News & Insights

When We Cause Harm: A Framework 

by Ashley Y. Lipscomb 

“I want to know the Love way of rising up, fully alive from the depths within me, letting this new way of life reshape my way of seeing. -Morgan Harper Nichols

We all have been socialized in a world that is not loving at its core. We have ingested the harshness of intersectional oppressive systems that refuse to allow humanity to flourish in all of its goodness. Therefore, harm is inevitable. As we do this unlearning work together, it is important to establish a culture of love, repair, healing, and joy in your classrooms and schools. 

I have been in situations where white persons have tried to apologize for some sort of mistake. They unburdened their guilt, tears, shame on me and asked that I “teach them” about their mistakes with my own trauma and heartbreak. No more. I developed this framework that serves as an entry point. Not an end all be all. Adapt this for you....

This week, Institute Co-Founder and CEO Ashley Y. Lipscomb's original roadmap for Addressing Trauma in the College Essay Writing Process was featured in the NACAC Journal of College Admission. 

Originally created as part of The Institute's ground-breaking course Shifting Narratives Toward Healing: Disrupting Trauma Exploitation in the College Admissions Process (available with sliding scale pricing), the piece delves into the nuances of this important process. 

If you are asking students to write about their own lives in any way, this guide will help you ensure that you are doing so in a trauma-informed, anti-racist way.  

Recently our CEO, Ashley Lipscomb was in conversation with Advisory Council member Sydney Montgomery. Watch the conversation HERE and learn how to combat systemic racism in the college/law school application process as an applicant, as an educator, and as an institute for higher education.

Topics covered include the first steps to becoming anti-racist as an educator and a school district; advice for applicants on writing on trauma in their personal/diversity statement; and the importance of mental health and self-care for underrepresented applicants.

Subscribe to Sydney's youtube channel for more videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV0s... 

Mentioned Resource: We Want to Do More Than Survive: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom, Dr. Bettina Love (https://www.amazon.com/Want-More-Than...)

Epitome of Soul, one of The Institute for Anti-Racist Education's founding partners, is currently offering Virtual After-School Arts Programming to students across the country! The Arts & Soul After-School Club offers students ages 7-14 high quality virtual dance, drama, and visual art classes. 

To learn more, please visit the Virtual Arts & Soul After-School Club page on Epitome of Soul's website. 

Epitome of Soul is a non-profit founded by Nailah Butler, who recently appeared in our panel: The Transformative Power of the Arts in Anti-Racist Education. Nailah has long been an advocate for ensuring that every child has the opportunity to access high-caliber arts programming. She currently serves as an Advisory Council member for The Institute for Anti-Racist Education, advising on anti-racist arts programming in schools and districts across the country. 

 Nailah Butler

This week, The Institute for Anti-Racist Education, will be hosting three renowned arts educators who are working to transform the landscape of education utilizing an anti-racist lens. 

Join us October 1, 2020 at 7pm EST for what is sure to be an incredible night of hope and inspiration as we discuss The Transformative Power of the Arts in Anti-Racist Education.

Scroll down to learn more about each of our speakers. 

Purpose of the panel: 

Art is a powerful tool for healing, grounding, expression, creativity, and innovation. Yet, it is usually the first resource to go due to budget cuts and art courses and programming are traditional white-centered. This panel will explore how different forms of art and expression can be used as a catalyst for educational justice and transformation. 

About the Panelist: 

Nailah Butler serves as Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of arts nonprofit Epitome of Soul, Inc., an organization focused on bringing...

By Taylor Stewart, MDiv, MA

September 4, 2020

More than 60% of students in the U.S. have experienced trauma by the age of 16. Trauma can include but is not limited to: physical and sexual abuse, racial trauma, dating violence, natural disasters, war, verbal abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect. It can be acute, chronic, or complex. Regardless of the type or frequency of trauma that a student experiences, it can have many negative impacts on their educational experiences and academic performance.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and senseless racial violence and injustices, it is crucial that educators implement trauma-informed pedagogical practices in their classrooms. As many schools begin this academic year via remote learning or re-opening their doors in the midst of pandemic, implementing these trauma sensitive practices is even more paramount. Below are four trauma-informed educational practices that teachers can use within their in-person and/or online...

Statistically we know that most young people (61.8%) report experiencing at least 1 potentially traumatic event before the age of 16, and approximately 1/3 of our students have experienced 4 or more adverse childhood experiences. 

Therefore, as the only universal safety net, it is up to schools to both understand the effects of trauma on the brain and be prepared to address it in holistic, restorative ways. 

To give educators and school leaders an introduction to this topic--which is often left out of teacher education programs-- The Institute for Anti-Racist Education will host How Trauma Manifests in the Classroom on Monday, August 10, 2020 at 7pm EST. 

Our Panelists

Britney Foster, MSW, MDiv, is the Chief Executive Officer for Trajectory of Hope, LLC. She currently works at an all-boys parochial high school in Watts, California. In the past she has worked as a counselor in both the elementary and high school settings. In addition, she has...

Ashley Lipscomb and Brittany Spatz share some reflections from The Institute for Anti-Racist Education's Introductory Workshop, The Story of Becoming: A Teacher in the Making. 

The backbone of our professional development series, the July 20th workshop centered around the art of storytelling as the first step in anti-racist work. 

Missed the workshop? Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know when the next one launches!

"Will you be the one for the next person who sits beside you, behind you, in front of you, around you? Will you be the one for the people you've never met? Will you be the one for others who need you most, even if society feels like they don't deserve it? Will you be the one?"

Nominated by her peers, Ashley Y. Lipscomb, Co-Founder and CEO of The Institute for Anti-Racist Education, issues a powerful call to action during the Harvard Divinity School graduation on May 28, 2020.