'Elevating Equity In Schools' Mini-Conference Set For March 18

COLUMBIA, MD — School and community groups in Howard County will host a free mini-conference on equity in schools Saturday, March 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

The event is geared toward high school students, families, staff, and community partners.

The Elevating Equity in Schools mini-conference aims to provide school administrators, educators, parents, students, and community members the knowledge they need to ensure all students experience equity in school. The half-day event will feature remarks from leaders and administrators, a panel discussion, several workshops, as well as remarks and performances from Howard County Public School System students.

Tickets are available online.

The mini-conference will take an in-depth look at educational practices through a racial equity lens, removing systemic barriers to success that individuals face, and increasing access, opportunities and support for all students. Workshops will be facilitated by HCPSS staff and community leaders, and include:

• Neighborhood Narratives: How the Stories We Tell Influence the Beliefs We Hold
• Creating Community
• Elevating Equity for our Black Girls-Moving from the Pushout to Sacred and Loved
• The Pushback: Equipping Parents of Teens with Concrete Strategies for Supporting and Empowering Teens
• Difference Between Being Admitted and Accepted: Welcome to the HBCU Experience
• Human Trafficking: Raising Awareness
• Students and Belongingness
• Equity-Centered Leadership Coaching
• Leading with Empathy
• The Case Study: Leading with Equity
• Celebrating Asian American Heritage Month Across HCPSS Schools
• The Pushout Documentary and Screening
• LGBTQIA: Best Practices for Supporting Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Students
• A Cultural Experience: The Journey of Hispanic Families
• Sense of Belonging: Questioning and Listening Skills
• Social and Emotional Learning for Students
• Creating Protective Cover for Black Girls: The Real Counter Narrative to the Pushout Dilemma
• Creating Joyful Spaces for Black Girls
• HBCU History: Why We Should Attend an HBCU
• Opening Up Through Young Adult Literature
• My MASK is Too Tight

The Elevating Equity in Schools event is offered through the support of several organizations, including the Howard County Office of Human Rights & Equity, Howard County Library System, Community Allies of Rainbow Youth, The Horizon Foundation, The Local Children’s Board, The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Maryland, and others.