‘Passing the Torch of Knowledge’: HGSE Celebrates the 20th Alumni of Shade Convention | News

The Harvard Graduate University of Education and learning hosted its 20th yearly Alumni of Colour Convention on Friday and Saturday, with a theme of “Passing the Torch of Understanding: Actions Toward Liberation By Instruction.”
Much more than 500 attendees registered for the meeting. Harvard pupils, faculty, employees and HGSE alumni from the Class of 2021 ended up invited to take part in person although all other attendees joined the meeting just about.
Friday’s gatherings began with a keynote panel on the path to equality in training moderated by HGSE pupil and AOCC co-chair Maungsai “Sai” Somboon. The panel highlighted HGSE alumni Jaynemarie E. Angbah, James E. O. Hankins II, Eurmon Hervey Jr., Raul “Ito” Juarez, Daren A. Graves, and Timothy Begaye.
“Throughout history, educators have been on the entrance lines and have illuminated our lecture rooms and communities with the torch of information,” Somboon reported in his introduction to Saturday’s activities. “We come alongside one another this weekend to examine historic and modern movements in schooling that have correctly challenged the system, engage professionals by means of collaboration and discourse, and continue the struggle to liberty by means of education and learning.”
HGSE university student Troy D. Lewis, a different co-chair of the AOCC, extra that he hoped the convention would inspire attendees to consider motion to boost the state of fairness in schooling.
“We’re listed here to cost men and women with action, and so I’m hoping that anyone is getting an expertise that allows them to consider deeply about what’s taking place these days in the field of instruction,” he mentioned.
Saturday’s activities included a virtual expo and a sequence of breakout sessions, which talked over topics these types of as the role of “linguistic heritage” in the college or university expertise of Black students and how stereotypes of white females contribute to white supremacy.
Nancy Chen, an HGSE university student who attended the conference in individual, commended the greater accessibility of the conference enabled by the option to join almost.
“I would like that there ended up far more people today who attended the in-man or woman one, but I like that it was available just for everyone” they explained. “It did experience like they have been involved, and we had been able to listen to a good deal of unique views that way.”
Conference organizers introduced four awards all through the event.
HGSE Assistant Director for Instructing and Teacher Management Andrena Mason obtained the Tina Hansar Award for Instructional Equity, which recognizes a employees member who has promoted compassion and inclusivity within just the faculty.
Cecelia Di Mino — an HGSE student who serves as just one of the school’s sustainability fellows — attained the Kolajo Paul Afolabi Award for Commitment to Academic Justice, though HGSE lecturer Christina Villarreal was awarded the Faculty Award for Academic Equity.
Nanette L. “Nan” Reynolds received the last award presented, the Alumni Achievement Award. The prize honors an HGSE alumnus who “has demonstrated a dedication to equity in troubles of race, class, and education and learning,” per the convention web site.
The convention concluded Saturday night with a session of World-wide Shakeout — a sort of dance lesson created by HGSE college student Manuela G. Welton that aims to reduce strain stages — followed by evening meal and a hybrid dance bash with DJ Justis Lopez.
—Staff writer Paton D. Roberts can be reached at [email protected]. Observe her on Twitter at @paton_dr.