Annual Black History Education Conference Publication

black history education conference Publication

W ho W e A re “If you have a purpose for which you can believe, there’s no end to the amount of things you can accomplish." ~MARIAN ANDERSON~

A t Cultural Practices That Are Relevant (CPR) our work focuses on “Breathing New Life Into Ourselves, Our Children and Our Instructional Practices.” In an effort to promote, honor and protect the wealth of Black and other culturally relevant educational practices and promote increased racial identity and achievement in Black and other children of color, Cultural Practices That Are Relevant is a national education consulting firm that provides culturally relevant conferences, coaching, workshops, curriculum development and public speaking to early childhood, k-12 and higher education institutions across the United States. Our signature event is the annual Black History Education Conference, with an ever-increasing number of participants across Wisconsin and wider growing participation across the United States. Our 1,000 plus past attendees have included early childhood representatives, K-12 school personnel, higher education institutions including Edgewood College, the University of Wisconsin Madison, the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire and the University of Wisconsin Whitewater. Also in attendance were church members, community organizations such as the Urban League of Greater Madison, Overture Center of the Arts, PBS Wisconsin, UW Health, Unity Point Health- Meriter & Quartz and Wisconsin State Historical Society, among others. State officials in attendance have included but is not limited to former State Superintendent Carolyn Stanford Taylor, Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, Dane County Executive Joe Parisi, Interim Chief Diversity Officer of UW-Madison, Cheryl Gittens and Representative Shelia Stubbs. National figures, Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings, the Grammy award winning

actor/performer “Common”, along with his mother Dr. Mahalia Hines, Dr. Chike Akua. Freddie Taylor and Reverend Jessie Jackson have graced us with their presence as well at the conference. Bridging statistics with the genius behind what I have witnessed in my work across the state and country, another goal of Cultural Practices That Are Relevant is to bring people together to share what we know will change the data that places Wisconsin last on the Department of Education and NAEP lists in graduation rates, reading scores, standardized math scores, out of school suspensions, prison rates, experiencing poverty, health disparities and other areas for Black students and families who call Wisconsin “Home”. The Black History Education Conference experience is intended to provide a venue where members from home, school and communities across the state and country will be able to share policies, practices, programs and procedures that have proven effective in promoting high levels of achievement for those often being under served in our school systems and communities. Continuing to think with the idea of “communalism” in mind, we are asking that you open your heads, hands and hearts to collaborate with us to close the stark gaps that exist for many of the students and families that we serve in our community and across the country. With all of this information in mind, we would like

to ask you to strongly consider partnering with us by becoming a sponsor for the Annual Black History Education Conference.

OFFICIAL

DETAILS “There is no

problem that we cannot solve if we corral our resources behind it. That means people, that means money, that means the goodwill and cooperation of a large segment of the people.” ~CORETTA SCOTT KING~

THERE ARE FIVE SPONSORSHIP LEVELS OF SUPPORT FOR THE ANNUAL BLACK HISTORY EDUCATION CONFERENCE. THEY ARE AS FOLLOWS: S ponsorship L evels

D iamond L evel : : $10,000 P latinum L evel : : $5,000

G old L evel : : $2,500 B ronze L evel : : $1,000 L ove O ffering : : $200.00-999.00

DIAMOND

Diamond $10,000

• Verbal acknowledgment by CEO/FOUNDER at the annual Black History Education Conference • Logo/Name prominent on shared digital signage and other event material • 10 registrations to attend the annual Black History Education Conference • Banner space on the live-stream during your organization’s presentations, where applicable. • Brand transitions between speakers • Sponsored Introduction • Verbal recognition during the conference dance • Opportunities to include branding materials in the pre-conference Breath Boxes (when offered)

• Primary recognition and positioning during event presentation • Promotion of PARTNERSHIP throughout conference experience • One virtual conference booth

PLATINUM

Platinum $5,000

• Verbal acknowledgment by CEO/FOUNDER at the annual Black History Education Conference • Verbal recognition during the conference dance • Logo/Name prominent on shared digital signage and other event material • 5 registrations to attend the annual Black History Education Conference • Banner space on the live-stream during your organization’s presentations, where applicable • Sponsored Introduction Opportunities to include branding materials in the pre-conference Breath Boxes (when offered)

• Secondary recognition and positioning during event presentation • Promotion of PARTNERSHIP throughout conference experience • One virtual conference booth

GOLD

Gold $2,500

• Honorable mention recognition and positioning during event presentation • 3 registrations to attend the annual Black History Education Conference • Banner space on the live-stream during your organization’s presentations, where applicable • Opportunities to include branding materials in the pre-conference Breath Boxes (when offered) • Promotion of PARTNERSHIP throughout conference experience

• One virtual conference booth • 3 Conference Registration

BRONZE

Bronze $ 1,000

• 2 registrations to attend the annual Black History Education Conference • Opportunities to include branding materials in the pre-conference Breath Boxes (when offered) • Promotion of PARTNERSHIP throughout conference experience

LOVE

Love Offering $200.00-$999.00 • 1 registration to attend the annual Black History Education Conference • Name / Organization listed on Virtual Love Offering page

HOW YOUR SPONSORSHIP HELPS OUR Success

• High quality virtual platform • Gift boxes to be created and mailed out before the conference to promote engagement • Speaker fees including keynotes • Conference planning team honorariums • Scholarship registration fees for educators • AFR I CAN CER project conference strand (Health Disparities sessions with focus on pancreatic, breast, colon and prostate cancer) • Creation and offering of virtual culturally relevant museum tours past tours have included the Milton House and the For Colored Girls Museum • Breath Bag Ceremony (Preschool-Grade 6 literacy awards ceremony) • Community Awards Ceremony • Year round/continued contact programming connected to the B.R.E.A.T.H. Board • HBCU Summer College Tour For Student Strand Participants • Student Strand Programming (Pre-K-college leveled students) • Prizes/Raffles • Decorations • Costumes • Administrative Costs • Defray Meal Costs • Conference Dance DJ • Printing • Mailing Costs • Program Booklets • UW Place Fees • Student Strand Scholarships • Sponsorship Drum Circle • Venues • Gifts Your S ponsorship Will Help Us Provide :

Sponsors contributions are vital to continue our important work. We cannot succeed without the generosity of supporters like you.

Thank You to Our Past

• American Family Dream Bank • Beaufort County School District

• Books 4 School • Capital City Hues • Edgewood College • Green Bay Area School District • The Influence • Madison Metropolitan School District • MTI Centers • Minority Student Achievement Network

• Overture Center For The Arts • PBS Wisconsin Education • Dr. Richard Streedain • F.O.S.T.E.R • Tamara D. Grigsby Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI) Department • Unity Plus, Meriter and Quartz • University of Wisconsin Madison Community Relations • University of Wisconsin Division of Diversity, Equity & Educational Achievement • University of Wisconsin Madison External Relations

• Urban League of Greater Madison • UW Credit Union • UW Health Unity Point Health Meriter Quartz • WEA Credit Union • Wisconsin Education Association Council • Wisconsin Historical Society • UW PLACE • H.E.A.L Project

• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. • Carter G. Woodson Foundation • Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

• Minority Student Achievement Network • Sankofa Educational Leadership United • A Black Education Network (ABEN) • Sun Prairie School District • Eau Claire School District • Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) • UW Carbone Cancer Health Disparities Initiaive • Arlington Davis Law Firm • Gyame Quilt Studio/Children of the Sun • Seein’ Is Believin’ LLC

A ndreal Davis is a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, cousin, aunt, friend and the former Statewide Culturally Responsive Practices Coordinator in Wisconsin. She is also CEO and Founder of Cultural Practices that are Relevant Consulting Firm whose signature event is the annual Black History Education Conference. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education in 1986 and a Master of Science Degree in Curriculum and Instruction in 1995 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She also holds a certificate in Educational Administration from Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin. Convinced of the importance of family and community in a child’s education, Andreal has been instrumental in forming family- school-community relationships ever since she began her teaching in 1986. She has served in various capacities in the public education arena including but not limited to an Elementary Educator, Title I Reading Instructor, Parent Involvement Coordinator, Instructional Resource Teacher for Cultural Relevance, Assistant Director of Equity and Family Involvement and the nation’s first Director of African American Student Achievement with the Madison Metropolitan School District in Madison, Wisconsin. She was formerly co- director, along with her husband Arlington, of the African American Ethnic Academy, an academic and cultural enrichment program that convened on Saturday mornings. As a product of the research she did while serving as co-director at the African American Ethnic Academy she was propelled by her own three sons and countless other under-served children across the country and devoted her life’s work to researching best practices and models around Culturally Responsive Practices that speak to the unique identities and world views of these children. Reflecting on her own educational experiences as a child and those she has had as a classroom teacher and mother, she has held deeply in her heart the people, purposes and passions that shaped and have had a profound effect on the educational leader she is today. Many of these experiences remain in her institutional memory and call her to create and share this Andreal Davis FOUNDER OF CULTURAL PRACTICES THAT ARE RELEVANT CONSULTING FIRM & CULTURAL PRACTICES THAT ARE RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION

work through publishing books, developing curriculum and consulting work across the nation. Included in this repertoire of tools and resources are a professional development model called Cultural Practices that are Relevant (CPR) that supports and strengthens Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching. Most recently she has published her first culturally responsive children’s book called, “Dreaming In Ethnic Melodies” that shares the hopes and dreams she has held for her own three sons. She formerly served

as Wisconsin’s Statewide Culturally Responsive Practices Coordinator at the Wisconsin Response to Intervention Center. She led that work along with a team of colleagues, training practitioners across the state of Wisconsin and nationally from a model she co-created called the Model to Inform Culturally Responsive Practices that focuses on what it means to be culturally responsive starting with self and moving that work across an entire equitable multi-level system of support. As a result of this work Andreal has received various awards. She was the recipient of the NBC 15 News Crystal Apple Award in 2000, UW-Madison Lois

Gadd Nemec Distinguished Elementary Education Alumni Award in 2004, Order of the Eastern Star Mother Full of Grace in 2004, the Milken National

Educator Award in 2004 and the YWCA woman of Distinction Award in 2013.

TO CREATE A BETTER FUTURE

1. BHEC 2022 CONFERENCE LINK: https://place.education.wisc.edu/k12-programs/black- history-education-conference/ 2. BHEC 2020 CONFERENCE LINK: http://diversity.edgewood.edu/Black-History-Conference 3. BHEC 2019 PROGRAM BOOKLET: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/158968/ 4. HIGH HOPES FOR HIGHER EDUCATION DOCUMENTARY THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE BLACK HISTORY EDUCATION CONFERENCE 2019: https://www.pbs.org/video/high-hopes-and-higher- education-xximo7 LINKS: EDUCATION CONFERENCE PAST BLACK HISTORY

THE

B.R.E.A.T.H

D uring this time in our history many people have asked us what they can do to take action towards ending systemic racism. Now, after several years in of offering the Black History Education Conference, we knew before this issue took center stage that culturally relevant professional development was one way to eliminate the attitude, opportunity and achievement gaps that exist across the globe. Our answer is to bring forth solutions that will help us eliminate the stark gaps that exist in the state of Wisconsin and across our country. The itinerary for our journey this year will be guided by what we call the “B.R.E.A.T.H Board”. The B.R.E.A.T.H Board outlines how we organize our action steps towards fulfilling our mission and goals for breathing new life into our instructional practices and children. The B.R.E.A.T.H. board also serves to help answer the question, “What can we do to take action towards ending systemic racism?” Our BREATH is our anchor to our power; breathe deeply!!!! ~Tovi Scruggs~

B -Black History Education Conference- The Black History Education Conference experience is intended to provide a venue where stakeholders across the state/country will be able to share policies, practices, programs and procedures that have proven effective in promoting high levels of achievement for Black students. R -Relevant Texts-Dreaming In Ethnic Melodies by Andreal Davis is a book that allows the reader to take a trip through the heart and mind of a mother as she shares her hopes and dreams for her son as he navigates the journey from childhood to adulthood. The author draws from lessons learned from prominent African American historical and contemporary figures to impart wisdom and equip him with the necessary tools and information he needs to move through and to success as an African American male in modern day society. E -Ethnic Melodies is a culturally relevant literacy curriculum that includes 5 responsive literacy categories and 21 culturally relevant lesson plans. A -Affirmations and Academic Breath Bags- The “I Am Somebody” affirmation can be used to help students speak into existence what you want them to believe about themselves and what you as a teacher, family or community member want them to know you believe about them as well. The academic “Breath Bag” is a culturally relevant “school in a backpack” that includes age appropriate reading, science, social studies, math, and art or music activities. The activities are designed to promote positive identity development/self-esteem, enhance academic achievement and bridge the digital divide. T -Testimonials in support of our work provides qualitative data around the impacts of our collective work and responsibility. H -Health Disparities with a focus on the newly created program called, The Afr I CAN cer Project- Cultural Practices That Are Relevant will partner with community organizations and Black History Education Conference attendees to implement the Afr I CAN cer project. The goals of the project include reducing inequities, creating awareness, implementing education activities, conducting outreach and developing programs, for underserved populations. The HBCU “Where Two or Three Are Gathered Summer College Tour” provides African-American students, with a small but mighty unique learning opportunity to visit multiple college campuses and site visits in a single trip. These multi-campus summer college tours give students a solid understanding of the history, culture, and traditions that have shaped the schools’ collective legacy, and experiences that will help them choose the right HBCU.

CPR Annual Summer Historical Black College Tour Two Three

T he HBCU “Where Two or Three Are Gathered Summer College Tour” provides African-American students, with a small but mighty unique learning opportunity to visit multiple college campuses and site visits in a single trip. These multi-campus summer college tours give students a solid understanding of the history, culture, and traditions that have shaped the schools’ collective legacy, and experiences that will help them choose the right HBCU. To date, the tours have included no more than six people so as to keep the experiences intimate and personalized.

Pre tour experiences include viewing the documentary, “Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Historically Black Colleges and Universities” and Historical Black Colleges Poster Research. Other preparatory opportunities have included a Historical Black Colleges President’s Panel highlighting Dr. Willie Larkin former President of Grambling State,

Dr. David Wilson President of Morgan State, Dr. Jerald Woolfolk President of Lincoln University and Dr. Cynthia Warrick President of Stillman College where students were invited to hear and ask questions first-hand from these powerful leaders about educational opportunities at their institutions. The tour experience also provides a source of self-reliance and self-development for many students. This educational endeavor introduces Middle and High School students to college campus life and provides them with firsthand curriculum information, entrance requirements, financial aid and scholarship resources by offering students the opportunity to speak directly with college students and other officials. Aspiring college students are exposed to the world of historically Black Colleges and Universities in order to promote increased college attendance at these institutions of higher learning.

Afr I CAN cer Project

C ultural Practices That Are Relevant partners with community organizations and the annual Black History

Education Conference attendees to achieve the goals of the Afr-I Can-cer Project. Included among those goals are reducing health inequities, creating awareness, implementing educational programming, conducting outreach, increasing screenings, amplifying youth voices and developing programs for underserved populations. Some of the organizations that we are currently partnering with are the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PANCAN) and the Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN). The Afr I CAN Cer strand incorporates programs with a focus on pancreatic, breast, colon, and prostate cancer and addresses the recent unveilings of health disparities for African Americans connected to the COVID-19 pandemic.

What Are Breath Bags? T he Breath Bag is a culturally relevant tool that introduces preschool through sixth grade students age appropriate content area activities in science, social studies, math, art/creative expression, reading, identity development and goal setting. Breath Bag activities are fun and informative ways to “share and prepare” students for school through the use of culturally relevant learning experiences at home, school and in the community. Each backpack is designed to promote positive self-esteem and experiences that help model school success. The bags also help bridge the technology divide that exists by utilizing traditional modes of teaching and learning. The activities/content areas align with the common core state standards. They can be used to provide educational assistance, personal enrichment, summer programming, after-school programming, parenting and mental health support. Each year, at our annual Black History Education Conference, two children are crowned and awarded over$250.00 of literacy and other culturally relevant educational prizes for their participation and demonstrated family engagement with the Breath Bag Program.

It’s In The Data!

Respondents were asked to rate if their paid registration was worthwhile to them in order to capture a sense of enjoyability, usefulness and time well spent for them at the individual level, as well as to capture if District funds were well spent and provided access to information and learning. This data was taken from a large urban school district in Wisconsin who attended the Annual Black History Education Conference.

*96.5% of the 58 respondents indicated the experience was worthwhile or very worthwile

60

42 (72%)

40

20

14 (24.1%)

2 (3.4%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

0

1

2

3

4

5

Respondents were asked how likely they were to apply the learning to their work at their district to capture if attending the conference was a transformational learning experience, resulting in critical reflection, meaning making and/or willingness to try new approaches.

*98.3% of respondents rated they were likely and/or very likely to apply their learning

60

40

49 (84.5%)

20

8 (13.8%)

1 (1.7%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

0

1

2

3

4

5

DATA/ANALYSIS

Black History Education Conference Attendees

BHEC Student Strand Attendees

Over 1,000 home, school

Over 300 students have attended locally to date

and community personnel have attended from across the country to date

Based on the survey results and open- ended responses from respondents, the district’s Equity & Engagement Department deems that providing this opportunity to their employees was an effective use of some of their funds and indicates that future development and creation of experiences similar to this conference should be expanded for their employees.

Breath Bags

Scholarships

$4,500.00 in scholarships have been given at the annual Black History Education Conference to local area students

Over 1,000 Breath Bags have been distributed to children/ families across the country and Gambia

It’s In

The Data! Responses..

continued ...

“Great experience - provided a lot of opportunities to learn and reflect on what we teach our students (and don’t), how critical identity is, and the importance of ensuring we do a better job of providing curriculum to our students that is a better reflection of themselves.”

“Thank you so much for the opportunity to attend this conference! I have so many take-aways that I’m excited to share with my school. It was an inspiring and thought-provoking conference that gave me a framework for examining my own practices and actionable steps to keep growing and improving.

“The documentary and panel on HBCU’s was all new information for me, and incredibly helpful for supporting students in exploring all post-secondary options moving forward.”

“Thank you for funding this experience for me! I’ll use my learning to inform both my systems-level and curriculum work in our district.”

It was WONDERFUL!!!! It was my first year! I want my ENTIRE staff to attend in masses next year and I will attend going forward every year it is offered. Literally the best educational conference I have ever been to.

“Learning about The Milton House was Amazing! It is important to know that we have access to this museum to enhance the learning experience of this important time in history. It brings the history to life.”

“I appreciated hearing about HBCU’s! I do not know much about them other than they are historically black colleges and universities. This is one of those things that our district needs to talk more about so our scholars know that there are colleges and universities out there that speak to their culture and identity as a Black person!”

“As someone who loves history, hearing the history of the Milton House was really fascinating to me. Like lots of other attendees said, I grew up in Wisconsin and have never heard of the Milton House before now.”

➢ “As we integrate more Black history, literature, and art into our curriculum, we have to remember to connect it all to what our community has to offer so that our curriculum feels connected to the life around us. Community partners like Milton House or HBCUs or the many other organizations run by Black community members in our city can help history come alive for students and provide opportunities for deeper learning as well ascivic action grounded in that learning.”

DATA/ANALYSIS

I AM SOMEBODY .

I am somebody. I am capable & loveable. I am teachable & therefore I can LEARN. I can do anything when I try. I’ll be the best I can be.

Each Day. Each Day. Each Day. I will not waste time. Because its too valuable. And I am too precious & bright.

I am somebody. I am somebody. I am somebody! -Andreal Davis

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