Virtual Training Camp 2020
The Nora Project’s summer Training Camp begins virtually on July 1, 2020, and will run throughout the month. We are thrilled to bring our community of educators together for learning, reflection, and community-building.
The theme this summer is “Allyship”--digging in, doing the work, and showing up in partnership with marginalized communities. To position our teachers as aspiring allies, we’ve engaged several key trainers poised to deliver the message and mindful strategies for transforming classrooms and communities.
Torrie Dunlap, viral TED Talker and CEO of Kids Included Together will be giving a live keynote on how what we believe shapes our behavior. She’ll present on different models of disability and how learning about those can impact our behavior and our beliefs about what’s possible. She’ll also be presenting a breakout session titled, “Building Inclusive Classroom Cultures” in which she’ll address the ways in which teachers can build cultures that make all students feel like they truly belong.
Other breakout sessions include one created by Clare Killy at Aspire Chicago about Co-teaching models and how to implement them in a way that supports and encourages every child to meet their full potential. Jen Newton, PhD, of Teaching is Intellectual will also provide a session about Meaningful Inclusion, which supports participants in recognizing personal bias and privilege and encourages participants to interrogate their beliefs about disability and inclusion and set goals for growth.
We are proud to introduce the first ever “Nora Talks,” presentations on various topics given by an esteemed group of people with disabilities who will present on what allyship means to them. This year we welcome four individuals. Mitchell Robins, local high schooler and blogger, will be presenting on the importance of presuming competence and advocating for high expectations for all students. James Cansler, artist, rapper, and all around renaissance man, will present on the meaning and importance of inclusion. Trisha Kulkarni, a Computer Science major at Stanford University, will share the importance of self-advocacy and self acceptance. And Gaelynn Lea, musician and winner of the NPR Tiny Desk concert, will present on allyship and how teachers and students can show up as allies in their schools and communities. This group will also come together for a panel discussion, moderated by keynote speaker Torrie Dunlap.
And finally, on July 22, Conscious Roots, out of New Orleans, Louisiana, will be hosting a two hour live session on the intersection of disability and race and the anatomy of allyship. This interactive workshop will provide our participants with the opportunity to examine their biases, reflect deeply, and take steps toward personal growth.
In addition to these topical training modules, we’ll also provide training on how to implement our Lifecycle Suite of programs, with instruction and back end tools designed to support teachers in whatever way they deliver this material in their classrooms in the fall, be it remotely or in-person. We have designed a Training Camp that allows teachers to fit this important learning into their schedules by creating self-paced modules in Google Classroom that they can complete over the course of the month.
We will close a month of learning and reflecting with a special virtual concert event on July 29th, hosted by Gaelynn Lea. Participants will be encouraged to walk the red carpet (in their homes!), enjoy a special cocktail hour (drink and food recipes recommended by TNP) and build community through music.
So far, more than 140 people have registered to participate. Thank you to our lead supporters, without whom Training Camp would not be possible. For years now, Training Camp has been the highlight of our year. As we come together virtually in 2020, we look forward to building community and taking a moment to center ourselves in our mission, reflect on our experiences, and grow personally and professionally. Look out for a Training Camp recap in August!
