“Our first mistakes are in school and they make them our last” Male Student from Suspension Stories Kick-Off Event Workshop
On Saturday April 17th, the Rogers Park Young Women’s Action Team (YWAT) and Project NIA hosted a day-long event to officially kick off the Suspension Stories project.
With the generous support of Depaul University’s Women and Gender Studies Program and a small grant from the Chicago Freedom School’s Urgent Action Fund, YWAT organized a series of workshops for over 70 people.
Workshops were facilitated by representatives from Loyola University’s Social Justice Advocates, Blocks Together, Community Organizing for Family Issues, Young Chicago Authors, Neighborhood Writing Alliance, and Marwen. Notes from a couple of workshops are provided below.
By Chanell Marshall (4/17/10) - Loyola Social Justice Advocates
Loyola University’s Social Justice Advocates – Introduction to the School to Prison Pipeline (youth only): In this session, participants will learn how the tools from our modern day criminal justice system feeds the school-to-prison pipeline, which pushes children to a one way path toward prison. This pipeline refers to the general trend to criminalize rather than educate our children, especially those located in areas of lower socioeconomic and historically underrepresented locations. Click HERE for notes on this workshop.
By Chanell Marshall (4/17/10) - COFI Workshop
Community Organizing for Family Issues (Austin Peace Center)–Introduction to the School to Prison Pipeline (adults only): During the workshop, participants will discuss alternatives to suspensions and strategies for ending the school-to-prison pipeline. They will also receive a copy of POWER-PAC’s Parent-to-Parent Guide on Restorative Justice in Chicago Public Schools. The workshop will be led by parent leaders of POWER-PAC (Parents Organized to Win, Educate and Renew – Policy Action Council). Click HERE for COFI Workshop Notes
by Chanell Marshall (April 17, 2010)
In addition, youth and adults who were willing to share their “suspension stories” were invited to record their stories on film and via audiotape. Young people from Free Spirit Media were present to videotape some stories and students from Depaul University conducted audiotaped interviews.
Acknowledgements
Thanks to the following people and organizations for making the April 17th kick-off event a huge success…
Sarah Atlas and Marwen
Loyola University Social Justice Advocates and Sharon Claros
Chanell Marshall
Chicago Freedom School (for the urgent action fund grant)
Chicago Youth Igniting Change
Depaul University
Jeff McCarter and Youth from Free Spirit Media
Ana Mercado and Youth from Blocks Together
Erin Moore and Neighborhood Writing Alliance
Lynn Morton and Community Organizing for Family Issues
Hilesh Patel
Ann Russo
Patty Seeburger
Steans Center for Community Service at Depaul University
Steans Family Foundation
FM Supreme and Young Chicago Authors
Wynne Turkington
Chad Williams
Mari Yaginuma
Ilana Zafran and Umoja Student Development Corporation
