Connecting to Community: Local, Statewide, and National Connections
Presenting C.O.R.E
The students of C.O.R.E. have also continued to share the lessons they’ve learned through local, regional, and national conferences and have their voices heard through community organizing:
March 2016: Presentation of “Lessons Learned from the C.O.R.E.” College Board’s Dream Deferred Conference, Charlotte, NC.
August 2016: Hosted & Presented Drake University’s “Wanda Everage Academic Success Symposium”
November 16: “C.O.R.E. in Solidarity Rally” Des Moines Capitol
November 2016: Presentation of “Lessons Learned from the C.O.R.E.” National Association of Multi-Cultural Education, Kansas City, MO.
April 2017: Presentation of “The C.O.R.E. of Resistance: Combating Systematic Oppression of Students of Color in Advanced Courses in Public Education” at the White Privilege Conference, Kansas City, MO.
May 2017: Viewing of the documentary, I’m not Racist … Am I? with a facilitated discussion with the director, Catherine Greene, Des Moines, IA.
June 2017: Presentation of “Lessons Learned from the C.O.R.E” and “C.O.R.E. Languages of Learning” at Drake’s JMI Conference: Increasing School Success and Graduation Rates for All Students, Des Moines, IA.
June 2017: Presentation of “C.O.R.E. Languages of Learning” at ELL Conference, Waukee, IA
August 2017: Hosted & Presented Drake University’s “Wanda Everage Academic Success Symposium”
October 2017: Presentation of “The C.O.R.E. of Resistance: Combating Systematic Oppression of Students of Color in Advanced Courses in Public Education” at the White Privilege Symposium, Des Moines, IA.
March 2018: Presentation of “Reclaiming our CORE Rights” at the Des Moines Civil and Human Rights Symposium: Blueprint to Building Community, Des Moines, IA
March 2018: Presentation “Lessons Learned from the C.O.R.E” at the Baum Symposium on Ethics and Professions, Des Moines, IA
April 2018: Presentation “Reclaiming our Time in the Classroom” at the White Privilege Conference, Grand Rapids, MI.
March 2019: Presentation “Question Culture” with Richard Vargas at the Des Moines Civil and Human Rights Symposium: MOVE Passion to Progress, Des Moines, IA
March 2019: Presentation “Equity Audits: Clearing the Way of Discriminatory Policies” with Katy Swalwell at the Des Moines Civil and Human Rights Symposium: MOVE Passion to Progress, Des Moines, IA
March 2019: Presentation “The Alternate Playbook” with Joshua Barr at the Des Moines Civil and Human Rights Symposium: MOVE Passion to Progress, Des Moines, IA
March 2019: Presentation "C.O.R.E. Crumbs to Cornucopia" at the White Privilege Conference, Cedar Rapids, IA.
November 2019: Presentation "Social Justice and Education" at Simpson College Education Club Conference
November 2020: Presentation: "From Crumbs to Cornucopia: Building a Nourishing Community for BIPOC Students" at White Privilege Symposium-Iowa 2020
April 2021: Presentation: "Anti-Racist Student Activism in Suburban Schools" at AERA Annual Meeting
CORE YouthSpeak Town Halls
What do we want from our police?
Town Hall –Lincoln High School June 15, 2020
Connie Boesen, DM City Council; Jill Johnson, WDMCS School Board
What is the purpose of our police departments?
Police Departments, are weapons necessary?
How effective is current "Diversity Training"? How is effectiveness being measured?
Are SRO’s needed in schools? How do they contribute to the School to Prison Pipeline?
Can we learn to trust the police?
How do police get feedback from the community?
What do we want from our white peers?
Town Hall – Valley High School June 16, 2020
Lonnie Dafney, WDMCS School Board; Renee Hardman, WDM City Council; Greg Hudson, WDM City Council; Savannah Burnham, guest moderator
How do you approach white friends when they don’t practice anti-racism?
Why is equity training important in schools?
Punishments for hate crimes in schools?
What does education and growth look like?
How to support friends of color with micro/macro aggressions?
How do parents helps support white kids who are trying to support friends of color?
What do you wish elementary teachers would have done?
What are we doing in schools to perpetuate the educational gaps?
What do we want from our black leaders?
Town Hall – Evelyn K. Davis Park June 17, 2020
Teree Caldwell-Johnson, DMPS School Board; Renee Hardman, WDM City Council; Kameron Middlebrooks, Civil & Human Rights Commissioner; Al Womble, Democratic Black Caucus President; David Maxwell, Valley principal; Ellie Odole, guest moderator
What do we want from our policy makers?
Town Hall – Roosevelt High School June 18, 2020
Rob Barron, DMPS School Board; Josh Mandlebaum, DM City Council; Matthew Bruce and Robert Nishimwe, guest moderators
Bringing it all together.
Thank you to our partners!
NAACP Youth Council
Thank you for supporting us with an amazing DJ and sound system!
ArtForce Iowa
Thank you for providing healthy eats for our townhalls!
Drake University
Thank you for hosting our on-line presence each night!
SURJ-DSM
Thank you for organizing the best group of volunteers imaginable!
And a very special thank you to the Des Moines Civil and Human Rights Department.
Joshua Barr is a tireless supporter of youth voice and rights, and his , time, brilliance, and work in these town halls was invaluable, and to Kinsey Coppick who provided all the behind-the-scenes support that made these town halls successful.
THANK YOU!