Equitable Practices in Afterschool 

This cohort will provide a deeper dive into language, assumptions, and practices that can reinforce a welcoming, inclusive environment for youth and families. We will explore the meaning of key concepts and strategies for implementing equitable practices in order to reinforce positive connections with youth, families, and our communities as a whole. Session descriptions are below.

The six-session cohort will meet weekly on Tuesday mornings (10:00am - 12:00pm PT) from November 2 to December 14, 2021 (no session the week of Thanksgiving). Session dates: 

• November 2
• November 9
• November 16
• November 30
• December 7
• December 14

                     Participant Requirements

• Must work in or directly support K-12 program
• Participants commit to attend trainings (at least 80% live), complete pre-work and reflection components on weekly basis
• Participants must complete pre-survey, individual session evaluations throughout the series, and a post-cohort survey
• Create a plan for applying knowledge through systematic implementation in program/organization.
• Licensed child care staff may be eligible for the Betty Gray Cohort scholarship to cover $100 of the cost (see below for requirements and deadlines)

                                 Timeline

• Register to Participate by October 26th 
• All participants will be asked to complete a commitment form & pre-survey by October 29th 
• Attend weekly trainings November 2nd - December 14th 
• Complete reflective post-cohort survey by December 20th

                               Scholarships

Scholarship Information: Scholarships are available through the Betty Gray Early Childhood Scholarship at the Oregon Center for Career Development. A scholarship approval letter is required for scholarship use. When submitting your scholarship application, please be sure to select "Cohort" in Section 2 of the application. Limitations apply, find out more about scholarship eligibility HERE.

To use the scholarship: Please submit your scholarship approval letter to rachel.kessler@oregonask.org to receive a registration code that will apply the scholarship rate during checkout. Scholarship approval letters must be recieved by OregonASK by October 26 (be sure to submit your scholarship application to OCCD no later than October 18 to ensure you recieve your approval letter by the 26th, in time to register for the cohort).

                Workshop Session Descriptions

Session One: Introduction to Equity, Diversity, Race and Inclusion in Afterschool (November 2)

To work effectively toward racial equity across systems and organizations, we need to share a common understanding of concepts that are foundational to this work. Seemingly straightforward terms can be defined differently from one context to another and yet used interchangeably, making it difficult to differentiate. This training will discuss why learning about race and racism is critical for educators, and develop a shared understanding of concepts that are central to equity work. DIV, Set 2

Session Two: Looking at Inequitable Systems in the Educational System (November 9th)

Many people in our society look at statistics about the life outcomes and living circumstances for historically harmed populations and conclude that it’s an individual problem based on some deficiency in their own culture, behavior, or biology. This training will explore how the systems and institutions that shape our lives are designed to create and perpetuate inequality. DIV, Set 2

Session Three: Practicing Cultural Humility and Cultural Competence in Afterschool (November 16th)

Becoming culturally competent and practicing cultural humility are central to serving youth from diverse backgrounds. Cultural competence and cultural humility compel us beyond awareness into action. This training will provide a shared understanding of the terms culturally competent and cultural humility, while exploring why they are important to creating equitable and inclusive program environments. Participants will create personal goals for increasing cultural competence and cultural humility. DIV, Set 2

Session Four: Building Stronger Relationships with Youth and Families in Afterschool (November 30th)

It is essential that those of us who work in community-facing organizations invest the time to build strong relationships with those we serve. Everything we do from developing new programs or services to engaging families and communities to building coalitions to address educational opportunity gaps requires us to be connected with the community – its people, its institutions, and its culture and history. Building relationships allows us to engage in collaborative and participatory community engagement, to listen to community members, and work with them to develop the programs and services they want and need. In this training, we will develop a shared understanding of why building relationships with youth and families is important to developing inclusive and equitable programs. FCS, Set 2

Session Five: Asset-Based Approach to Culturally Sustaining Instruction in Afterschool (December 7th)

Historically, schools have seen the home cultures of students of color and English-language learners as deficits to be overcome or resources to be treated as a bridge to preferable, dominant practices. Current pedagogies, including culturally sustaining and revitalizing pedagogies, take an assetbased approach, viewing students’ home and community cultural practices as resources “to honor, explore, and extend” (Paris 2012, p. 94). In this training, we will explore this asset-based approach to students’ home and community cultural practices. The most well-known asset-based approach is culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP). We will also learn about the Banks Framework for “leveling up” your instruction - a useful model that helps us evaluate our existing lessons and find ways to make them more culturally relevant and sustaining. DIV, Set 2

Session Six: Assessing and Transforming your Afterschool Program (December 14th)

In this sixth and final session, we will take what we have learned about racial equity, cultural humility, cultural competence, and building stronger relationships with youth and families to assess our current program practices, and offer strategies for creating more equitable and inclusive programs. DIV, Set 3