Call for Proposals, Education for Liberation

Posted by on December 1, 2006

Education for Liberation Conference–Call for Proposals

Free Minds, Free People ? June 21 to 24, 2007 ? is a national conference that will bring together teachers, youth, parents, researchers and community-based educators from across the country to begin building a movement to develop and promote Education for Liberation. Education for Liberation is an umbrella term we use to describe the work of people who are trying to link education, social justice and activism. We are very interested in having media based workshops at the conference.

Education for Liberation prepares the most excluded, under-served members of our society, in particular low-income youth and youth of color, to fight for a more just world by:
– Teaching students the causes of inequalities and injustices in society and how communities have fought against them.
– Helping them develop both the belief in themselves that they can challenge those injustices and the skills necessary to do that.
– Supporting them in taking action that leads to disenfranchised communities having more power.

Education for Liberation is taking place in a variety of settings?schools, community centers, homes, churches, and college campuses. It is being practiced by teachers, parents, youth and community activists. But these educators often find themselves isolated, with few resources, little support and limited connection to others who share their concerns.

This conference represents a unique and exciting opportunity for all of us to come together to learn and build strength from each other. This is a critical first step in the process of transforming ourselves from a collection of individuals trying to make a difference in our neighborhoods or schools into a strong movement for education justice.

What we hope to achieve:
– To build connections between people from different backgrounds with an interest in this issue.
– To talk about what works and why, helping participants develop practical skills and techniques that they can use in their educational settings.
– To determine what steps need to be taken to furthur develop this movement.

This conference is sponsored by: The Chicago Freedom School Project, the Education for Liberation Network, The Brotherhood/Sister Sol and the University of Chicago’s Center for Urban School Improvement

We are seeking individuals and organizations who would like to plan and facilitate discussions, panels, workshops, demonstrations and/or activities that will help develop our understanding and practice of Education for Liberation. Your proposed activity should be designed to last approximately one and a half hours. We are aiming for a diverse audience and a wide variety of conference activities.

Deadline for Proposals: January 30, 2007
Notification: March 1, 2007
For information on how to apply: Call Tara on 212 283 7044 or email freeminds (at) brotherhood-sistersol.org.