Session Two Workshops

William Collins & Phil Fogleman, Jeremiah Ames, & Veronica Fenton - Lenox Public Schools 

In this workshop, a school district will share with participants its early learnings from a collaborative effort in Creating Brave and Safe Space and a Culture of Belonging for students and staff and the impetus behind this effort. In response to a racial incident, Lenox Public Schools reached out to the Anti-Defamation League for assistance. It soon became clear that the incident was a symptom and deeper work would be required. This gave birth to a bold proactive initiative with multiple partners to educate the entire school community to recognize and address the systemic dimensions of identity-based bias and build a culture of belonging. Participants will learn key takeaways from this collaborative endeavor including: school committee, school and district administration, teachers and students. 

Emily Hanlon - Innovation Academy Charter School 

The GSA will share how they have addressed harm and built a strong sense of community through student-led meetings and advocacy. We will disseminate resources for LGBTQ+ students to go to in times of need, address the importance of teacher involvement and student advocacy in schools, and interact with students and staff to build connections with LGBTQ+ people across schools. 

Assi Coulibaly & Lianne Aguilar-Barrientos - Diversity Talks

Grounded in the science of shifting mindsets and the art of facilitating engaging, vulnerable dialogues that lead to behavioral change, Diversity Talks (DT) specializes in increasing cultural competence by providing youth-led professional development services grounded in diversity, equity, and inclusion. By elevating youth leadership in professional settings, DT creates unique learning environments that allow participants to grapple with how they understand - and exercise - power. This 60-minute session explores power dynamics between adults and youth in the classroom and community. Youth facilitators will guide adult participants through an interactive activity to examine their beliefs on youth voice and youth leadership, authentically reflect on how they have engaged youth in creating solutions to issues impacting their schools and communities, and identify actionable steps to amplify youth voice in the path toward designing sustainable innovations. [Also available in Session 1] 

Allison Lerman-Gluck & Kate Laskey - Narrative 4

Narrative 4's Story Exchange is a process that builds connection and empathy through the power of storytelling. We believe that the shortest distance between two people is a story. We aim to create a space where all voices are heard. In a Narrative 4 Story Exchange, two people are partnered and they tell one another a true story from their life. They then come back together in a larger group and retell one another's stories using first person pronouns. During this workshop, participants will experience a story exchange and reflection. Educators will walk away with deep listening, self-awareness and self-management tools, as well as new connections to bring back to their teaching practice. [Also available in Session 1] 

Landon Callahan - MASS Safe Schools

This session provides tools for creating queer-inclusive and gender-expansive schools where LGBTQ+ students - and by extension, all students - can thrive. This interactive workshop will include personal stories, resources, and best practices to improve school climate and student mental health. You will leave with a better understanding of the experiences of LGBTQ students, and strategies to be an ally and advocate in your school. [Also available in Session 1] 

Tara Cole - South Hadley High School 

Diversity, equity and inclusion is a hot topic; we all know that. It seems like it is being talked about everywhere you turn - but, how often do you hear DEI mentioned in connection with sports; well, besides Title IX? This workshop is going to look at the intersectionality of identities and how they relate to privilege and discrimination within the world of sport. We will dive into this topic through: interactive activities, videos, group discussions and private reflections. 

David Higginbottom & David Conner - Worcester Pride

Join First Majesty of the Pride Royal Court, drag queen extraordinaire, Diva D. In this workshop you will discover more about the art of drag. Drag is not a crime, but it is an outlet for creativity and empowerment. Learn how Drag brings joy to our lives and can fulfill our creative purpose. [Also available in Session 1] 

Erin Mayo & Gabrielle Clark - College of the Holy Cross

This session will discuss how critical it is to think of disability as part of diversity which is often left out of the DEI conversation. Participants will create a definition of disability through use of a word cloud. This session will provide an overview of the Disability Civil Rights Movement as an outgrowth of the civil rights movement which has provided us with an expanded view of disability. The presentation will include the differences with accommodating students in high school vs. college. Participants will learn about microaggressions specific to individuals with disabilities and inclusive language around disability. We will need audiovisual equipment for a powerpoint presentation, ideally a microphone, and sound. Participants will complete an exit ticket that has them share with us why disability is important as part of the diversity conversation. Time will be saved for questions and discussion. [Also available in Session 1] 

Alberto Carrero & Felicia Pasley - Chelsea Public Schools

During this session participants will be able to learn more about immigrant students entering high school in the United States. Our presenters will engage all participants in real cases of the experiences that newcomers confront to adapt to a new culture, their challenges, dreams, and values. The session will address the danger of looking at immigrant students through a deficit lense and implicit bias, instead of embracing the opportunities to create a more inclusive multicultural and diverse society. The presenters are using a variety of interactive activities including a gallery walk, videos, an implicit bias guide, and much more resources to improve participants' knowledge about immigrants in our communities. 

Francesca Daniele - The Gilbert School 

How many times in your educational experiences so far have you felt represented in the texts and coursework you were encountering in your classes? In this session, participants will reflect upon their experiences with curriculum and instruction, focusing on the frequency with which they are exposed to texts and activities that honor and represent their experiences and identities. After reflecting, participants will engage in activities that facilitate an exploration of how curriculum and instructional activities can be revised, updated, and even completely rewritten to be more inclusive and representative of the diversity in our classrooms and our world. Participants will actively engage in conversations and activities surrounding changes that can be implemented immediately and in the future, build toolkits to support their efforts, and hear specific experiences and strategies from the presenter's work in writing more inclusive ELA curricula 7-12 and implementing it effectively in the classroom. 

Leslie Briggs - Westwood High School 

Many of our students experience daily microaggressions at school. Staff and other students can help combat these assaults on dignity by intervening and creating a more inclusive space for all. In this workshop, participants will identify, analyze, explain, and practice responding to various forms of microaggressions that they might encounter inside the school building. Participants should expect to discuss examples and role play responses in pairs and debrief in a full group discussion. 

Ousmane Power-Greene, Clark University & Michael Lawrence-Riddell, Self Evident Media - Clark University

In 1848, William and Ellen Craft fled slavery in Macon more than 1,000 miles in steamboats, carriages, and trains to Boston, Massachusetts. Here, they were protected by the black abolitionist Lewis Hayden who, when confronted by slave catchers, declared: "If you cross this boundary, we all die!" Willing to sacrifice his life to protect the Crafts, Hayden was prepared to make real Patrick Henry's claim, "Give me liberty, or Give me death!" In this session, we will explore the history of African American resistance to enslavement through a short animated films and a discussion about how the Crafts', as well as others, acts of resistance change how we think about American history. [Also available in Session 1] 

Mariah Lapiroff & Sabine Denise Jacques - The Collaborative for Educational Services

In this session we’ll explore what intergroup dialogue is and participate in fun and collaborative games and exercises that support us to be real and share who we are, support each other, and learn to talk about our different experiences. Participants will learn the difference between dialogue and debate and how dialogue helps students to take actions for changes they want in our schools and communities. We’ll be talking about what makes school a fun and engaging place where students and educators want to be. The things we learn in the workshop will support us to think about the ways we can center students’ choices and voices, create relationships across differences, and develop skills for how to center making school a joyful place of belonging for all. [Also available in Session 1] 

Dinah Mack and Fatima (Timmy) Al-Muntafik - History UnErased 

This workshop is for high school students and adults only. 

How do you build bridges and break barriers, anyway? In this session participants will work collaboratively and independently to examine the theme of CONCON 2024 as they put into words their own vision for creating a just and equitable school. Through question prompts, small group conversations, and independent writing, participants will develop and add their unique vision and words to a community created podcast. We will use phone voice recorders, laptops and microphones to record. The final audio will be sent out to all workshop participants and organizers a few weeks after the session. [Also available in Session 1] 

Laura Mulvey & Aleeza Ghani, and Alexis Giesta - Bridgewater State University

This session will engage participants in a guided self-reflection activity to explore their social action interests and experiences and their identity as a change maker. Our workshop will introduce participants to up to 5 Bridgewater State University students who will share their own story about how they are actively engaged in their local and college community. In small groups students will participate in a mapping activity where they will identify and reflect on their past experiences and their future social action goals. Participants will be provided with reflection prompts and materials to map their social action pathway. Participants will take their personalized social action map with them as a guide for continued reflection as they progress as change makers. [Also available in Session 1] 

Emma Blydenburgh, Chloe B., Kasey S., & Maggie N. - Groton Dunstable Regional Middle School 

Middle school students in the GDRMS Diversity Club will lead a panel describing their experience in increasing awareness and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community here and in the world, bringing a Day of Silence to Groton-Dunstable Middle School. They will share how they found student and faculty allies by leading the game they created to help others understand differences, and how they met with the principal and later informed our School Committee of their work on this and other projects during the school year. They will also talk about personal experiences they've had as young adults and how we can best support them. 

Fitz Pucci - Resilient Communities

This workshop will empower both students and faculty to dive into the nature of Patriarchy, how it shows up in our everyday lives, and what we can do together to stand in solidarity, in healing from the forces that incentivize us to harm and be harmed. This subject material feels almost unilateral across the cultures and identities of the world, and is such a course material that can be applied through a multitude of lenses seen through marginalized identities. [Also available in Session 1] 

Sofia Hernandez - Sutton High School 

What does it truly mean to be an American citizen? While those born with this privilege can readily share their experiences, understanding the perspective of a second-class American citizen adds a layer of complexity. For many Puerto Ricans, this sentiment has lingered for years. Despite Puerto Rico being an integral part of the United States, its native inhabitants often feel deprived of the same opportunities afforded to their counterparts on the mainland. This immersive workshop seeks to unpack the historical events contributing to Puerto Ricans' perception of second-class citizenship. Beyond a historical exploration, participants will be treated to a sensory journey into Puerto Rican culture, featuring traditional music and some authentic snacks, fostering a deeper connection to the rich tapestry of this unique American experience. [Also available in Session 1] 

Jess Motyl-Szary (she/her) 

Let's play trivia! This workshop will test your knowledge of the LGBTQIA+ community through a fun, team-based trivia game. The trivia questions will cover everything from terminology to queer history. The winning team gets bragging rights for the rest of the conference (and candy)! [Also available in Session 1] 

Cynthia Leitich Smith - Keynote 

Storytelling for Activism & Awareness will focus on the impact of narrative sharing on fostering empathy, igniting activism, and instigating positive societal shifts. Whether fiction or nonfiction, individual or collaborative, discover the unique ability of stories to transcend boundaries and create connections that drive social change. 

Rob Greenfield - Newton North High School

Over the last 10 years, hate speech on social media platforms has caused immense damage to individuals, marginalized communities, and democracy at large. Because of the business models of social media companies, hate and outrage is often highly recommended and pushed by their algorithms, resulting in a spike in hate speech online and offline. This workshop is in part to generate awareness as to how and why these platforms have spread outrage and hate for their own gain. However, there is much we can do about this. This workshop will also serve to provide individual and collective action we can take to limit the spread of this type of content, and to showcase examples of individuals and marginalized communities that have stood up and used these platforms to advance social justice and enact real positive change. [Also available in Session 2] 

Kate Chavez & Gabi Schiller - StandWithUs 

Often described as the "oldest hatred," antisemitism is no relic of history. Antisemitism is a resilient virus that mutates and continues to infect societies around the world. While it may be easy to recognize blatant outbursts of antisemitism, it is much more difficult to recognize subtle expressions through stereotypes, some of which have survived and flourished for centuries! By increasing our awareness of this history, we can increase our community's immunity to this hate. This session includes a brief history of antisemitism, short clips of current high school students recounting their experiences with antisemitism today, and the know-how to stand up to this hate. The group will ultimately see how we can uplift and empower all members of our communities by learning to lead with curiosity instead of judgment, and speaking out to spread love and acceptance instead of hatred and bigotry. [Also available in Session 1] 

Beth Corkum & Addee Cooper - Bow High School 

Students start! At Bow High School a group of students approached administration and asked for the best way to be able to talk about issues amongst the student body, they were provided the opportunity to start a Student Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee. The committee meets bi-monthly and works to increase diversity, equity and inclusion awareness in our school community through student led initiatives. The students also participate and share out to the District Diversity Equity and Inclusion committee which is part of a larger wellness committee. 

Assif Ankori, Chloe Bruce, Cadence Curto-Leavy, Viha Desai, Olive Ellis, Rhiannon Esposito, Parker Ferguson, Elizabeth Qian-Tsuchida, Malia Thompson-Leong, Ava Qiu, Tess Sullivan, Dave Bennett, and Michele Leong - Newton North High School 

This workshop will celebrate the acts of solidarity from the students of Newton North's Human Rights Council. Student leaders will share their experiences working together to combat hate, and will offer practical advice for student groups committed to diversity and anti racism work. 

Catherine Andronik - Bureau of Education and Research 

There are arguments FOR reading the "classics" in English/Language Arts courses, most importantly that their themes are timeless. And then there are the arguments AGAINST: that the classics are, for the most part, by dead, straight, white men--categories that more and more young readers find unrelatable. Fortunately, there are many recent books for middle and high school readers that share themes, construction, and even style with classics, but feature characters and situations today's readers will more readily recognize. Books to be discussed will include female authors, LGBTQ+ authors and characters, racial and ethnic diversity, inclusion of disabilities, etc. This lively presentation will suggest and introduce some of these alternative texts. [Also available in Session 1] 

Teresa Cruz Foley - Brave Space Consulting 

Through storytelling, discussion, and group exercises, students will learn why the brain resists change and relies on bias, how to overcome these human tendencies, locate and leverage their power, and gain confidence as advocates for themselves and others. Students will leave with a toolbox of scientifically proven practices to help them calmly and impactfully navigate difficult situations and create brave spaces wherever they go. [Also available in Session 1] 

Madyson Raskett - Sutton High School 

In our workshop, you will not only learn how to incorporate social justice into your schooling, but combine it with the world of the Boston Celtics. Using basketball, we strive to make fighting social injustices as simple as a playbook. The playbook initiative, in a partnership with Project 351 and the Celtics community, is based on the purpose of making our current youth into our leaders! 

Kathryn Hauver & Delaney Walch, Luke Letizia, & Fernanda Perez-Alvarez - College of the Holy Cross 

We will begin the session by watching "The Danger of a Single Story" TED Talk. Then, students will silently reflect on questions provided. We will move into a small group discussion, where students will have the opportunity to share their stories and further discuss the reflection questions. After, we will have a large group debrief to offer space for students to talk about their responses and discussions. This will allow students to connect different themes and hear different perspectives from their peers. Students can expect to reflect on their own stories and identities, other people's narratives, and think critically about the various aspects of storytelling. [Also available in Session 1] 

Macy Hutchinson - Sutton High Alumni/Anna Maria college

Do you like movies? Do you find comfort in watching tv? Well, in this workshop we will be discussing how women are portrayed in things such as movies and tv shows and how this could be causing problems for the society we live within. [Also available in Session 1] 

Ronald Burgess Jr. - Ronald A. Burgess Jr. Foundation, Inc. 

In this engaging workshop, teens will embark on a transformative journey to discover the profound impact of perspective. Through interactive activities and thought-provoking discussions, participants will explore the dynamic nature of perception and its influence on their lives. They will engage in active exercises that challenge their assumptions, broaden their horizons, and cultivate empathy. By delving into diverse viewpoints and real-life scenarios, they will develop a deeper understanding of the importance of perspective in fostering meaningful connections, resolving conflicts, and making informed decisions. Join us to harness the power of perspective and unlock a world of limitless possibilities. [Also available in Session 1] 

Mosie Senn-McNally - South Hadley High School

We will look at some comics and graphic novels that illustrate the artist's perspective on a variety of social justice issues - racism, mental health prejudices, gender issues, etc. Then we will brainstorm and create our own pieces to illustrate our journey on the path to creating just and equitable lives. Art supplies provided. [Also available in Session 1] 

Lindsay Lyons, Educational Justice Coach & Jeanette Shorey, The Happy Music Teacher 

What's going on in the world right now? Express how you feel about a current event through words, movement, and music. Experience connection with others' humanity while talking about an issue of in/justice. Learn how to use these activities to enter conversations about current events in a way that invites humanity...something that we rarely see on social media. [Also available in Session 1] 

Gretchen Pollard-Ramos - Woburn Memorial High School

Are LGBTQ+ students welcomed and celebrated in all spaces in your school? What about the LGBTQ+ parents, guardians, or loved ones? Do you want resources to support students and adults of various sexual and gender identities? This workshop will detail ways that we can not only create safe spaces, but affirm LGBTQ+ students and the LGBTQ+ adults in the lives of students. Students and staff are invited to engage in conversation about the current climate in your schools and how we can address needs. Attendees will learn about affirmative interventions and resources that may be implemented to create safer classrooms and spaces, for LGBTQ+ people, throughout schools.