IUME Up Close

IUME Culture Circle — African American Literacies Recap

IUME Team — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 05:00:34 +0000

“I am…articulate.” That simple sentence may seem, well, indeed quite simple but in reality, those three routine words were immensely powerful this afternoon at the Gordon Campus in Harlem. Graduate students Crystal Belle and Jamila Lyiscott dissected African-American literacies today at our second IUME Culture Circle among a great–and very diverse–crowd of participants from the community. After everybody introduced themselves, Crystal and Jamila immediately broke out into spoken word poetry, surprising us, but then moving us with their poignant words and powerful delivery. (You can watch their “performance” HERE at our YouTube channel.)

Yet, the lessons embedded inside their poems were deep and critical; the cultural dialects of black students are continually discounted for reasons that defy the historical logic of America–dialects of America are distinctly part of the American experience. However, more importantly, it is common sense to see how mastering different dialects is a skill unique, useful, empowering, and positive cultural capital. Of course, the purpose of this afternoon was not to explain these obvious–albeit still-sorely misunderstood traits–qualities of black students, but to think critically about how and why society sees colonial English as superior, breaking down the construction of language and infusing that dialogue with the intersections of education and learning. How does African American literacy operate within a white, oppressive framework? What are the factors that contribute to this? How does this affect ones own understanding of language, culture, and communication–both as a person of color and as a white individual? And most importantly, how do we collectively take action?

It was another wonderful IUME Culture Circle with intense dialogue, beautiful camaraderie, and inspring leadership–thank you for all who attended! These events and afternoons are constant steps toward the action and change that bubble up out of each of us, progressively creating a coalition that radically re-thinks society, life, learning, and love. Thank you all again for those who continue to create this special space with us at IUME and for those of you who could not attend today, we look forward to seeing you very, very soon.

And don’t forget to check out our YouTube channel and the Photo Gallery to see video and pictures from this afternoon!

Dr. David Wall Rice Recap

IUME Team — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:25:38 +0000

Black men. Black boys. These are the words that Dr. David Wall Rice always starts his classes and lectures with, just as he did this afternoon. Why does he start with those words? Because more often than not, society avoids them, preferring to use just “males” instead. Why is this so? Why is this important? What does this mean–both to black men and black boys themselves, but as a reflection on our society?

Today, IUME was proud to host its inaugural Visiting Faculty Fellow, Dr. David Wall Rice, a professor of psychology at Morehouse College, Thursday afternoon at Milbank Chapel at Teachers College, Columbia University. Dr. Rice spoke for over an hour about his research at his Id entity Orchestration Lab, which focuses on black boys and authentic engagement. Within these topics, he weaved in theoretical constructs with popular culture, doing so in the framework of black identity through a psychological lens. Dr. Rice’s words were poignant and thought-provoking, pushing the audience to dissect how we, or more appropriately society in general through a white dominant framework, conceptualize and simplify black males. Dr. Rice spoke both from his academic experience and personal intuition, digging deep into the complexity of identity on a population that has continually been labeled as simplistic, or as Dr. Rice said, “one-dimensional.” Dr. Rice’s work seeks to not only disprove that method of thinking, but explain, for example, how even the act of having to “prove” your identity itself is already through a deficit lens.

Yet, Dr. Rice’s dynamic, ground-breaking work is not able to be fully summarized in a few sentences (and fortunately, you can view his speech in its full form at our YouTube channel very soon). However, what should be fairly mentioned is how members in the audience pushed a back a bit at Dr. Rice’s work, challenging him and seeking more clarity from his stated positions. But as IUME Director Ernest Morrell exclaimed to the audience, this type of questioning, this type of interaction, this type of critical dialogue is exactly what is needed (because it is sorely missing)–and what IUME seeks to offer. Dr. Rice’s works complicates the simplistic, dissecting topics that have been vastly under-examined for mostly political but also practical reasons. We want to push the boundaries–as Dr. Rice does–about how society (and educators) think about children of color–and as Dr. Rice also put forth today, how children of color think about themselves. The status quo is unacceptable and we are proud to partner with scholars such as Dr. Rice whose work recognizes and uses research as a tool for action to change the status quo. The critical dialogue that occurred today from the audience and Dr. Rice was powerful–powerful in that it challenges us as researchers and activists to search for more efficient yet honest ways to change the world. And it is days like today that push us all to make steps in that positive direction.

Thank you all who attended this wonderful event–we look forward to seeing you soon!

–The IUME Team

A Powerful Space: Recap of IUME’s Inaugural “Culture Circle”

IUME Team — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:12:18 +0000

The only word that seems appropriate is “powerful”–it is extremely powerful (and empowering!) to have students, teachers, professors, and community members gather on a Saturday morning in Harlem, amidst loads of personal responsibilities, and voluntarily engage in critical dialogue with one another. IUME first Culture Circle event, led by inspiring scholars Cati de los Rios and Dr. Benji Chang, was a resounding success; we had a room packed of over 40 activists, eager and excited to engage in the work of Paulo Freire but more importantly, with each other and with oneself. Both Dr. Chang and Cati led us in an introduction about the work of Paulo Freire and his use of “culture circles,” before listening to the song, “Commencement Day” by Hip Hop group Blue Scholars that we later interpreted as a codification to connect to Chapter 2 of Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed.

Specifically, in small groups, we discussed the song’s connection to Freire and to education in general, by using Freire’s six stages as our guide to taking action. This type of critical dialogue was extremely refreshing; each group talked openly and honestly about the critical issues in ways that we often do not get a chance to in our traditional classroom settings. Despite the room still loud with discussion, Cati and Dr. Chang brought us all back together to share the key points from our groups. Some of the points that were raised involved applying these discussions in the context of high-stakes testing to specific teaching issues such as internalized inferiority with students and expanding to discussions on community-based work. As a group, we had a fruitful discussion amongst strangers and friends, yes, but also as activists and scholars engaging with each other to change lives.

Coming full circle, while today’s event itself was a success because of the type of discussion, activities and leadership that took place, I go back to the word “powerful” because of what this giant gathering inherently was–and what it told each of us there in attendance. Immediately from the get-go as people flocked to our Gordon Campus to our final solidarity clap together, the energy of the room was absolutely electric; just to look into the eyes and connect with such a diverse set of people was empowering in itself because of what this event represented. Today’s Culture Circle was a space for people to come together and engage in critical dialogue that is usually left outside the so-called “boundaries” of the traditional higher education institution. It was a space where candidness and honesty was free-flowing, where humility was abound, and where collaborative activism was in the air. For students and staff at Teachers College and at other institutions, such a space is needed for us to grow as educators and researchers–and as human beings.

IUME intends to fill that void at Teachers College (and other area institutions), providing both the physical and intellectual space in the middle of Harlem that is unique in its vision. But IUME is nothing without the community and the people who seek to empower, inspire, and as today’s Culture Circle was entitled, to liberate. For those who made it out today, thank you. And for those who did not, we look forward to seeing you very, very soon.

Recap of IUME’s Inaugural Colloquium feat. Dr. Benji Chang

IUME Team — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:24:31 +0000

This past Friday, IUME held its inaugural Colloquium at the Edmund Gordon Campus of Teachers College in Harlem where IUME Post-Doctoral Scholar Benji Chang presented his past research and spoke to a group of about 40 people over great food and even better company. We were extremely excited to see everyone there and humbled by the great turnout–hopefully it is the first of many fruitful events at the Gordon Campus. Before Dr. Chang began his presentation, IUME Director Ernest Morrell spoke a little bit about the history of Theresa Tower (where the Gordon Campus is) and what it means to IUME and Teachers College, in addition to some of our current projects and other information. As usual, Dr. Morrell’s words were poignant and important.

Following his introduction, Dr. Chang began his presentation, entitled “Disciplined & Organization, Is How I Handle Mine: Community Engagement Approaches to Literacy, Pedagogy & Social Justice.”

Dr. Chang spoke about his research, in which he worked as an elementary school teacher and followed a group of students–who were extremely diverse both ethically and linguistically–that were labeled the “bad” students. Yet, through unique pedagogical approaches and a set of strategies that Dr. Chang addressed, he helped many them succeed through school and gain the highest test scores in the school a couple of years after he started with them. Dr. Chang spoke passionately, with humor and insight, about what it takes to work with students in the classroom and the type of pedagogy, humility, and community engagement that is required to reach each student and parent, as well. In addition, Dr. Chang spoke about current misconceptions of culture; culture, he said, “is a process and not a static form.” In today’s era of school reform on test scores and mislabeled “multicultural education,” Dr. Chang’s research was thoughtfully packaged together in an insightful, critical, entertaining and most important, important presentation that to speaks to the heart of teaching and learning is all about. Here are a few pictures from Friday’s event:

To learn more about Dr. Chang, check out this great interview via the the TC Press Room or visit our “People” page to learn about his research. We look forward to seeing you at our next event soon!

Little Acts of Justice: IUME in the News

IUME Team — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 05:49:30 +0000

Despite constantly working together as a team in regards to many of IUME’s research projects, the students and staff have kept busy individually also participating in variety of acts that deserve mention. Although we maintain the importance of collaborative spirit and full ideation in our work, it is also refreshing for us to support each other in our individual endeavors that also lead into IUME’s mission. Here is an update on a few events that IUME members have been up to the last few weeks:

IUME Director Dr. Ernest Morrell was sworn in as Vice-President of the National Council of Teachers of English this weekend in Chicago, Illinois, during the NCTE Annual Convention and Centennial Celebration. Dr. Morrell was joined with some of the country’s most established and leading voices in literacy and english education, and was also joined by IUME Post-Doctoral Fellow Benji Chang. The NCTE has over 35,000 individual and institutional members worldwide, and is dedicated to improving the teaching and learning of English and the language arts at all levels of education. Congratulations Dr. Morrell!

IUME Post-Doctoral Fellow Dr. Arshad Ali presented his research at Teacher College’s esteemed Milbank Chapel, in which many students left the event inspired. His talk was entitled The State, University and Democratic Life: The Political and Social Unveilings of Muslim Students after 9/11. Dr. Ali’s critical discussions on race were empowering yet informative and important for students at Teachers College. Dr. Ali’s work challenges students and other faculty by pushing the boundaries of how we all conceptualize Muslim students and more generally, students of color.

IUME Graduate Research Assistant Cati de los Rios helped organize and moderated an incredible (and large!) event at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture to save ethnic studies in Arizona and across the country. Cati addressed the crowd prior to showing the powerful film “Precious Knowledge” about the ethnic studies program in Tucson, Arizona and the fight against the injustice of politicians taking it away. After the film, Cati (shown in the picture on the right podium) moderated an audience-initiated discussion with two educators–one present and one via Skype–who currently teach in the ethnic studies program.

IUME Fulbright Scholar Katharine Vincent also spoke at Teachers College in Everett Lounge, discussing her interests and experiences as a Fulbright scholar–and most importantly, her passion for changing lives and working in education. Led by Deputy Provost John Allegrante, Katharine spoke eloquently and inspirationally also about her research beside the other Fulbright Scholars. As a highlight in her talking points, Katharine mentioned IUME in regards to how unique it is to work in an Institute that applies the theoretical frameworks that we all discuss in textbooks and put them into practice.

While we all strive to create the best results together at IUME, sometimes, it is just as important to continue our work outside of the IUME offices and the classroom halls, continuing to inspire and inform others–while continuing to learn ourselves. Sometimes, little acts of justice can go a long way.

IUME Team Meeting Recap 11/4: What kind of work does IUME do?

IUME Team — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 21:40:23 +0000

Hello everyone. As usual for our bi-weekly meetings, the IUME team gathered together this afternoon at the Edmund W. Gordon Campus in Harlem to update each other on our individual projects and discuss the future of IUME.

Initially, the meeting started with a bunch of logistical endeavors; we officially scheduled some of our Spring Colloquia. In addition, we finalized our Winter Colloquia and discussed a variety of other projects that IUME wants to get off the ground soon. All these things are extremely exciting as we also discussed how to engage the larger community—both Teachers College but even more so in Harlem and beyond. These events will all be listed on the IUME website shortly as will details, etc., via the main site and our social media pages (so keep on the look out). However, as the meeting shifted past these scheduling events, Dr. Morrell moved us all in the direction to conceptualizing what these events mean to IUME and our overall work.You may be wondering yourself the specific type of work IUME does (and intends to do), exactly, as that is a question we each get asked often. We realized that this question is intricately a part of our identity because what we do creates the syllabus that makes up who we are, whether it be Colloquia or a community project or a research proposal. What does it mean to use advocacy, practice, critical race methodologies, participatory action research, etc. in ways that are interwoven into the events/projects/research that we put on? Dr. Morrell mentioned Paulo Freire, who talks about how dialogue itself as being praxiological—he talks about using dialogue as a liberatory action. Bell hooks in Teaching to Transgress uses the same framework. It is not just what we do, but how we do it—and why we do it. Thus, how do people frame a plan of action? Specifically, how does IUME shape what people think about taking action? Connecting this back to the “what do we do” question, Dr. Morrell brought up an example of tutoring in Harlem; the act of tutoring in Harlem “just to help out” is not critical enough. While IUME will offer opportunities to, of course, tutor in Harlem (among other opportunites), Dr. Morrell asked us “what does it mean to tutor in Harlem?” The action itself is not revolutionary…but thinking critically about how the tutors process the world and their place in society is. What does it mean for one of us to go into Harlem and tutor a student and what does it mean to the student? How do they understand this process? Why is a specific tutor going into Harlem versus an alternate, more affluent area—what makes students in Harlem different, than say, students in Long Island? Why do these students not have access to other tutoring options? These are the type of critical analyses that offer meaning to any action or event, and what we strive to do in everything we stamp our name on. As Dr. Morrell said, the process of studying, thinking, and reflecting itself is revolutionary and to really ‘change the world’ we must truly understand the world.

Finally, as our afternoon was nearing its end, Dr. Morrell also mentioned that he also gets asked quite frequently, “what is your vision for IUME?” Dr. Morrell responded that it was not his vision, but everyone at IUME’s vision—it is a collective vision that is respective of the legacy that Dr. Gordon stamped on IUME the past 39 years, but also a vision that is constantly in development moving forward. IUME is only as powerful as the people who make it up. IUME will continue to grow, breathe, and evolve. Finally, Dr. Morrell asked us all rhetorically (for the moment, at least), “what kind of breadcrumbs does IUME want to leave?” While we are still in the process of leaving those breadcrumbs, we hope that they come from a larger entity that we are shaping to be “distinctly IUME”—combining theory with practice to impact people and communities with critical scholarship. As always, we hope to have you join us.

IUME Team Meeting Recap: Creating a IUME Design

IUME Team — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 22:43:22 +0000

Earlier this afternoon, the IUME team convened for our bi-weekly meeting at the Edmund W. Gordon Campus. While it is exciting to hear about all the wonderful individual projects that the post-doctoral fellows, graduate assistants and project assistants have been working on, it is even more exciting for us to collectively discuss how we can frame the Institute’s existence moving forward. Today was a day to discuss how IUME can change the world.

To get us started, Dr. Morrell asked us three questions:
1) What does it mean today to do work in schools and communities?
2) What does it mean to research on the work we do in schools and communities?
3) What knowledge is needed to perform this type of work?

As you can see from the canvas, a hodge-podge of terms, ideas, and frameworks were written up by Dr. Morrell as we shouted out our thoughts. We all grappled with these questions, brainstorming about how IUME can be a leader in reframing how education is thought about in America–we must reframe and push the boundaries of theory and practice. For example, we must focus on students as creators of knowledge, utilizing their skills. We must focus on connecting the history of students’ communities to their school experience. We must focus on the “whole child,” effectively putting different pieces together to create a whole. We must create culturally relevant material that empowers students. We must focus on school and community engagement by ways of youth participatory action research and critical race methods. We must also step into the political arena, making sure policies represent our successes on the ground. We must redefine and then show what “success” looks like in the classroom.

Yet, what are the mechanisms required to do these things? What role does IUME play? As Dr. Morrell said, we must “be activists through our scholarship.” We believe that research can be a powerful form of social justice and a form that we intend to carry out at IUME. We must first educate ourselves of the type of work that makes an impact on children’s lives, become well-versed in that work, and share it with other teachers, administrators, and policymakers. And then we must create our own knowledge; we must lead by example, pushing the boundaries on the current models of education research. Frankly, we are responsible for documenting the type of school/student/community experiences that happen everyday but fail to be shared, internalized, and studied. Let’s take these ideas and make them reality–there is no time to wait.

An Introduction to IUME

ernestmorrell — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 06:15:54 +0000

Here’s a YouTube video of an interview where I lay out a vision for the next generation of IUME.

The Future of American Education

ernestmorrell — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 05:50:54 +0000

The future of America is intertwined with the future of American education. And the future of American education is inextricably linked to the future of America’s urban schools. There is no denying that education is the civil rights issue of our time. And there is no denying the violation of the civil rights of millions of our youth. The Institute for Urban and Minority Education (IUME) was created in 1973 to serve the interests of those who are often hidden, disregarded, or underestimated. Our mission is to use research and demonstration to show the most promising practices in schools and out-of-school settings where youth are learning powerfully and feeling good about themselves while doing so. We are also interested in reconceptualizing the way we do research and the way that we often perceive of populations being researched in urban education. Through work with university based researchers, classroom teachers, students, parents, community advocates and elected officials we hope to create networks committed to the relentless pursuit of educational excellence. Our youth, their families and their communities deserve nothing less. We hope that you will join us in this endeavor, for IUME is only as powerful as the people who take up the cause. And we definitely need smart and dedicated people who believe in youth and who believe in the power of research to fundamentally change the way we think about teaching, learning, and the structure of our school system. For nearly 40 years IUME has been intimately involved in this struggle and I hope to be here for at least another 40. We’ll be here however long it takes.

Welcome to the new IUME Up Close blog!

IUME Team — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 02:02:19 +0000

Hello everyone–thank you for stopping by our newly-minted IUME Happenings blog, affiliated with the new Pressible network at Teachers College, Columbia University. Our goal with this so-called “digital space” is to inform the community–both the academic community and the local community–with the many projects IUME is engaged with. More importantly, we want to hear from you–your thoughts, your opinions, your ideas on how we can best go about making a difference in both the local and national arena. To read more about this blog and its specific functions, check out our “About the Blog” page.

With the introductions aside and the logistics put on the shelf, what is on the agenda for IUME as the year new year begins? Well, before we can move forward, we must understand our past and what that sign above means every time we walk into the office: IUME has a powerful and deep history of seeking to improve the quality of life chances through education in the communities of urban and minority peoples. Dr. Edmund W. Gordon (of who the campus is named after), founded the Institute almost 39 years ago and has worked tirelessly, dedicating his life to social justice. In addition, the Edmund W. Gordon Campus is housed in the historic Theresa Tower in Harlem. Hotel Theresa (as it was once called) had been the hotel of choice for the likes of Louis Armstrong, Sugar Ray Robinson, Josephine Baker, Duke Ellington, Muhammad Ali, Ray Charles, Little Richard, and Jimi Hendrix in addition to visits from Fidel Castro, Malcom X, Nikita Khrushchev, John F. Kennedy and Eleanor Roosevelt. This is our past and we are extremely humbled to continue our work in such a historic building, but more importantly, in the honor of one of the foremost psychologists of this decade.

And yet, never has it been a more exciting time to continue IUME’s work than this moment as we prepare to usher the Institute into a new era. Not only do we have a new Director in Dr. Ernest Morrell (check out a wonderful new profile from the Arts & Humanities Department) merging with Assistant Director Veronica Holly who has been the brains and provided the structure for IUME over the past seven years, but a brand new team of accomplished post-doctoral fellows, a dynamic Fulbright Scholar, and many brilliant and dedicated graduate students all committed to changing the world. With a fresh start and a new team, IUME is starting with a blank canvas–a canvas that is ready to be blasted with ideas, new ambitions, and outlines for action.

Today, for the first time, the new IUME team met during a reception at the Gordon Campus today–for many of us, it was the first time shaking the hands and looking into the eyes (and hearts) of the individuals who make up this select group. After we each went around explaining what we had done prior to this opportunity and why we were here ready to commit ourselves to the work ahead, Dr. Morrell addressed us and laid out a few strategies for the upcoming year(s). He spoke about many things, but above all, he spoke about how the greatest calamity of this nation is our collective failure in wasting the extraordinary amounts of human capital this country has. America has millions of brilliant children eager to learn–each with new ideas and provocative ambitions. Sadly, this human capital is not utilized and part of our responsibility is to change this. And to change this, we must shift the paradigm of how families and children are color are portrayed–that these children can learn, that they want to learn, that these parents are eager to be involved in their students school life, assuming they are given that chance. We must shift the narrative to focus on failing schools to focus on succeeding schools–illustrating examples of curriculum that is both empowering and constructive. Finally, we must do all of this not just on a local level and community level, but make inroads at a policy level–connecting our successes on the ground to important structural change up top.

Over the course of the next several months, this blog will evolve and our main website will undergo heavy construction; frankly, it is a microcosm and representative of the new course of action for IUME and our budding plans. Carte blanche, the IUME team under the guidance of Dr. Morrell and Ms. Holly will be launching off with new ideas, projects, and strategies to figure out how we make the aforementioned rhetoric a reality. At the reception, Dr. Morrell also spoke candidly that all of this is slightly nerve-wracking–having a blank script with no set plans can be intimidating. However, this moment in time gives us the opportunity to collaborate in powerful ways to make a new script that is uniquely IUME. Drawing on the past history of the Institute and the experiences (and the passion) that we each bring to the team, we confront all of the ahead challenges with energy, patience, and humility.

As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. so eloquently (and famously) declared, “the arc of the universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” Well, we are dedicated to helping it bend back in that direction. So, it’s time to get to work–there is plenty of it to be done.

IUME Up Close

IUME Culture Circle — African American Literacies Recap

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Welcome to the new IUME Up Close blog!