Discovering Amistad Programs 2021
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Discovering Amistad
Programs – 2021
Educational Programs for Teachers, Students, and Adults
This past year has proven to be a unique – fraught with political, social and racial
divisions. Hate crimes are on the rise and white supremacist groups feel free to express
their intolerance. Meanwhile many Americans, particularly those of color, have been
marginalized. Issues of racial injustice have become front-and-center in our
conversations. More than ever, students need our help and guidance in making sense of
it all. Discovering Amistad (DA) recognizes this need and has created a series of virtual
programs to engage students in this most important dialogue.
Teacher Programs
Teacher Webinar Series
This program can be scheduled for your individual school or district
as professional development on dates of your choosing
Duration: Two 45 minute sessions Location: Online Zoom Meeting
Cost: $250
Description
Join us for two afternoons of professional development
and learn about the exciting story of the Amistad. During
our first program discover how a group of Mende people
were stolen from Africa and found themselves on the
middle passage bound for a sugarcane plantation in Cuba.
Learn how the captives ended up on the cargo ship
Amistad and took it upon themselves to escape from their
shackles and rebel against their captors. Discover how the
schooner Amistad and all its passengers ended their
maritime journey in New London, CT to become an important part of Connecticut’s history. Learn
about the Africans fight for their freedom in the American judicial system while continuing to
survive in the New Haven jail. Perhaps most importantly, learn how DA educators teach that,
throughout their struggle, it was the Africans themselves that navigated the road to freedom every
step of the way.
During our second program, get a tour of the reproduction
Amistad ship and see how students learn from their unique
experiences on board. Learn how our on-ship programs help
students understand the events of the Amistad rebellion and
their connection to modern day events. During both
programs, the DA educator will model how they teach the
story and then make connections to today’s challenges of
racial and social justice.
Discovering Amistad Programs – 2021 Page 2
Student Programs
One-Day Program
Date/Time: to be scheduled
Duration: One 45 minute session Location: Online Zoom Meeting
Target Audience: Individual classroom Cost: $100**
30 students or less, grades 6 to 8
Description
• 25 minute story of the Amistad Rebellion designed for a general overview and introduction
to the story of the Amistad.
• 20 minute interactive dialogue on racial injustice today. Using the Amistad rebellion as our
platform for discussion, students will have a dialogue on what strengths they already
possess to become active, and what skills they may want to acquire.
Content of the one-day program can be negotiated with the teacher.
Two-Day Program
Date/Time: to be scheduled
Duration: Two 45 minute sessions Location: Online Zoom Meeting
Target Audience: Individual classroom Cost: $175**
30 students or less, grades 6 to 8
Description
Day 1
• 25-minute story of the Amistad from Mende culture to the Middle Passage Rebellion.
Beginning with a brief description of Mendeland, students will learn about the illegal
kidnappings in West Africa, the forced Middle Passage and the slaves’ arrival in Cuba;
the 53 Africans who were purchased in Cuba and forced to board the cargo ship
Amistad; and the “Amistad Rebellion.”
• 20-minute interactive dialogue about identifying dehumanization in modern day.
Participants will discuss how the concept of dehumanization is still relevant today.
Discovering Amistad Programs – 2021 Page 3
Student Programs | Two-Day Program (cont’d)
Day 2
• 25-minute story of: the Amistad navigating to New York, the trials and the journey home.
Participants will learn about how:
– The Amistad Africans navigated the vessel up the coast to Long Island, New York.
– The Amistad Africans were brought to New Haven to stand trial for murder and piracy
thus becoming an important part of Connecticut history.
– The Amistad case made its way all the way to the Supreme Court.
– The Africans made the journey home.
• 20-minute interactive dialogue focusing on some of the traumatic effects caused by slavery,
i.e., the effects of the breakup of the family; loss of connection to land and the loss of all
family resources.
Three Day Program
Date/Time: to be scheduled
Duration: Three 45 minute sessions Location: Online Zoom Meeting
Target Audience: Individual classroom Cost: $225**
30 students or less, grades 6 to 8
Description
Day 1
• 25 minute story of the Amistad from Mende culture – Middle Passage – arrival at Cuba while
focusing on aspects of dehumanization. Students will learn about:
– Who were the Amistad Africans?
– The Mende Peoples in West Africa and how their culture was so closely tied to land,
geography and climate.
– How European powers and illegal slave traders swept through the land in the early to
mid-1800’s, kidnapping the inhabitants, separating families and forcing them to march to
the coast of West Africa and board slave ships bound for Cuba.
• 20 minute interactive dialogue focusing on spotting examples of dehumanization today in
full-class and break-out sessions.
Day 2
• 25 minute story of the Amistad from boarding Amistad to the Rebellion and Navigation to
New York while focusing on the theme of resistance.
– How 53 Africans were purchased on the island of Cuba and forced to board the Amistad
as cargo.
– How the Amistad Africans used all of their skills and resources to organize and free
themselves in one of the most famous maritime rebellions off the coast of America.
– How the Africans navigated the Amistad up the coast of Long Island.
Discovering Amistad Programs – 2021 Page 4
Student Programs | Three-Day Program (cont’d)
– 25 minute interactive dialogue about organizing and rising-up. Students will discuss
what strengths they already possess and what skills they need to acquire to become
active.
Day 3
• 25 minute story of the Amistad Africans from their arrest in New York, the trials and their
return home while examining the legacy of their actions.
– How the Amistad Africans were brought to New Haven to stand trial for murder and
piracy, thus becoming an important part of Connecticut’s history.
– How the Amistad case made its way all the way to the Supreme Court.
– How the Amistad Africans made their journey home.
– 25 minute discussion on some of the traumatic effects caused by slavery, i.e., breaking up
the family, loss of connection to land and loss of all family resources. Students will
discuss our role and responsibilities today as we grapple with continued racial
segregation in America.
Discovering Amistad Programs – 2021 Page 5
Student Programs (cont’d)
Zoom Webinars
Date/Time: to be scheduled
Target Audience: for several classrooms from Location: Online Zoom Meeting
the same school (31-100 students)
grades 6 to 12
Description
This program is designed for larger groups of students. In our Zoom webinars, Discovering Amistad
educators will immerse students in the story of the Amistad, with more time spent on the story and
what we can learn from it. Using interactive tools built into Zoom, students will be encouraged to
participate in polling, quizzes, and chat features.
One-Day program for up to four classes One 60 min session Cost $100
• 40 minute story of the Amistad Rebellion
• 20 minute time for polling and question and answer
Two-Day program Two 60 min sessions Cost $175
Day 1: 40 minute story of the Amistad from Mende Culture to the Middle Passage ending with
the Rebellion. 20 minute time for polling and question and answer.
Day 2: 40 minute story of navigating to New York, the trials and the journey home. 20 minutes
for polling and question and answer.
Three-Day program Three 60 min sessions Cost: $225
Day 1: 40-minute story of the Amistad Rebellion and 20 minutes for polling and Question and
answer
Day 2: 40-minute story from boarding the Amistad to the Rebellion and Navigating N.Y.
The Rebellion). 20 minutes for polling and question/answer.
Day 3: 40-minute story from the arrest in New York to the trials and ending with the Return
home (repairing lives).
Multi-School Programs
Date/Time: to be scheduled
Target Audience: For two shared classrooms Cost: No charge*
of up to 49 total participants
(2 classes of 24/25 students)
Description
In an effort to further desegregate Connecticut schools, our multi-school Amistad programs help to
break down barriers that continue to separate our communities. These programs are designed to
bring schools together from different communities and give students a chance to have a dialogue
with students from different ethnic, racial, and income backgrounds.
Discovering Amistad Programs – 2021 Page 6
Spring 2021 – Student Leadership Academy
Dates: April 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, , 17 and 24 (10 a.m.- 1 p.m.)
May 1 (10 am-1 pm), May 8 (10 a.m. - 1 p.m.)
Duration: eight sessions Location: Online Zoom Meeting
Target Audience: High school students, Cost: No charge*
grades 10 to 12
The Spring 2021 Student Leadership Academy is a 30-hour program consisting of daily workshops
and discussions (conducted on ZOOM), focusing on leadership training and an introduction to
community activism for high school students in grades 10-12. Instructors and guest lecturers use an
antiracist framework to discuss how to lead and affect positive change at the community level.
The Spring 2021 Student Leadership Academy will begin the week of April 12 (Spring Break) and
meet daily that week. Students will then come together once a week for three weeks (with a
potential to meet and greet on April 9th). At the conclusion of the Spring 2021 Student Leadership
Academy, students will, as part of a small group, select a social/racial justice issue and plan a
virtual community service project to be implemented to address that issue.
The Academy is funded by private foundations and is free to participants.
Summer 2021 – Student Leadership Academy
Date: to be announced
Duration: two weeks, daily sessions Location: Online Zoom Meeting
Target Audience: High school students, Cost: No charge*
grades 10 to 12
During the summer there will be three 2-week Student Leadership Academies designed for high
school students moving to grades 10-12. The goal of this program is to help students develop a
better understanding of their racial/cultural identities in order to take informed action in their
communities.
The Academy will teach students advanced leadership skills from an antiracist framework:
• How to become more involved in their communities;
Discovering Amistad Programs – 2021 Page 7
Summer 2021 – Student Leadership Academy (cont’d)
• Learning about the Amistad Uprising and the importance of leadership as it relates to that
historic event;
• Leadership skills that have been important in social and racial justice progress since the
Amistad Uprising.
• Discussions about vital racial and social justice issues of today while acquiring insights into
their own communities and themselves.
• At the conclusion of the Summer 2021 Student Leadership Academy, students will, as part of
a small group, select a social/racial justice issue, and plan a virtual community service
project to be implemented to address that issue.
The Summer Leadership Academy is funded by private foundations and is free to participants.
Black History – Our History
Recognizing Connecticut Heroes
Date: participating schools announced in February
Duration: projects submitted by May 15, 2021 Location: Statewide
Target Audience: Middle school students Cost: No charge*
In commemoration of Black History Month, Discovering Amistad and Mystic Seaport Museum are
embarking on an exciting collaboration. This initiative will engage students at Middle Schools
throughout the state. Each participating school will select a person of color (historic or present day)
that has made important contributions to our communities and state. This person could be from any
field: education; the arts; politics; civil rights; business; or nonprofits and professions. Each
participating Middle School will select one “hero” to honor and prepare a 300-word summary of
that hero’s life and achievements and submit a piece of artwork focusing on their selected “hero.”
Participating Middle Schools will be announced in February and projects will be submitted by May
15, 2021. Middle School presentations will be included in a manual available to schools, community
organizations and presented to state government. The art submissions will be made into a collage
and printed on a flag/flags to be flown on The Amistad and at Mystic Seaport. Each participating
Middle School team will receive $500, a sail on The Amistad, and free admission to Mystic Seaport
on a specially designated day. Two students from each participating Middle School will be entitled
to attend a one-week Overnight Sailing Camp at Mystic Seaport Museum free of charge. These
students will work together with others at the camp on the further exploration of Black History in
Connecticut.
* Because of grant funding we are able to offer these programs without charge
**Some financial assistance may be available
Discovering Amistad Programs – 2021 Page 8 Implicit Bias Training for Trainers Date: to be announced Course Duration: Three 3 hour sessions Location: Online Zoom Meeting Target Audience: Non-Profit Boards, Cost: $2,000 for 3-session package Corporate Staff Groups, Civic Organizations, Departments of Government Description Day 1: Implicit Bias Training We will never reach our greatest levels of achievement unless we find the courage to acknowledge and to take action to address unconscious bias (also known as implicit bias). Biases cause us to have a certain worldview about others who are different from ourselves. Biases make us think that the way that we think is best...the right way...the only way. Where do these biases come from? How do we even identify them? Moreover, once we do identify them, how and why do we address them? This session on implicit bias will answer these questions and help raise participants’ awareness as to their own biases. This workshop includes interactive learning and processing exercises for participants consisting of scenarios, videos and testimonies that can be used to better understand implicit bias and its impact. These activities can aid participants in developing and implementing practices that will help reduce subjective decision-making as a result of implicit bias. Need For Training To encourage culturally competent and linguistically appropriate interactions among staff, clients, families, and communities. These interactions should foster equitable outcomes for all and result in the identification and provision of services that are unbiased and responsive to issues of race, culture, gender, and social and economic status. Objective 1. Raise awareness of biases both implicit and explicit. 2. Understand the difference between implicit and explicit biases. 3. Acknowledge that all groups experience and have prejudices and biases. 4. Recognize that our biases can lead to misjudgments. 5. Raise awareness as to how biases impact communities, relationships and public policies. 6. Understand biases can be “undone” with debiasing techniques. 7. To have an honest dialogue regarding bias. Day 2: Training for Trainers Session 1 – Explanation of the Curriculum Day 3: Training for Trainers Session 2 – Teachback and Feedback
Discovering Amistad Programs – 2021 Page 9
Voyage to Hartford
September 2021
For the first time since its launch, The Amistad will travel up the
Connecticut River to Hartford in September to host a month-long
series of educational, cultural and experiential events in the
Capital Region.
Highlights of this historic trip will be:
Educational Programs on Racial Justice and Equity for Hartford Middle School students - taught
by Discovering Amistad educators, this four-part curriculum starts with the 1839 Amistad Uprising
and subsequent Supreme Court decision and traces the arc of more than 175 years of U.S history –
from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement and up to the present day. Each class will have the
opportunity to take part in a memorable sail or dockside tour aboard the Amistad.
Inter-District Education Program – designed to bring together high school students from urban and
suburban communities to encourage inter-district dialog on issues of social justice. The students
would be taught the four-part curriculum of Discovering Amistad in their respective schools and
then they would come together to participate in a curated conversation about their very different
perspectives on social justice.
Conference on Social Justice – bringing together students, teachers, community leaders, city and
state political leaders for a day-long exploration of the current state of equity in their communities.
This convening will bring the schools into the communities and the communities into the schools.
The focus will be on the role students can play in making a more equitable world.
Freedom Sails – weekend or evening educational sails aboard
The Amistad, with proceeds shared with Hartford non-profit
organizations.
Concerts - featuring African American artists performing blues,
gospel and jazz music. Proceeds will be shared with Hartford
non-profit organizations.
Implicit Bias Workshops – for non-profit boards, educators
and other Hartford organizations.
Speaker Series – featuring well-known authors, historians and activists who will address social and
racial justice issues. As September is Freedom Trail Month, there will be ample opportunities to
attract speakers who are experts in different aspects of the Underground Railroad.
For more information on this program, go here.
You can also read
