Antiracist Praxis Study Circle Pilot

Antiracist Praxis Study Circle Pilot

Many of us have heard the terms “antiracist” and “DEI” (diversity, equity and inclusion), but how do we actually implement these large frameworks into our adult English classrooms? A new study circle from ATLAS is being piloted this fall with facilitator Cydnee Sanders. This 5-meeting professional development (PD) activity goes beyond defining antiracism and explores how the research around Translanguaging by Ofelia García and Culturally Responsive Teaching by Zaretta Hammond provide us with tools to change the way we approach teaching.

The Antiracist Praxis Study Circle is not intended to be a basic “what is racism” PD activity, so we have some working assumptions and hope those interested in joining can agree to start with these foundational beliefs:

  • Racism is systemic. White supremacy and systemic racism are leading problems in our education system. These systems are especially harmful to people of color and the English language learners we serve.
  • Identifying and addressing implicit bias is paramount to this work. It is a personal journey, and we all enter this work together from different places.
  • It is not enough to be “not racist” but we have to be intentionally antiracist.
  • We are willing to work in a collaborative environment and to hold each other accountable.

Meeting Schedule: ONLINE via Zoom, on Thursdays from 2:30-4:30 PM as follows:

  • October 28
  • November 4
  • November 11
  • November 18
  • December 2

Application Deadline: WED. 10/6/21

  • APPLY NOW >>
  • NOTE: Participation will be limited to keep the group to a manageable size.

Time Commitment: 5 two-hour meetings, plus an expected 1-2 hours per week of preparation by reading, viewing, and reflecting on assigned tasks.

CEUs: 20 for those who attend ALL 5 meetings and complete all study circle activities

Stipends: $100 for those who attend ALL 5 meetings and complete all study circle activities

Questions? Contact Cydnee at [email protected]

About the Facilitator: Cydnee Sanders has four years of experience teaching adult English learners and is currently completing her MA TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) at Hamline University. This Antiracist Praxis Study Circle pilot is part of her capstone project. Since Cydnee is a person of color, part of the motivation behind this study circle is to provide antiracist professional development that looks beyond white fragility and white culture. Though this study circle is of course open to all adult English teachers, she hopes that this is especially inclusive of BIPOC teachers’ professional development needs, which are often overlooked in most DEI trainings. She hopes to teach in South Africa after she graduates to continue her education in antiracist teaching.

Cydnee Sanders, MA TESOL Student Hamline University