Antiracism Learning Studio
We have seen the ways that racism can show up in a liberal community like Evanston. In addition, the recent iteration of racism in the form of the national anti-Critical Race Theory movement is trying to threaten anti-racism progress. And this impacts our children by perpetuating the racialized gaps in opportunity in District 65 schools that have persisted for far too long.
The 2021-2022 cohort of the Next Steps Antiracism Learning Studio is developing the collective knowledge, strategy, and tools needed to effect systems change and applying it to group-determined data driven projects to support anti-racist change within each group’s organizations.
“Fantastic presentation and depth. I feel more knowledgeable and ready to move forward with our school’s action plan.”
IMPORTANT DATES
Cohorts will meet twice a month at 6:00pm:
- Application sessions: January 18, February 9, March 9 & April 14
- Studio sessions: January 26, February 24, March 28 & April 27
Program Description
Next Steps offers tools for transformation in an eight-session Learning Studio. Four application sessions will focus on information directly applicable to group projects, group dynamics, and building trusting relationships. Each school group will have a coach to support their project work. Four studio sessions will form the foundational context for group project work. Each studio session will include a case study and work in affinity and accountability groups.
During all sessions, participants will:
Explore white supremacy and colonial ideology, both internally and externally, to understand how these concepts impact individuals and communities.
Learn how to think broadly and offer flexibility when patterns of oppression appear.
Develop a mindset of altruism by centering the key concept of building solidarity versus offering charity.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
January: Building a Coalition and Setting Goals
Application session
Participants will learn steps to creating equitable and inclusive spaces in order to build strong and healthy multi-racial coalitions ready to take action.Studio session
Participants will learn about our US history and its current day impact on systems and our lived experiences. A real scenario will be presented and then discussed in racial affinity and accountability groups.
february: Looking back (and at data) to go forward strategically
Application session
Participants will finalize their project goals. They will learn ways to use data, set goals, and develop a strategic plan to take action. Common patterns of resistance will be introduced.Studio session
Participants will learn about the impact of power and white supremacy culture and how they shows up in our beliefs and actions. A real scenario will be presented and then discussed in racial affinity and accountability groups.
march: White Supremacy Culture, Resistance, and Accountability
Application session
Participants will discuss white supremacy culture and evaluate how white supremacy culture is impacting their group dynamics as well as their project progress.Studio session
Participants will learn more about common patterns of resistance in preparation for implementing their projects.
april: Commencement – Culminating Presentation
Application session
Participants will work on their project presentations, receive feedback, and collaborate.Studio session
Participants will present a summary of their project to the cohort, their future plans, and receive constructive feedback from the other school groups. We will also discuss the heartache and healing inherent in anti-racism work.
Facilitators
Coaches
Atena O. Danner is a Black, queer creative, parent, educator, organizer. She has facilitated learning for children and adults in classrooms, workshops, peer learning communities, and in the streets. Atena currently works professionally as a literacy learning facilitator, as a volunteer organizes community care and liberation work for Black people. She is an enemy of oppressive learning spaces, and is motivated by love for her people. Her core values are authenticity, creativity, and justice.
Myrna García (her/s) is a cis mother of a vibrant, D65 biracial (Black and Mexican) 2nd grader. She was a participant in the 2020-2021 Next Steps cohort, and she is excited to return to Next Steps as a coach. Myrna was born in Chicago, and raised in a Mexican immigrant household in Cicero, IL. Steering the uncharted terrain as a first-generation college student fueled her passion in ethnic studies, education, and activism. Myrna is a former NYC school teacher, and earned a master’s degree in education. She also holds a doctorate in ethnic studies from the University of California, San Diego. Her research documents Latinx immigrant rights activism in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood during the Chicano Movement. She is a teaching faculty member in Latinx Studies at Northwestern University. She teaches courses on Latinx Chicago, knowledge production, and immigration histories. Myrna also leads and participates in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at the university. Beyond academia, she enjoys listening to Chicago house music, reading children’s books, and traveling.