Gwinnett SToPP represented again for the 2022 Dignity in Schools Campaign (DSC) National Week of Action (WoA). This year’s WoA was Saturday, October 8th through Sunday, October 16th. The theme was “Building the Schools our Communities Deserve NOW!” Gwinnett SToPP hosted two events to commemorate the week.
Our first event included two panel discussions and featured the unveiling and discussion of “The Balance Sheet: Resource Equity in Gwinnett County Public Schools”, a new report by the 2022 cohort of Parent Leadership Institute in partnership with Opportunity Institute. The panelists for this discussion were Karen Greene, parent and PLI participant, Guy Johnson, Senior Program Director of Federal and National Networks with Opportunity Institute, and it was moderated by Pamela Carn, a longtime education advocate/consultant. The panelists discussed the PLI participants’ experience in researching the budget and the report findings.
The panelists for the evening’s second discussion were Gwinnett high school student Isabella, Anthony Downer, Gwinnett SToPP’s Youth Organizer, and Michael Tafelski, Senior Supervising Attorney with Southern Poverty Law Center. Panelists discussed the current climate in schools, the impact of student discipline, and how restorative practices can improve student experiences. We also looked back on our very first Week of Action event in 2010. The event was live-streamed on YouTube and Facebook Live.
Our second event was an Open House Mixer. The mixer included food, mocktails, music, and fun activities. In keeping with the WoA theme, attendees were tasked as teams to build a school our communities deserve. Students in attendance were charged with leading their team through the design process. Teams had to detail resources and supports available to every learner; create a positive culture and climate; ensure that students saw themselves in the curriculum; and address the recruitment, retention, and training of school staff. A variety of creative ideas emerged from the activity, from the layout of the building
to available supports for students and staff, to the methods used to recruit and retain staff. All in all, a great time was had by all. Be sure to check out the pictures from the event.
Thank you all for attending and to everyone involved in making both Week of Action events a success!