the Department of Teacher Education at the University of San Francisco, currently teaching tenth grade English at Mandela High School in Oakland. His research interests and areas of expertise include: critical pedagogy and transformative teaching in urban schools; critical literacy, culturally empowering education, and urban teacher development.
 
Araceli González and her daughter, Daniela Mancilla, participated in a 43 day sit-in to prevent the demolition of the field house (known as La Casita) on the grounds of Whittier Dual-Language Elementary School in Pilsen. Rather than demolishing La Casita, the Whittier Parent Committee insisted that CPS use the allocated funds to renovate the building and create a library. The parents have won control of La Casita, while negotiations over the future of the library continue.
Karen Lewis is a product of Chicago Public Schools.  Her parents taught in CPS schools and her husband, John is a retired CPS teacher.  A 23 year CPS veteran, Karen taught chemistry at Sullivan, Lane Tech and King high schools before winning the presidency of the Chicago Teachers Union in June as a member of the Caucus of Rank and File Educators (CORE) slate.

The Opening Program will also feature words & poetry by Kevin Coval, Young Chicago Authors artistic director, with the Louder Than a Bomb (LTAB) All-Stars. See the video below for a preview!

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Why are We Interested in Teaching for Social Justice?

November 16, 2010 0 comments

"Part of the reason I became a teacher is to teach children about social justice, acceptance, and tolerance to improve the world we live in! If we can open the minds of children at a young age, just imagine where our country could be in terms of tolerance, love, and acceptance."

"Education is where there's so much potential to make changes in the way people see the world and interact with each other. I want to influence people to decolonize their minds, embrace curiosity, and value democratic communication. The curriculum fair supports me in doing that work."

"I want to get more ideas to use in classroom with my students."

"I think social justice should be implemented in classrooms all across Chicago, not just in urban schools but also in the suburbs. Understanding social justice is critical to changing the inequalities of our society and I want to be a part of the movement. "

Click here to read all the testimonials..

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2010 Resource Tables!

November 15, 2010

(download full Program PDF)(es Español)

American Friends Service Committee, Truth in Recruitment Program
  • Topic: To stop militarization of the public schools
American Indian Education Center @ Stockton Elementary
  • Topic: Literacy resources for contemporary American Indian culture
Angelic Organic Learning Center
  • Topic: Organic Farming and Food Education
AREA Chicago
  • Topic: Art, Research, Education, Activism
Beyond Media
  • Topic: Media arts for underserved and underrepresented women, youth and communities
Camp Kupugani
  • Topic: Multiculturalism, diversity, girls empowerment
Changing Worlds
  • Topic: Oral history, writing, art programs to improve student learning
Chicago Childcare Collective  
  • Topic: Childcare to support the participation of parents, especially mothers, in racial and economic justice work
Chicago Classroom TV
  • Topic: Media to support educators and students with timely, relevant resources
Chicago Metro History Education Center
  • Topic: Chicago Metro History Fair
Chicago Teachers Union (CTU)
  • Topic: Union issues
Civic Education Project
  • Topic: Leadership program for young people to become active, engaged citizens
A Community Concern 
  • Topic: A film about the power of organizing to improve urban public schools
Community TV Network
  • Topic: Digital video production for low-income youth
CORE
  • Topic: Caucus of Rank and File Educators
Dignity in Schools
  • Topic: Alternatives to a culture of zero-tolerance, punishment and removal
Dorothy Stang Popular Education Adult High School  
  • Topic: Adult education using pedagogy of popular, liberatory education for marginalized groups
Do Your P’Art Foundation
  • Topic: Programs for diversity and artistic collaboration
Females United For Action (FUFA)   
  • Topic: Resources and education for young women and queer youth
Haymarket Books
  • Topic: Progressive books; labor and working class history
Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence
  • Topic: Violence awareness & prevention
International Socialist Organization
  • Topic: Marxist perspective on the struggle for social justice
Learn Then Burn/Write Bloody Publishing
  • Topic: A multicultural anthology of high quality, contemporary spoken word poetry
Maya Essence/ Casa Guatamala             
  • Topic: Community resources in health, education, labor and immigration for Guatemalans in Chicago
MuseWrite: Community Writing Workshops 

National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME), Programs for Educational Opportunity
  • Topic: Educational equity for race/ethnicity, gender, culture, language, and national origin
National Boricua Human Rights Network
  • Topic: Campaign to free one of the last Puerto Rican political prisoners
Open Books
  • Topic: Bookstore and literacy programs
Other Worlds            
  • Topic: Media resources to document grassroots economic, social, and environmental alternatives
People’s Tribune; Speakers for a New America; Chicago Labor & Arts Festival;
Chicago Center for Working Class Studies; League of Revolutionaries for a New America
  • Topic: Labor and working class resources
Popular Education Alliance  
  • Topic: Adult education using pedagogy of popular, liberatory education for marginalized groups
Project Nia
  • Topic: Restorative and transformative justice
Revolution Books Chicago             
  • Topic: History, Culture, and Current Events
Sisters Empower Sisters [SES]   
  • Topic: Anti-oppression training, research, artmaking and peer education for young women
TRACE [Teens Re-Imagining Art, Community and Environment]
  • Topic: Jobs-focused teen leadership
TRIBE—Total Resource Benefiting Everyone Inc
  • Topic: Engaging youth to address violence, illiteracy, poverty, and substance-abuse  
UCAN           
  • Topic: LGBT and Allies Host Home Program for youth who are unstably housed
UNITE
  • Topic: Urban Needs in Teacher Education
Uptown Multi-Cultural Art Center  
  • Topic: Multi-cultural diversity of Uptown and Chicago
World Can't Wait
  • Topic: Anti-War and Militarization
Young Woman's Action Team    
  • Topic: Empowering women for social change against violence
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2010 Curriculum Fair Workshops Announced!

(download full Program PDF)(es Español) 

 Session One:   12:00-1:15  (Second Floor)

1] Cantastoria: Creatively Telling Our Stories. Room 210.
Kate Thomas, Megan Pahmier, Diane Worbec-Serratos
  • Using the art form cantastoria three art educators will perform visual storytellings and reveal the poetic and playful nature of this ancient art form as a method of social critique. The tradition of cantastoria originated in India as way to use visual paintings, with song and story, to communicate a social message of importance. The historical traditions of cantastoria make it a perfect medium for lecturing, critiquing, and conveying complex information in a creative format.
2] Towards a Social-Justice Oriented Chicago Teacher’s Union. Room 214.
Facilitated by members of the Caucus of Rank and File Educators (CORE)
  • With Teachers’ Unions under attack nationwide, how can Unions survive against the onslaught of negative media from outside and negative perceptions from a new generation of teachers?  Teacher’s Beyond an agenda of the “bread and butter” issues of teachers, unions can be a democratizing and social justice force for students and communities.  Large emphasis will be placed on changes within the Chicago Teachers’ Union.  
3] Don’t Just Talk About it, Be About It: Social Justice & Action in the US History Classroom. Room 211.
J. Cyriac Mathew & Nathan Haines
  • We will be presenting a Freirean perspective about what it means to teach for social justice in the US history classroom. This perspective radically differs from traditional history classrooms and differs significantly from most “liberal” and “progressive” history classrooms. Our contention is that the US history classroom must make its primary focus the conditions of oppression faced by our students, and also must build in action by students to transform that oppression.
4] NOT Waiting for Superman: The Money Behind the Movie and What We Should Do About It. Room 200.
Bob Peterson, Rethinking Schools.
  • This workshop will start with a presentation and group discussion on the money and ideology behind the movie “Waiting for ‘Superman.’” The second part of the workshop will examine the organized response to the movie and the strategic implications this movie has for progressive educators and teacher union activists.     
5] Chain of Change: Mobile Media Youth Responses to Violence. Room 212.
Salome Chasnoff, Rebecca Connie and Tara Malik, of Beyondmedia Education  
  • Chain of Change, a Beyondmedia Education initiative, organizes youth across community boundaries to create and broadcast media that expose the roots of violence. ChainofChange.com is a forum for youth-led discussion on the many forms of violence youth face, from relationship violence and street harassment to institutional and media violence. Through story sharing and hands-on activities, participants in this workshop will learn how to create and use mobile media devices, such as Flip cameras and cell phones, for preventative and curative anti-violence activism.
6] Leaving No ELL Behind When it Comes to Comprehension. Room 202.
Meredith Piec & Nalleli Martinez, Cleveland Public Schools
  • “I don’t get it”… “Huh?”… “Qué?” If you find yourself hearing these all too familiar, reoccurring phrases from your students, this workshop is for you. Our ELL students may have learned to read, they may even be fluent readers, but it’s time we teach them how to read for meaning. Learn how to scaffold your reading comprehension instruction utilizing the language domains and proficiencies of your students with culturally relevant picture books.  
7] Start Building Supportive LGBTQ Educational Spaces. Room 213.
Edith Bucio, Jenny Weston, and Aerin Dugan
  • Join us in exploring the impact that allies have in your own life.  Connect these experiences to the importance of allies in the LGBTQA community in educational spaces.  Through interactive activities we will learn how to use these ally characteristics in real life situations.
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Session Two: 2:30-3:45  (Second Floor)

1] Organizing for Radical Educational Transformation in Chicago, in a post-Daley era. Room 211.
Members of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU)
  • Public education is under attack on many fronts. Where are these attacks coming from and why are they occurring? How can teachers, parents, students, community and education allies UNITE to demand a voice in education and school improvement issues? This workshop will emphasize the many educational transformation efforts that are occurring and engage participants to strategize on what else can be done to defend and strengthen Public Education.
2] Teaching through Lies: Ideological Literacy and Popular Culture. Room 212.
Patrick Camangian, University of San  Francisco
  • This workshop will provide teachers with classroom strategies to help their students analyze the ideological structure through which ideas of race, class and gender are constructed in the media generally, and in corporate rap music specifically.  Drawing on critical perspectives for a teaching framework, this workshop offers curricular examples for preparing students to examine issues of privilege, social control, and oppression in U.S. society while fostering their intellectual analysis, academic aptitude and creative writing and voice.
3] Urban Renewal or Urban Removal? Draft Curriculum Release and Practical Applications for Educators, Activists, and Community Members. Room 200.
David Stovall, Anton Miglietta, Myrna Garcia, Gabriel Cortez
  • Participants will receive a draft of Urban Renewal or Urban Removal?,* the first completed unit of A People’s Chicago: Our Stories of Change and Struggle, as well as other classroom projects and materials on Chicago’s history and some current realities (3rd grade, 7 – 12th grades). Everyone will get to examine key aspects of the curriculum including historic documents and a photographic journey into Chicago Communities 2010 – an ongoing photographic series. A classroom tour of curriculum exhibits, topic station choices, small group work, and chances to make practical connections are all emphasized. Please reach out on your areas of interest to attend monthly curriculum creation nights.  *space limited to first 30
4] Empowering Parents for a Social Justice Classroom. Room 214.
Grow Your Own Students and Logan Square Neighborhood Association
  • This workshop focuses on the importance of including parents and community members in a social justice classroom. Currently, the disconnection between community and schools is thriving under policies in urban schools that uproot students from their communities. Logan Square parents recognize the need for school-family relationships and took it upon themselves not only to invite but to encourage parents to be an authentic part of the classroom. This workshop will highlight the barriers to parent participation and invite participants to brainstorm strategies that effectively use the assets of the community in a social justice-based classroom.
5] Using Spoken Word in the Classroom. Room 213.
Tim Stafford
  • Using Spoken Word in the classroom- Tim Stafford is the editor of the anthology Learn Then Burn and co-authored its Teachers Edition. He is also a poet and Chicago Public Schools Teacher. In this workshop Tim will show you how to use spoken word as well as your own writing to teach poetry in a way that is both productive and engaging.
6] Introduction to the Occupation in Palestine/ Israel. Room 202.
Muhammad Sankari, Shira Tevah, Ruby Thorkelson
  • This workshop gives high-school students and teachers an overview of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict leading to current Israeli occupation of Palestine, and the political struggles and everyday realities that are part of the occupation. The workshop uses media including maps and music videos to dissect the historical context of the occupation and break down Zionism, as well as relate the situation in that part of the world to displacement, eviction, brutality, and resistance that may look familiar to Chicago students. Students and teachers are welcome and will receive a workshop outline and resource list for those wanting to replicate the workshop.
7] Roots Of Violence- Heterosexism. Room 210.
Xia, KOKUMO, Benjamin, Nalleli, and Sam (Gender Just)
  • This training is designed so that trainees will  be able to understand the ways in which everyone is impacted by systemic violence based on sexual orientation and gender-identity, as well as the ways that it is connected to other forms of systemic violence such as white supremacy and imperialism. The goal is to develop a shared recognition of systematic violence based on sexual orientation and gender-identities.
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2010 Curriculum Fair Exhibitors

(download full Program PDF)(es Español) 

 A list of this year's social justice curriculum exhibitors! Teachers who developed these curricula will be on hand with visuals & resources.

  • Art Education
  • Dances, Songs and Concepts of the Nahuatl Traditions
  • Social Studies—Peace throughout the city
  • Printmaking—Chicago Ecology Map Prints
  • Youth Voice, Student Leadership
  • Art and Hip Hop Culture
  • Art and Recycling
  • Language Arts, Social Studies, and Immigration
  • Critical Chemistry
  • Social Justice in the Art Classroom
  • Mathematics and Visual Art—Urban Development
  • Art—Graffiti Message
  • Art Education
  • Art Education and Democracy
  • History, Social Studies
  • Critical Mathematics
  • Special Education, History
  • Science Literacy and Critical Thinking; Various Environmental Issues
  • Social Studies and History Art Integration—Objects of Labor
  • Art Education—Self in Community
  • GLTB awareness, bullying, name-calling and teasing
  • Fair Trade in the production of chocolate and sports equipment
  • Critical Consciousness, Community/Family Collaboration, Anti-Racist
  • Art Education
  • Science, Music, and History
  • The People’s Chicago—Our Stories of Change and Struggle
  • Democratic Grading in the Classroom
  • Chemistry, Properties of Metals & Redox
  • Language Arts, Creative Writing, Spoken Word 
  • Environmental Science and Water Quality
  • Action Civics in the Classroom
  • Art—Prisons, environmental racism, neighborhood violence
  • Myths and Stereotypes of American Indians and Thanksgiving
  • Transnational Identities
  • Sculpture—Building a Community through Shape and Balance
  • Examing the Roots of Youth Violence
  • Social Justice in Early Childhood  
  • Identity and Hierarchy in Contemporary Art  
  • Math-analyzing data, making graphs, maps—Criminalized Image of Youth
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