Home Invites Members Groups Events Videos News Photos Blogs Forums Chat
Home > Blogs > Post Content

HOW EDUCATORS AND ACTIVISTS DISCUSS CIVIC AND POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT FROM ED TRUST! (2417 hits)



For Immediate Release From Ed Trust ~ Tiffany Pennamon!

The interconnection between the roles of educators and activists in today’s political climate were evident on Monday during a roundtable discussion at Howard University that featured students, former U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. John B. King, Jr. and social justice activist Brittany Packnett.

Noting low historic voting turnouts for midterm elections, Howard University School of Education Dean Dr. Dawn G. Williams reminded the students sitting before her of their responsibility to be civically engaged. The charge served as the underpinning of the discussion on racial justice and voter engagement.


Dr. John B. King Jr. with Brittany Packnett

“Too much is at stake with this election,” Williams told the handful of Howard students.

King added that although his organization, The Education Trust, is nonpartisan, “we want people to vote,” he said.

Opening the discussion, King asked the students to reflect on their earliest exposure to civic and voter education. Many recalled hearing members of their family sharing the value of voting and staying informed about social issues. One student noted that he listened in on conversations between more politically engaged college friends and sports teammates.

Other students shared that middle school and high school Social Studies and American Government classes introduced them to civic issues, even though distinctions between AP and traditional classes made a difference in how much information a teacher shared.

However, as Howard doctoral student Frances Y. Adomako grew older, she said she began to grapple with a question: “What’s the point of voting if the same people are in power?”

Similarly, Lyndsie A. Whitehead, a doctoral student and research assistant at Howard, added that it can be frustrating when “hashtag activism” amongst social media users does not translate into political action or effective policy.

The remarks led the roundtable participants to address the “voting vs. activism” dichotomy.

“I don’t think it’s a versus thing,” said Bria M. Williams, a senior at Howard. Several other students agreed with Williams, who said people should “lead by example” by simultaneously voting and getting involved with causes that work to implement social change.

Packnett, the social justice activist who is a co-founder of the police reform organization Campaign Zero, said thinking of voting and activism as either-or will leave underrepresented communities “left behind.”

“A lot of the rights that we enjoy access to today came about because people were willing to sacrifice in protest and in policy. They have to go together,” she said.

Read the full article HERE!: https://diverseeducation.com/article/13007...
Posted By: agnes levine
Friday, October 26th 2018 at 4:50PM
You can also click here to view all posts by this author...

Report obscenity | post comment
Share |
Please Login To Post Comments...
Email:
Password:

 
More From This Author
HOW REMARKS BY PRESIDENT BIDEN ON THE COLLAPSE OF THE FRANCIS SCOTT KEY BRIDGE TRAGEDY, WH PRESS BRIEFING!
HOW BALTIMORE CITY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PROVIDES BALTIMORE FRANCIS SCOTT KEY BRIDGE COLLAPSE UPDATES!
HOW CATHOLIC COMMUNITY IN GAZA CELEBRATES PALM SUNDAY, CARDINAL GREGORY HOLY WEEK MASSES
HOW BREAKING NEWS REVEALS CATHERINE, PRINCESS OF WALES HAS CANCER, PREVENTIVE TREATMENT STARTED!
HOW LOPnewsmag IV - OBAMA CLIMATE INJUSTICE IN AFRICA, BIDEN AGRICULTURE DAY PROCLAMATION, BAZELON ...
HOW WILLIAM, PRINCE OF WALES AND CATHERINE, PRINCESS OF WALES ENJOY VISIT TO FARM SHOP!
HOW POPE FRANCIS' MESSAGE FOR RAMADAN ENCOURAGES WORKING TOGETHER FOR WORLD PEACE; MENTAL HARM OF CHILDREN ...
HOW PRESIDENT OBAMA RE-COMMITS TO REDISTRICTING MAPS WITH ALL ON THE LINE, JOIN THE FIGHT FOR FAIRNESS!
Forward This Blog Entry!
Blogs Home

(Advertise Here)
Who's Online
>> more | invite 
Black Health Statistics
+ African Americans are 70% more likely to get Diabetes than whites.

+ More African Americans are obese than any other ethnic group in the U.S.

+ Infant mortality rates are twice as high for African Americans than for whites.

+ African Americans are more likely to die from Heart Disease than any other ethnic group.

Latest Member Activity
reginald culpepper just posted a article entitled 'black americans at higher risk for kidney failure'. 02:51PM
nia mensah just became a new member. 10:22AM
beverly oliver just posted a blog entitled 'mansa books service to correctional institutions'. 07:14PM
beverly oliver just posted a blog entitled 'howard university, dr. sebi and me'. 04:34PM
beverly oliver just posted a video entitled 'dembali, a labor of love'. 03:25PM
beverly oliver just posted a blog entitled 'what more can you know about dr. sebi, that modern-day george washington carver?'. 12:43PM
beverly oliver just posted a blog entitled 'new book dr. sebi speaks of dembali now available'. 11:43AM
hadassah patterson just edited her profile. 02:48PM
hadassah patterson just became a new member. 02:30PM
patrisha draughn just edited her profile. 12:36PM
patrisha draughn just became a new member. 12:34PM
beverly oliver just posted a blog entitled 'world health organization has 5 steps to stay safe during covid 19 pandemic. what's dr. sebi's suggestion?'. 05:56PM
>> more | invite friends