Lessons Learned: Questions about Social Justice Education Career Paths

I am occasionally asked about how one gets involved in Social Justice Education as a career path. Let me say that I love being asked this question because I feel that I have positively impacted someone's potential career choice.

Though I am grateful, I struggle because I often don't have an answer. Personally, I stayed involved with organizations that supported social justice values. This helped me better understand the field of Social Justice Education. Through participating in conferences like the Social Justice Training Institute or Tristate Diversity Conference and programs like RAPP here at UC I feel I have a better understanding of where my career path lies.

I resolve that I will have a better answer the next time I am asked this question through reflection and I hope that it happens again and again!

Lessons Learned is a RAPP Blog initiative intended for folks who hold formal leadership positions in RAPP programs to share what they're learning through their process

SJTI: Jamieson's Perspective

We even had a chant. SGS!

Although I don't remember what SGS stood for (shame on my part!), I do remember the impact that came from the experience. The Student Social Justice Institute was my first "like-RAPP" experience. It was held at UMass Lowell and covered over three days. I'm so used to what RAPP was like for me, and constantly compared to my experience in that intensive, completely missing the point that there are so many social justice programs out there and many of them will have different objectives, approaches, and facilitation styles. It was such a calming experience and I met so many people across the country who do things on their campus related to multicultural affairs and social justice programming.

Lessons Learned is a RAPP Blog initiative intended for folks who hold formal leadership positions in RAPP programs to share what they're learning through their process

SJTI: Brice's Perspective

My core group styled ourselves as the "Social Justice League." Sound familiar?...

The Social Justice Training Institute, held at UMass Lowell, was an amazing experience for many reasons. I made friends with fellow students from all over the country who shared a passion for this kind of material. It felt really special considering it was the institute's fifteen year anniversary. I also made professional connections with people who have worked in this field for many years. Sometimes RAPP feels so one of a kind that you forget there is an entire community out there that supports social justice principles. The sense of comradery among my peers at the institute was something not to be forgotten. I also won't forget bonding with Meg and Jamieson. I couldn't have asked for two better travelling companions/co-workers/friends. I hope to have many other social justice adventures like this in the future!
  
Lessons Learned is a RAPP Blog initiative intended for folks who hold formal leadership positions in RAPP programs to share what they're learning through their process

Bearcats at Student Social Justice Training Institute

RAPP was able to sponsor three UC students to participate in the 2013 Student Social Justice Training Institute (Student SJTI):  RAPP XXIX Facilitator Brice Mickey, ARJ 2013 Facilitator Jamieson Williams, and ARJ 2014 Facilitator Meg Groat.

The Student SJTI is a national program for college/university students who've done a fairly significant amount of work on social justice issues.  From Wednesday, July 17th through Saturday, July 20th, our three Bearcats will join dozens from around the country in developing their skills around dialogue and connectedness.

It's "an intensive developmental opportunity for students to examine the complex dynamics of oppression and to develop strategies to foster positive change on their campuses and in their communities."

Check back to the blog over the next few weeks as Brice, Jamieson, and Meg share about their experience!

Student Social Justice Training Institute 2013 - Jul 17th-20th!

From SJTI:

SAVE THE DATE
Student Social Justice Training Institute 2013
University of Massachusetts Lowell
July 17-20, 2013

The Social Justice Training Institute will provide an an intensive developmental opportunity for students to examine the complex dynamics of oppression and to develop strategies to foster positive change on their campuses and in their communities.  Students who attend the institute will be given the opportunity to explore the identities that make up who they are and better understand the extent to which these identities impact all they do.

Through facilitated activities and exercises along with small group dialogue, participants will engage in conversations that will challenge and support them in their journey toward understanding how they can each - individually - impact our global community.  The institute is open to 50 undergraduate students on college and university campuses in the U.S. and abroad.

Cost is $495 which includes registration, lodging, and meals. Free ground transportation options will also be available. Please check www.sjti.org in the upcoming weeks for more information on important dates and deadlines (application deadline in April), tentative schedule, lodging accommodations and travel suggestions. Additional questions can be sent to student.sjti@gmail.com. 

Apply Now for SJTI: The Student Experience

From the Social Justice Training Institute:

Apply by April 23 to attend

SJTI: The Student Experience

July 11-14, 2012

The University of San Francisco

The Social Justice Training Institute will provide an intensive developmental opportunity for students to examine the complex dynamics of oppression and to develop strategies to foster positive change on their campuses and in their communities.

Students who attend the institute will be given the opportunity to explore the identities that make up who they are and better understand the extent to which these identities impact all they do. Through facilitated activities and exercises along with small group dialogue, participants will engage in conversations that will challenge and support them in their journey toward understanding how they can each – individually – impact our global community.

Visit the institute's web site for more information. If you wish to attend, please make sure to apply online by no later than Monday, April 23, 2012.

Questions? Please contact Brian Arao at 415.422.6824 or student.sjti@gmail.com.

Social Justice Training Institute - Day One

The June 2011 Social Justice Training Institute (SJTI) is being held in Springfield, MA.  The institute kicked off this evening and runs through mid-day Friday, June 17th.

I was greatly excited to hear that I am a member of the 25th class of SJTI - this year certainly seems to be the year of fortuitous 25s!

The first evening was one of building connections, community, and communication foundations, as well as exploring the purpose of the institute.

The goal of SJTI is "to provide diversity/social justice trainers and practitioners with an intensive laboratory experience where they can focus on their own learning and development to increase their multicultural competencies as social justice educators."  It's a space for real dialogue around social justice, immersing ourselves in race an racism (and later exploring how the deep work we do on race can connect with the work we do on other social identities and forms of oppression).

With this goal in mind, the next four days will be spent in authentic dialogue that occurs in a variety of settings and through intentional activities to deepen our understanding of the dynamics of oppression on multiple dimensions, explore dominant and subordinated group dynamics within the system of racism, to broaden our overall perspective on the pervasive nature of insitutionalized racism, to examine the impact of racism on each of us in our roles, and to explore "triggers" and how to successfully navigate them.  Again, it will end with encouraging us to take the technology/tools/skills we've used around this race and racism work to apply it to others dynamics of oppression.

Does all of that sound familiar?  Though with potentially different language, it probably will sound familiar to any RAPPer who engaged fully in their RAPP year and/or stayed connected through RAPPORT.

I'm just very grateful to get to engage this as myself, as a full participant in my own learning process, rather than balancing my responsibility as a process guide with my learning.