Teaching Teachers How To Deal With Race and Racism: DA

From the Westchester County District Attorney's Office

Race and racism can be a fraught topic in classrooms. How is race discussed as an education topic and how does racial diversity affect the dynamics of a classroom? How aware are teachers of the issues their students face or even understand? What can teachers do to create a culture of respect and inclusivity in their school environment?

Believing that an educated community is a safer community, Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. is collaborating with the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center to present a half-day learning experience for educators called “Teaching about Race and Racism.” The event is Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, 4-8 p.m. at Manhattanville College. Educators will receive credit for attending.

DA Scarpino, who secured funding for the workshop, will deliver opening remarks, and Assistant District Attorney Susan Brownbill-Vega, Director of Community Affairs and Chief of the DA’s Hate Crimes Unit, will speak about her work in the community.

“With racial tensions and hate crimes on the rise across America, it is an important time to take stock of how our children are impacted by racial intolerance in their classrooms, communities and beyond. Our educators must be provided with the right tools and experiences to help our children learn that intolerance is not acceptable and can hurt us all,” DA Scarpino said, adding, “Intolerance of any type, racial or otherwise, can lead to potentially criminal consequences. We believe it’s important for educators in our county get the training they need to be leaders in racial awareness and education.”

Millie Jasper, Executive Director of the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center said, “The Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center is committed to teaching the lessons learned from the Holocaust. We’re partnering with the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office and Manhattanville College to bring this workshop from the Center for Racial Justice in Education to our teachers so that they will recognize and confront racial bias in the classroom.”

The half-day workshop will be presented by The Center for Racial Justice in Education. The facilitators will help educators strengthen their analysis of how racism manifests in schools, enhance their understanding of how racism affects children, practice tools to address race and racism with students and gain strategies to support a school wide culture of response and inclusivity.

Location: Manhattanville College, Reid Castle, 2900 Purchase St. Purchase, NY