Our class attended the Chicago School Reform: Myths, Realities and New Visions Forum last night at UIC. I'm glad we had the opportunity to go, especially because lately I don't make it out to this kind of event on my own, just because I've been so all consumed by school.
Anyway, the Chicagoland Researchers and Advocates for Transformative Education (CReATE), a group of bad ass researchers, educators, and just flat out amazing people, put together a document that highlights myths, realities and their vision for what public education should look like.
I guess what stood out for me most were the final remarks by the student, parent and community representatives on the panel. Especially Jitu Brown from the Kenwood Oakland Community Organization. I guess they helped to contextualize this document, its great, but now what?
Jitu said something very important last night, he made it clear that what we will find in this document is nothing new. This is not to invalidate the work or the panel, if anything it was to light a fire under our ass and push everyone to action. There is a lot of value to the document and to the collective voice of CReATE and all of their individual members. Its just that this information is not new. I love hearing Jitu Brown speak, I always feel re-inspired, we need more action, we need more organizers. We have to stop putting it off or relying on someone else to take action for us, if we do, its never going to happen.
absolutely, paulina! people can research and write all they want, but it's the community organizers and folks on the front line who get things done that really make a difference. i was inspired by jitu as well, and in fact i spoke with him afterwards and we're planning to meet up to take about ways the hyde park art center can become more involved. glad you enjoyed the program!
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