In this session educators will be asked to think about how to move beyond surface level celebrations of diversity. Participants will engage in discussion about how attempts to be inclusive in schools can sometimes be more talk than action. Participants will leave the session with concrete ideas of how to audit their own classrooms for "windowdressing" as well as strategies for building anti-racist communities.

Presenter: Lauren Ray, Indiana University

Lauren Ray has served as a teacher and administrator in a variety of early childhood and elementary settings.

Diversifying the teacher workforce requires recruitment of African-American males to teacher preparation programs. Collectively, their presence is challenging to secure in many PK-12 education settings, yet their contribution is very much needed. There are many factors that contribute to the challenge of attracting African-American males to teacher preparation programs. They are highly sought after but remain elusive in many education settings.

Presenter: Karen Smith, Indiana University

Karen Smith is a second-year Ph.D. student in Instructional Systems Technology at Indiana University. She taught for 15 years as an elementary educator in an urban school district in Indianapolis, Indiana and as an adjunct instructor for pre-service teachers. Prior to transitioning into teaching, Karen worked in marketing research providing customer insight for profit and nonprofit organizations. Her academic and research interests center around designing instruction for Communities of Practice, sociocultural aspects of learning, and mentorship in workplace settings.

Student panel consisting of graduates and undergraduates in the Indiana University School of Education representing the Diggs Inclusive Teacher Project, Holmes Scholars Program, and Student DEI Ambassadors will discuss their experiences in the School of Education with culturally engaging support, skill development opportunities, and resources.

Moderator: Ayanna Samuels-Francis, Indiana University

Ayanna Samuels-Francis, from Las Vegas, Nevada, is a 2nd year in the Masters of Higher Education Student Affairs program at IUB. She earned her bachelor’s in Mass Communications from Alcorn State University. She currently serves as a graduate assistant in the Student Involvement and Leadership Center over student organizations. She is also the vice president of the Black Graduate Student Association and a Fall ‘20 initiate of the Gamma Phi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.

Panelists: Alexis Briggins (Holmes Scholar), Makiya Harper (Diggs Project representative), Diamond Jackson and Eric Agyemang-Dua (Diggs Award Recipients), Kanyia Harper (DEI Student Ambassador), Kaleb Sherrell (Student, Kappa Alpha Psi member)

Step into a transformative journey where education meets empowerment! Join us for a captivating session that unveils the art of guiding age-appropriate discussions on race and diversity in elementary classrooms. In just a short span, you'll unlock the keys to fostering self-acceptance and embracing the beauty of differences. This session will dive into a world of enchanting stories! Unearth a treasure trove of elementary-age read-aloud books, handpicked to spark meaningful conversations about diversity. Explore the rich tapestry of narratives that will captivate young hearts and open minds. Immerse yourself in a hands-on adventure! Engage with an innovative "skin tone exploration" activity using a vibrant palette of paint sample cards. Experience the power of self-awareness as you celebrate your own skin tone and create a collective masterpiece that embodies the spectrum of humanity.

Presenter: Kylie Kaminski, Indiana University

Kylie Kaminski, an IU MSED student, is fueled by a profound enthusiasm for culturally responsive teaching. Her journey is driven by the belief that embracing diversity is pivotal for educational empowerment. With an unwavering passion, Kylie aspires to instill a transformative shift within educators. Through her work, she champions inclusive pedagogies, fostering an environment where every student feels valued. Her mission is clear: to cultivate a cadre of educators who champion differences and inclusivity, revolutionizing learning for generations to come.

This keynote TEA Talk will provide Elder Watson Diggs Education Symposium participants with a five-step protocol for practicing “real talk” in schools. The real talk protocol guides educators into confident, credible, critical conversations with their students about public issues like race, racism, and politics to redirect the racial future that is already in progress.

Presenter: Marcus Croom, Indiana University

Marcus Croom, Ph.D., is assistant professor of Literacy, Culture, and Language Education and adjunct assistant professor of African American and African Diaspora Studies at Indiana University Bloomington (IUB). As a race critical researcher and the author of Real Talk? How to Discuss Race, Racism, and Politics in 21st Century American Schools, Croom's noted publications include: “Review and scholarly synthesis as anti-racist action” (2023), “Reimagining LRA in the spirit of a transcendent approach to literacy” (2023), “A race critical peer commentary with the post-White orientation: A commentary on ‘Undoing competence: Coloniality, homogeneity, and the overrepresentation of Whiteness in applied linguistics’” (2022), “Black Lives Matter panel: A generous invitation to The Archive” (2021), “A case study from Barracoon: The story of the last ‘Black Cargo' with practice of race theory” (2020), “Literacies of interrogation and vulnerability: Reimagining preservice teacher preparation designed to promote social justice in education” (2019), “Reading: “The crisis in Black education” from a post-White orientation” (2016), and “Racial literacies: Just reading and writing is deadly in America” (2016). Croom’s scholarship is available at https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Marcus-Croom/research.

This panel will consist of recruiters and admission officers at Indiana University -Bloomington who have experience with diversity recruitment. In this session we will discuss how recruitment and admissions may need to change and how others can contribute to helping in the recruitment of African Americans to highly selective universities in light of the Supreme Court decision to ban the use of Affirmative Action in college admissions.

Moderator: Christen Priddie, Indiana University

Christen Priddie, Ph.D. is an Assistant Research Scientist with the National Survey of Student Engagement in the Center of Postsecondary Research and a member of the School of Education Diversity Committee. Her research interests are centered around examining diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-blackness in STEM fields for Black STEM students. Christen earned her Ph.D. in Higher Education from Indiana University Bloomington in 2021.

Panelists: Kim Stewart-Brinston (Office of Admissions, Sr. Associate Director), Lindsey Arnold (School of Education, Director of Enrollment Management), Vince Isom (Director, 21st Century Scholars Program)

This session will focus on language attitudes and the role that they play in how students are made to feel welcome or unwelcome in school. Linguicism is a form of discrimination that is based on a person’s use of language, dialect, accent, or diction. Linguicism is frequently intersectional with other racial, ethnic, or social discrimination that young learners encounter, but often does not receive close attention. We will discuss examples of linguicism in international and US contexts that will help the audience to situate their own beliefs and perspectives and to understand how their language attitudes can set up barriers for learners. And we will explore ways in which teachers can counteract linguistic discrimination in their schools and classrooms.

Presenter: Beth Samuelson, Indiana University

Beth Samuelson is the director of the African Studies program. She has taught language and literacy studies courses in the School of Education since 2008, and her experience working with English learners and World languages instruction spans 20 years. She has been a mentor and director of the IU Books & Beyond Project, a student organization that emphasizes increasing the supply of reading materials for students in Rwanda and elsewhere since 2008.

Students need to see themselves in their curricula: their language, their background, and their cultural heritage. Incorporating aspects of the majestic cultures of the peoples of Africa provides African-American students with ways to connect with their backgrounds and to feel that school is a place where they can follow in the footsteps of great thinkers and doers from Africa and the African diaspora. This session will be offered collaboratively by the faculty and AIs of the African languages at IU and will introduce teachers, parents, and students to the resources provided through the African Studies Program at IU.

Presenters: Tavy De Lacy Aherne (lead presenter), Bongeka Buhle Selepe, Comfort Adejoke Durojaiye, Indiana University

Tavy Aherne is the associate director for the African Studies Program and has taught on Africa’s diverse cultures and global diasporas for more than 20 years. Dr. Aherne leads national teacher outreach related to internationalization and specifically, teaching Africa content in the classroom. She has led teacher workshops on topics such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Supporting Refugee and Immigrant Students in Indiana, Teaching in Times of Crisis, Africa and Climate Change, Transnational Solidarities and the BLM Movement, Social Studies and Geography Course Internationalization, and other topics. Dr. Aherne also assists teachers with curriculum development, including the first Indiana high school courses devoted to African History. She is on the board of the African Studies Outreach Council, the Children’s Africana Book Awards (CABA), and the Association for African Studies Programs. She has been a Posse Foundation Faculty Mentor, devoted to supporting BIPOC students from under-resourced schools persist and succeed in achieving a college degree and becoming community leaders. One of her most fulfilling moments as an educator was being the first Posse Faculty Mentor to see all of her “Chicago Posse” student mentees graduate from an elite liberal arts university!

In the spirit of Elder Watson Diggs’ vision of honorable achievement, this culminating panel will consist of education and philanthropic stakeholders who will share meaningful experiences and ideas relative to K-12, higher education, and the promotion of education as a profession. Furthermore, the panel will discuss ideas on strengthening the ties between education and opportunities for students and professionals through mentorship, coaching and community support.

Panelists:

Anthony G. Stepney is the Executive Director of The Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation, a national organization committed to serving youth from under-served and under-represented communities. Stepney brings to the Foundation close to 30 years of fundraising, development, and administrative leadership experience. For the past 3 years, he has led the development and implementation of the Foundation’s Strategic Plan, developed and managed programs and services that the Foundation offers to communities across the nation. He is a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and past Vice Polemarch (president) of the multi award-winning Winter Park (FL) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Among his many achievements, most notably, Anthony is a member of the North Florida PGA Section, and designated as a PGA Master Professional— the highest educational achievement among PGA Membership. Representing close to 1% of association members, fewer than 400 PGA Member have ever achieved this status since its establishment in 1969 to recognize PGA Members who maintain the highest degree of excellence. He is the first African American to earn the designation in Player Development and only the second African American overall. Anthony was selected to the 2016 inaugural PGA LEAD Emerging Leaders cohort and is distinguished professionally for his thought leadership on business development, strategic planning, coaching, youth development and education. Additionally, he served on the PGA of America’s Employment Committee.

Throughout his career, Anthony has gained valuable leadership experience through his work with various Fortune 500 companies, Maryland State Government, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s National Leadership Fellowship, and the Salzburg Global Fellowship in Austria. He is a graduate of Lincoln University, PA (B.S. – Business).

Jordan Q. Smith is a Junior in Operations Management at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business. Aside from his responsibilities as a student, Jordan holds the distinct honor of being recently elected to the highest fraternity leadership office specifically designated for an undergraduate, Junior Grand Vice Polemarch (undergraduate national vice president) of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Through this role, Jordan represents thousands of fraternity undergraduate members and chairs the council of (12) Junior Province Vice Polemarchs (regional undergraduate vice presidents). Additionally, this office grants him the ability to serve on the fraternity’s Grand Board of Directors and the Executive Committee. Through service on these governing bodies, Jordan evaluates fraternity affairs and sets forth procedures.

Additionally, as a student leader, Jordan serves as Polemarch (President) of the Alpha Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. at Indiana University, Bloomington, and Resident Assistant at Forest Quadrangle. He is a Hudson & Holland Scholar and Hutton Honors Scholar. Jordan was raised in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Kevin Scott is a Chicago, Illinois native and a retired 32-year Chicago Police Department veteran. He was promoted to the rank of Detective in 2000, and for the next 22 years, he conducted a wide range of investigations regarding violent and property crimes and crimes against children. He also developed intelligence of real-time violent crime offenses and domestic threat awareness assessments throughout the city of Chicago.

Scott is a 1998 initiate of the Chicago (IL) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He has served as the chapter’s senior vice polemarch (vice president), reporter, and historian since 2007. Scott recently held dual chapter membership with the Evanston (IL) Alumni Chapter, serving as their vice polemarch and historian. He previously served as historian of the fraternity’s North Central Province (a five-state Midwest region), where his research uncovered new information, including the burial place, date of death, and other unrecorded details about the life of one of the Fraternity’s Founders Paul W. Caine.

In 2013, Scott was elected the fraternity’s 15th Grand Historian and has transformed the fraternity’s approach to preserving and celebrating its history. A few of his remarkable endeavors include establishing a fraternity archive recovery initiative, the composition of a Chicago (IL) Alumni centennial anniversary history book, and the direction, collection, and submission of original fraternity artifacts to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture. He led efforts to establish a scholarship in honor of ΚΑΨ Founder Elder W. Diggs at Indiana University-Bloomington’s School of Education (IU-B SOE). Chief among Scott’s activities is his authorship of the fraternity’s history book, The Story of Kappa Alpha Psi, 6th Ed. He has also spearheaded a collaborative relationship between Indiana University and the Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation to fund the commission of a portrait of Founder Diggs at IU-B SOE as the institution’s first Black graduate.

He is a graduate of Chicago State and Lewis Universities, from which he earned B.S. and M.A. degrees, respectively.

Vincent Isom is Director of the IU 21st Century Scholars Program at Indiana University Bloomington. In his role, Vincent leads a team of 5 full-time student support services professionals who serve 3,000+ 21st Century Scholars across the University's 16 degree-granting colleges, programs, and schools.

Prior to his role, Vincent was Academic Advisor and Coordinator of Upperclassman Advising and Activities between 2002 and 2014 in the IU Groups Scholars Program at Indiana University Bloomington, former Director/Co-Director of the IU Thomas I. Atkins Living Learning Center between 2007 and 2019, Assistant Resident Manager of IU Residential Programs and Services (RPS) between 1999 and 2002, and Academic Advisor/Counselor & Resident Hall Coordinator between 1993 and 1999 at Youngstown State University.

Vincent holds an M.S. degree in College Student Personnel Administration from the IU School of Education and a B.S. in Management from the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) at Indiana University Bloomington.

He was the recipient of the "2021 Exemplar Award" from the IU Neal-Marshall Alumni Club, "2016 Janice L. Wiggins Staff Academic Service Award" from IU Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies, the "2015 University Partner Award” from Inroads, the "2014 Faculty and Staff Student Choice Award" from IU Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, the "2006 Laverta L. Terry Outstanding Service Award" from the Indiana Mid-America Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel (I-MAEOPP), and the "1999 Edna K. McDonald Cultural Awareness Award" from Youngstown State University. Under his leadership, the IUB 21st Century Scholars Program was the recipient of the "2021 Certificate of Merit for Outstanding Advising Program" by NACADA, the Global Community for Academic Advising and "2015 Champion Award" by 21st Century Scholars Indiana Commission for Higher Education.

Vincent is a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi (Alpha Chapter) and currently serves as Faculty Advisor for the Alpha Chapter.