While all the drama around the pandemic and its fallout sucks the life out of schools and communities, far too many heavy-hitters in the education policy and politics continue to sit in their silos and fight the battles of the 20th century around curriculum, testing and accountability.
Brightbeam refuses to stand by and watch this go on any longer. Our activists want to see the field stop spinning its wheels and take action for children and their families. That’s why we’re launching a series of four town hall conversations, #SeekingCommonGround.
https://citizen.education/seekingcommonground/
#SeekingCommonGround is about bridging the gap between local communities and national education leaders. It’s also about breaking free of the ideological shackles of yesteryear that stand in the way of a common agenda to benefit students and their families.
[pullquote]Our goal is to foster dialogue that points the way to a sensible, common-ground agenda that everyone can fight for, today.[/pullquote] Here’s how we’re getting there.
We’re talking with a diverse mix of national and local leaders about some of the most pressing issues in the field:
What young people should be learning as they emerge from nearly two years of isolation into the midst of a bitter culture war over how to teach U.S. history.
How to use student data responsibly to improve young people’s futures.
Building mutual accountability between school systems and the communities they purport to serve.
Supporting the whole child as the world recovers from the devastation wrought by COVID-19.
Throughout October, we’ll be talking with national leaders from Robin Lake at the Center for Reinventing Public Education to the NEA’s Becky Pringle. We’ll meet grassroots parent, educator and student leaders. Brightbeam’s own activist team, including Minneapolis School Board member Adriana Cerrillo and Atlanta Public Schools school board candidate Jason Allen.
#SeekingCommonGround will bring these leaders together to analyze how systems can better ensure that all students, especially perpetually marginalized Black and brown young people, take part in excellent, life-enhancing education.
[pullquote]This is not just talk; it’s a foundation for action.[/pullquote]
You are not just our audience for this — your thoughts and opinions can help shape our common-ground agenda. Join the conversation.
Chris Stewart
An award-winning writer, speaker, and blogger, Chris Stewart is a relentless advocate for children and families. Based in outstate Minnesota, Chris is CEO of brightbeam, a nonprofit media group that runs campaigns to highlight policies and practices that support thriving kids. He was the founding Director of the African American Leadership Forum, was an elected member of the Minneapolis Board of Education, and founded and served as the CEO of Wayfinder Foundation. Above all, Chris is a serial parent, a Minecraft enthusiast, and an epic firestarter on Twitter where he has antagonized the best of them on the political left and right. You’ll often see Chris blogging at citizenstewart.com and “tweeting” under the name “Citizen Stewart.”
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