Bending the Arc Toward Justice: Poverty, Homelessness, and Education

Format

Individual Presentation

First Presenter's Institution

Stetson University

First Presenter’s Email Address

rajni@shankar-brown.com

First Presenter's Brief Biography

Rajni Shankar-Brown, Ph.D., is a Professor and the Jessie Ball duPont Distinguished Chair of Social Justice Education at Stetson University and the President of the National Coalition for the Homeless. She is also the Executive Director of the Institute for Catalyzing Equity, Justice, and Social Change and serves as the Co-Chair of Equity and Justice for the International Society for Teacher Education and Information Technology. In addition, she is a co-visionary and co-lead for NCH’s Lived Experience Training Academy (LETA) and serves as a founding and steering committee member for NCH’s Bring America Home Now, a comprehensive grassroots campaign led by people with lived experience. She co-chairs the racial equity and education pillars of the campaign. She also created and facilitates a multidimensional mentoring and arts programs in partnership with high poverty schools for diverse youth and families experiencing housing instability. Dr. Shankar-Brown is a dedicated eco-justice educator, cultural strategist, public policy advisor, civil and human rights activist, dancing poet and artist. She has dedicated her life to advancing intersectional equity and justice, advocating for anti-poverty systems change and actively organizing with historically and socially marginalized communities including low-income, racially and ethnically diverse, LGBTQIA2S+, and multilingual individuals. She works closely with federal and local agencies, nonprofit organizations, public schools, and higher education, and is a longtime advocate and partner with the United Nations. She has served as a keynote speaker and facilitated workshops around the globe. She has published leading educational books, articles, and creative works including an internationally celebrated collection of poetry with proceeds supporting housing justice for youth and an educational justice book series including ending the Arc Towards Justice: Equity-Focused Practices for Educational Leaders and Re-Envisioning Education: Affirming Diversity and Advancing Social Justice. Globally recognized for her transformative leadership, Dr. Shankar-Brown has been awarded the Outstanding Faculty Scholar by the National Humanities Center, Educator of the Year by PDK International, Inclusive Excellence Award by the University of North Carolina, and the honor of Campus Compact’s Civically Engaged Faculty Award. In addition to being a passionate educational leader and social justice activist, she is a devoted Amma (Mom) who loves sunflowers and chai.

Location

Session Six - Featured Sessions

Strand #1

Head: Academic Achievement & Leadership

Strand #2

Head: Academic Achievement & Leadership

Relevance

TBA

Brief Program Description

Let us work together to bend the arc toward justice! The number of school-age children and youth living in poverty and experiencing homelessness continues to surge across the United States -- perpetuating and growing educational opportunity gaps. Prioritizing equity and supporting diverse, low-income students and families merits our immediate attention and collective action. Through research, narrative, art, poetry, reflective activities and discussion, this interactive session will explore the complex dynamics of socioeconomic inequality, racial inquities and intersections, and the effects of poverty and homelessness on students, preK-12. Promising and high-impact strategies for removing systemically oppressive barriers and reaching students will be discussed. Participants will begin developing a contextually-based action plan and receive a handout with numerous extended learning resources. Together, let us build healthier and more equitable communities and schools -- and advance social justice!

Summary

TBA

Evidence

TBA

Learning Objective 1

Participants will define poverty and homelessness; and identify key reasons for poverty and homelessness in the United States and critical intersectional issues.

Learning Objective 2

Participants will be able to articulate how poverty and homelessness effects children’s physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development.

Learning Objective 3

Participants will identify strategies, including research-based and culturally responsive teaching and learning practices, to mindfully support low-income students and families, and advance equity in communities and schools.

Presentation Year

2024

Start Date

3-5-2024 1:00 PM

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Mar 5th, 1:00 PM

Bending the Arc Toward Justice: Poverty, Homelessness, and Education

Session Six - Featured Sessions

Let us work together to bend the arc toward justice! The number of school-age children and youth living in poverty and experiencing homelessness continues to surge across the United States -- perpetuating and growing educational opportunity gaps. Prioritizing equity and supporting diverse, low-income students and families merits our immediate attention and collective action. Through research, narrative, art, poetry, reflective activities and discussion, this interactive session will explore the complex dynamics of socioeconomic inequality, racial inquities and intersections, and the effects of poverty and homelessness on students, preK-12. Promising and high-impact strategies for removing systemically oppressive barriers and reaching students will be discussed. Participants will begin developing a contextually-based action plan and receive a handout with numerous extended learning resources. Together, let us build healthier and more equitable communities and schools -- and advance social justice!