WAKEFIELD — Executive Director Margie Daniels of the Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY) announces the details of an upcoming conference, “Recognize, Respond, Survive, Then Thrive: Eradicating the Culture of Microaggressions in the School Community (And Beyond),” on Feb. 11.
This conference will feature leaders in education and diversity, equity, and inclusion professionals who will analyze the effect of microaggressions within school communities and how to minimize these harmful behaviors.
WHEN:
Tuesday, Feb. 11
Registration: 8:15-8:45 a.m.
Conference: 8:45 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
WHERE:
Blue Hills Regional Technical School, 800 Randolph St., Canton, MA, 02021, or via Zoom
WHAT:
A hybrid conference — Recognize, Respond, Survive, Then Thrive: Eradicating the Culture of Microaggressions in the School Community (And Beyond) — will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at Blue Hills Regional Technical School and via Zoom for those who wish to participate remotely. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Microaggressions refer to derogatory comments and statements that are hostile and offensive, often rooted in an individual’s identity. When such microaggressions become ingrained in a school community, they can adversely affect the recruitment, retention, and advancement of traditionally marginalized and overlooked groups of students and staff.
Research indicates that 70% of employees report feeling upset by microaggressions, with half considering leaving their workplace as a result.
Participants will gain strategies to recognize, discuss, and disrupt the harmful language and behaviors associated with a culture of microaggressions in the school environment, utilizing a structured framework.
At MPY’s hybrid conference, speakers include:
- Jessica Pepple, Ed.D, MBA, Chief Diversity and Culture Officer at RFK Community Alliance
- Renée Heywood, Ph.D., CEO of Real Talk Leadership
- Pierre Jean, M.Ed., Assistant Principal at Needham High School
- Vonetta Lightfoot, B.A., Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Coordinator for the Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative
- André Morgan, Ed.L.D., Ph.D., Director of Opportunity, Access, and Equity for Beverly Public Schools
In-person registration for the event has closed, but virtual registration remains open on MPY’s website, mpyinc.org, until 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 10. To register for a webinar or conference, use the “Webinars & Conferences” tab at the top of the website, or click here to register for the Feb. 11 conference.
Every MPY conference is recorded and available to registered participants through a link that remains live for 10 days.
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education-approved Professional Development Points (PDPs) and Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are offered at no additional cost to participants who attend this conference and who attend the Feb. 25 conference, Creating Safe and Supportive Environments for LGBTQ Students.
About the Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth, Inc.
Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides training, fosters collaboration and develops programming to increase the health and safety of students. MPY is committed to bringing cutting-edge information and high-quality trainings to constituents and endeavors to provide solution-oriented, community-based, multi-disciplinary approaches to reducing and ideally eliminating risky behaviors for youth. MPY programming reaches nearly 6,000 educators per year in Massachusetts, spread across approximately 300 districts, with more than 150 webinars and over a dozen conferences.
Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth is governed by a Board of Directors made up of school superintendents, police and fire chiefs, and other community leaders who work closely with MPY staff to deliver this mission. To learn more, visit: massachusettspartnershipsforyouth.com.
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