16^th Annual Anti-Racism Conference

Thomas Jefferson District, Unitarian Universalist Association

Dismantling Racism: promises to keep and miles to go…

February 18-20, 2005

Unitarian Universalist
Fellowship of Columbia

2701 Heyward Street, Columbia, SC 29205-2523

Columbia, South Carolina

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
And miles to go before I sleep.
Robert Frost, "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening"

Print your own: Brochure, Poster, Color Poster, Press Release, Loewen PR

conference keynote – Dr. James Loewen

Professor James Loewen, is a sociologist at the University of Vermont and at the Smithsonian Institute. He is the author of Lies My Teacher Told Me and more recently Lies Across America, books renowned among scholars and educators for debunking historical myth, particularly those that gloss over or trivialize racism.

schedule

Friday, February 18, 2005

5:00 – 7:00      Registration
6:00 – 7:00      Dinner

7:00 – 8:00      Ingathering
8:00 – 9:00      Holla Improv group
9:00 – 9:15      Home Hospitality

Saturday, February 19, 2005

7:30 – 8:30 Registration/ Breakfast
8:30 – 9:30 Morning Plenary
10:00 – 11:00 Concurrent Sessions: The A,B,Cs of Anti-Racism in Education
11:15 – Noon Debrief on Concurrent Sessions

12:00 – 1:00 Lunch

1:00 – 2:00      Afternoon Plenary:
2:15 – 3:15      Concurrent Sessions: Anti-Racism in Action-Engaging Grassroots Efforts
3:30 – 4:00      Debrief on Concurrent Sessions
4:00 – 4:15      Closing Remarks and Announcements

6:00 – 7:00      Dinner

7:30                 Keynote address

cost

The cost for the conference is $45 for regular attendees and $20 for youth. A late fee of $10 will be charged after February 11. Registration includes Friday dinner, and Saturday continental breakfast and lunch and two breaks. There will be no refunds after February 14. Some scholarships will be available (contact primada@aol.com).

location

The conference will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Columbia, SC.

Driving directions are included here (and will be included in your confirmation).

child care

If you need childcare, please e-mail Jessica Porter at primada@aol.com by February 11.

lodging

A block of rooms has been reserved at The Whitney Hotel at the following rates: one-bedroom suites for 1-3 people, $99/ suite, two-bedroom suites for up to 5 people, $119/suite. Location: 700 Woodrow St. Columbia, SC, tel.(803)252-0845, extension Mary Lynn.

Hotel website: http://www.whitneyhotel.com/

The Youth Con starts at 8:00 Friday night and continues until Saturday night when the youth join their congegrations for the keynote address. SLEEPOVER. will NOT be held at the Fellowship either night, and youth should arrange for hotel or home hospitality accomodations.

home hospitality

E-mail Regina Moody at rbmoody@sc.rr.com (correct email address) by February 01 if you would rather stay at a church member’s home.

Promises to Keep, and miles to go…

The planning committee has chosen this theme to focus on anti-racist advocacy in education at a time when public schools are re-segregating nationally and racial gaps in educational funding, achievement, and attainment persist..

Print your own brochure here

Correction: Home hospitality email for Regina Moody should be rbmoody@sc.rr.com

sessions

A. History and Current Trends in U.S. Education:

This opening plenary would involve all participants and focus on the current state of education for children of color in the U.S. education system, as well as on the nation’s campuses (Leon Spencer – Georgia State)

B. Understanding Racial Disparities in Education Outcomes:

This workshop is designed primarily for those without frequent interaction with educational institutions. It is intended to build basic awareness about disparities in educational funding and achievement. The goals of the workshop are to provide an up-to-date picture of the status of children of color inside the U.S. educational system, to understand reasons for disparities, and strategies for addressing them. (Lonnie Randolph – NAACP SC State Conference President)

C. Efforts to Expand the Canon:

This workshop is designed primarily for those who have some familiarity with educational institutions. It is intended to build awareness about efforts to expand the educational canon to make it more inclusive and accountable to children of color (e.g., those for whom English is not their primary language). The goals of the workshop are to explore multiculturalism, bilingual education, and other efforts to challenge Eurocentrism in the classroom. (Carl Wells – University of South Carolina).

D. Protecting the Promise of Public Education

This workshop is designed to introduce participants to engagement in grassroots, anti-racist action in education. (Lonnie Randolph).

E. Funding Equity: The Abbeville Case:

This workshop is designed to introduce participants to the specifics of the case pending before the South Carolina State Supreme Court, and how SC residents can get involved in education in their communities.

F. Market-Based Education Reform: What Role in an Anti-Racist Agenda?

This workshop is designed for participants highly engaged with educational institutions. The intent is to provoke discussion about what role, if any, market-based reforms such as school voucher plans and school choice should play in an anti-racist educational agenda. (Carl Wells).

Parallel Youth Con:

Anti-Racist Zone -- 24 hrs

The UUFC Youth will host Jr. and Sr. High youth. (No youth sleepover)

Activities Saturday, February 19, 2005.

· Anti-Racism Expression through Graffiti and Tee-shirt art

· Rewriting the History of School Desegregation through Oral Histories.

· Riverwalk, Rivertalk . A walk along the Broad River
with rap improv group Mahogany.

Directions –
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Columbia, SC

2701 Heyward Street, Columbia, SC 29205 tel. 803-799-0845

Here are directions to the Columbia Fellowship. and a detailed map of the streets around our building. Parking is along Woodrow and Heyward streets.

To reach the Fellowship from the Whitney Hotel:

From the front door of the Whitney, turn left and walk four blocks south on Woodrow the UUFC is on your left, at the corner of Woodrow and Heyward St.

Registration

For the first time, we offer the option of completely online registration -- no stamps, no paper checks-- you can make your payment via charge card or check using the secure services of "Paypal".

Early registration discount ends February 11th.

You may still register by paper mail and check.   You may Print your own brochure and mail the form, with your check made out, to: TJ District, UUA to:

    Miles to Go Conference
    c/o UU Fellowship of Columbia
    2701 Heyward St.
    Columbia SC 29205-2523