Empower, Unite, Educate: Building Collective Power for Democratic Education

This July, join us to deepen our analysis and map out bold strategies to implement and defend a future that embodies equitable and democratic education. By building an expansive network, we can block the rise of authoritarian forces, challenge their draconian legislation and bans, and build power and solidarity. Our actions today will shape the future and we must push forward with perseverance and joy.

The current anti-democratic attacks are a backlash against social justice advances, seeking to distract us from a repressive agenda rooted in anti-Blackness. Under the banner of “anti-wokeness,” dozens of states have adopted laws or are considering measures based on the right-wing playbook, seeking to silence the voices of the majority, rewrite history, and dismantle the rights of people of color, LGBTQ+ people, and women.

As some of the country’s leading thinkers and changemakers, SpeakOut’s Summer Institute instructors will offer the framework, organizing strategies, leadership and and resources to meet the current challenges. We will also lay the groundwork for a mighty network of educators, staff, administrators, and community members to strengthen capacity and infrastructure for collective action.

At SpeakOut’s 4-day Summer Institute 2023, we will examine these key questions:

• What is the historical context for the Far Right’s authoritarian agenda for education and how is their playbook shaped by anti-Blackness and racism?
• Which organizing strategies and frameworks will deliver the best chances for our success?
• How do we infuse the power of storytelling into our messaging to maximize impact, generate excitement, and galvanize diverse support for our vision and values?
• What is needed to build state, regional, and national coalitions strong enough to block the anti-democratic forces seeking to reshape education to serve their larger agenda?

Join us to imagine, envision, and build collective action!

The Summer Institute runs July 24-27 and will take place live, virtually over Zoom. Sessions will take place daily from 9am - 12pm PT // 10am - 1pm MT // 11am - 2pm CT // 12pm - 3pm ET

Can't make the live sessions? Register and you'll get the recordings to watch later!

GROUP SALES: Contact programs@speakoutnow.org

View Past Program Here

ASL/English interpreters and live English captioning provided.

SUMMER INSTITUTE INSTRUCTORS

Learn more about the Summer Institute Instructors

SUMMER INSTITUTE SESSIONS

DAY ONE | The Right’s Authoritarian Playbook on Education and What We Are Confronting with Loretta Ross and Dr. Nolan Cabrera

• Historicizing the Moment: The Right's Playbook on Education Part I (up to 1990's)
• Historicizing the Moment: The Right's Playbook on Education Part II (1990's to Present)

DAY TWO | Strategies to Align Our Local, State, Regional and National Priorities with Jesse Hagopian and Dr. Michael Benitez Jr.

• Local, State and National Organizing to Teach Truth
• Building Coalitions to Block Authoritarian Legislation and Voice Our Vision

DAY THREE | Forging New Strategies Against Anti-Democratic Forces and Advancing Our Vision with Park Cannon and Deepa Iyer

• Navigating the Anti-Democratic Legislation on Education on the Local and State Levels
• Principles of Organizing to Build Collective Power

DAY FOUR | Amplifying Voices: Harnessing Art, Messaging, and Narratives for Transformative Change with Marc Bamuthi Joseph and Erika Alexander

• Messaging and the Arts to Effect Change
• Storytelling as a Catalyst: Unleashing the Power of Narratives to Mobilize and Empower Diverse Communities

Plus more to be announced!