Opportunities in April-May, 2021
Grants
NEA Safe and Just Schools Partnership Funding
The National Education Association has Safe and Just Schools Partnership Funding for local unions who demonstrate commitment and capacity to implement and explore initiatives and partnerships to dismantle systemic inequities and unjust education practices that hinder healthy, safe and just learning and working environments for each and every student, educator or public employee in their worksites and communities. Applications will be accepted between now and July 31, with awards contingent upon available funding. Awards are one year in term and typically range from $3,000 to $75,000, depending on the number of members, students or community members associated with the grant. Go to www.nea.org/resource-library/safe-and-just-schools-partnership-funding for more information on the program and how to apply.
Professional development
History Happened Here virtual workshop
The Minnesota Historical Society is offering Zoom workshops during the COVID-19 pandemic. The workshop “History Happened Here” will be held April 15 from 4-6 p.m. The public conversation about how we remember history, memorialize events, and recognize public figures can engage students, too. In this two-part program, educators will first hear from community members leading the conversation about how we memorialize our past. Teacher educators from MNHS will share primary sources and activity ideas about how to have classroom conversations about the history and memory of a school, neighborhood, city or region. This workshop is geared toward classroom teachers in grades 6-12. Go to www.mnhs.org/tedworkshops for more information and how to register.
Learning for Justice, formerly Teaching Tolerance, online opportunities
Teaching Tolerance is now Learning for Justice, a name change to better reflect the work of the organization. The website still includes the classroom resources, professional development, a magazine, other publications and grant opportunities. Free, on-demand webinars are still available on topics such as class, gender and sexual identity, immigration and race and ethnicity. Classroom resources include lesson plans, student texts, film kits and printable posters. Go to www.learningforjustice.org to see all of the offerings on the rebranded website.
Free Holocaust studies seminar
“Honoring Resilience: Learning from The Holocaust and the Dakota Exile” will be held July 11-17 at Saint Cloud State University. Sponsored by The Olga Lengyel Institute for Holocaust Studies and Human Rights, with additional support provided by Mount Zion Temple, Jewish Community Relations Council and the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Education at SCSU, the seminar is free of charge to participants. Attendees will explore lessons and activities for teaching about the Holocaust and Minnesota’s Dakota exile through personal testimonies and place-based experiences, including day trips to Mount Zion Temple and Dakota sites such as Oheyawahi. Participants will receive copies of relevant texts, other resources and 65 continuing education units. Attendees will also be eligible to apply for classroom mini-grants of up to $1,000 following completion of the seminar.
This is a semi-residential seminar experience, from Sunday evening through Saturday morning. Most meals and transportation to sites will be provided. Low-cost dorm housing will be available for those traveling from further distances. For further information, email merrymeltz@gmail.com. To apply, go to www.toli.us/satellite-program/st-paul.
Earth science professional development
The Minnesota Science Teachers Association is working on professional development to help sixth-grade educators prepare for new content outlined in the new standards. Two week-long boot camp style workshops are planned for July 26-30 in Bemidji and Aug. 2-6 in the Twin Cities metro, exact location TBD. The workshop will help sixth-grade teachers incorporate earth and space science content into their classrooms, as well as three-dimensional units. The workshop cost is $390, but the MnSTA is currently working on legislation to make the programs accessible and affordable. Go to www.mnsta.org/cgi/page.cgi/ES-TEP.html to learn more and apply.
