NAACP Cleveland Teach Truth Day of Action

Free books, student-led workshops, community empowerment, Guardians of Justice award, and more as part of the Zinn Education Project's 5th annual Teach Truth Day of Action, hosted by NAACP Cleveland and cosponsored by Honesty for Ohio Education; Red, Wine, & Blue; Cleveland Teachers Union Local 279; SURJ NE Ohio; and more. 
 
The Guardians of Justice award is being given to Ohio school board members who refused to sign the anti-DEI pledge.
 
Keynote speaker: Ali Jamal Boyd, manager, Warrensville Heights Library

PROGRAM

Greetings………………………………………..Meryl Johnson

Poetry………………………………………………Raja Belle Freeman

Keynote Presentation………………… Ali Jamal Boyd, Manager, Warrensville Heights Library

Breakouts…………………………………Finding Joy in Poetry

                                                     Teaching Cleveland

                                                     SGORR

                                                     Finding Joy in Activism

                                                     The Journey

                                                      Voices of Truth Art Projects

Closing Remarks………………………….Lisa Vahey

Vendor Stroll

BREAKOUT DESCRIPTIONS      

Finding Joy in Poetry             Raja Belle Freeman

Generative writing workshop in which participants will learn how to create extended metaphors to convey personal and societal truths through artistic prose.

Teaching Cleveland                  Greg Deegan

How did the wealth gap emerge in greater Cleveland in the 20th century, and what are the legacies of systemic inequities that we have inherited? Explore the ways in which policies impacted settlement patterns, which in turn left greater Cleveland with deep systemic issues that need urgent attention.

Jayden Levert              Cailiah Fountain          Camryn Dozier

The Student Group on Race Relations is an organization of diverse high school students enrolled at Shaker Heights High School who promote positive social relations across all boundaries of difference, and are committed to a mission of anti racism. This session will feature score members who lead their own groups, and are known as core leaders. Session allows attendees to participate in activities created by core leaders that will teach adults ways to identify bias, discrimination and stereotypes, while embracing their differences and standing up for one another in their communities.

Finding Joy in Activism: Ideas from the field    Lisa Vahey

Maya Angelou let us know that when we know better, we can do better. This session will share timely and accurate updates on what is happening with “teaching the truth” policies in our Ohio schools, and how you can engage in ways that are impactful, yet ensure you’re in community and finding joy in advocacy work. We’ll also connect and share as being in community is the heart of our strength! You’ll walk away with energy and ideas for immediate action.

The Journey: A Place to Call Our Own              Lavita and Carl Ewing

The Journey: A Place to Call Our Own – This thirty-minute documentary recounts the struggle of Black Americans in Cleveland Ohio as they sought space within the historic cultural gardens in Rockefeller Park. The cultural gardens, established in 1926, celebrate the city’s multi-ethnic heritage and aim to promote ethnic pride and intercultural understanding. In this breakout, you will watch the documentary featuring the African American Cultural Garden that was featured in the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival and the Cleveland International Film Festival. The viewing will be followed by a participatory discussion of determination and resilience and the fight for representation.

Voices of Truth Art Project                            Mary Addison Carter

Force, intimidation, death threats, and oppression for a very long time have been used in an attempt to silence the collective voices in America’s history.  This unique artistic experience will allow participants an opportunity to engage in depicting their various voices through the use of art. Each participant will select from one of the three themes to illustrate a work of art.  Each of the themes will have a set of prompts to select from to create their own visual representation.

Theme #1. Creating my own personal story or life event. 

Theme #2 Create a collage entitled  What Truth looks like to me.  

Theme #3  Framing the Truth,” participants will use prompts to create their “Truth” on a frame.

Hosted by the Cleveland NAACP. Cosponsored by Honesty for Ohio Education; Red, Wine, & Blue; Cleveland Teachers Union Local 279; SURJ NE Ohio; and more.

See the story in Cleveland.com about the Cleveland's 2024 Teach Truth Day of Action.