American Promise at OSU

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It’s official: American Promise director Michèle Stephenson is coming to OSU next month.  Our College of Education CLD group is organizing and hosting her visit with the generous support of several campus partners.  Flyers are coming soon.  In the meantime, please write two dates in your calendar:

  • On Monday, April 14, we will show the short 45 minute version of the film and host a panel discussion about the Black male experience in predominately White schools. This will take place in the Corvallis High School Theater, starting at 4 PM.
  • On Tuesday, April 15, we will show the longer 80 minute version of the film, followed by a talk with director Michèle Stephenson.  This will start at 7 PM in Milam Auditorium.

If you have not yet seen the trailer, go to http://www.americanpromise.org.  The film follows two boys, one of which is Michèle’s son Idris, from kindergarten through high school graduation.  It centers on their experiences as two of just a few African-Americans at the prestigious Dalton School.  It speaks to the unique experience of African-American boys in schools, to visibly standing out as an ‘only’ at school, to parenting styles/concerns, to issues of social class, etc.

We are so looking forward to the discussions!

Responding to Racism

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As reported in the Barometer, racist graffiti appeared on campus last week.  Since then, students have started an I, Too, Am OSU campaign.  This Wednesday, March 12 at 1 PM, Oregon Students United (OSU) will lead a Solidarity March to honor our campus diversity and support each other. The purpose of this event is to promote student voice responding to the two reported incidents of racism on our campus. The route will start at the Pride Center, then flow to Snell Hall, the Women’s Center, Asian Pacific Cultural Center, and finally end the event at the Native American Longhouse at 2 p.m. for the Student Led Round Table Discussion. Pizza and drinks will be provided.

Multilingual Children

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The current issue of Social Policy Report, includes a peer-reviewed, American Academy of Pediatrics endorsed, qualitative review of over 100 studies related to multilingual children: Multilingual Children: Beyond Myths and Toward Best Practices.  A short synopsis and interview with the lead author is posted on Education Week’s Learning the Language blog: Multilingualism an Advantage to Nurture, American Academy of Pediatrics Says.

Joaquin Zihuatanejo at OSU

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As part of Spiritual Wellness Week at OSU, Joaquin Zihuatanejo and Natasha Carrizosa will be performing in the MU Lounge on Friday, February 14 at 1:30-3:30 PM.  I don’t know Carrizosa’s work, but I’ve used Zihuatanejo’s work in TCE 572 Foundations of ESOL/Bilingual Education.  They are both nationally award-winning slam poets, and I am a Zihuatanejo fan.  His website is http://artspeakstalent.com/home.html.  I also recommend http://youtu.be/iOIVT01I3QU, where you get a flavor of how and why he teaches high school English language arts.