East/Central Workshop on Thursday, May 19
Join us for 2022 East/Central Workshop on Thursday, May 19! This workshop is a great opportunity for school communication professionals to gather with colleagues and learn more about incorporating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) into their school district and improve communication with Non-English-speaking families. The workshop will also include roundtable discussions about PR topics and common communications issues.
We look forward to seeing everyone, as follows:
Meeting Time: 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Meeting Location: Wissahickon School District Administration Building (601 Knight Road, Ambler, PA)
Happy Hour: 4:15 to 6:00 p.m. (Springhouse Tavern, 1032 N Bethlehem Pike, Ambler, PA)
Please invite your district's DEI directors!
Workshop Speakers and Topics:
Communications and DEI Working Together to Ensure Inclusive School Environments
Presented by: Mrs. Jennifer Shealy and Mr. Justin Brown, Downingtown Area School District
As Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs receive more scrutiny from the general public, hear how communications and DEI can unite to leverage community support and garner districtwide investment in these programs. Hear from Jennifer Shealy, director of communications at Downingtown Area School District, and Justin Brown, Director of DEI at Downingtown Area School District, will share what has worked (and what hasn’t) at their district and how the two departments have worked to clearly communicate the districts goals of diversity, equity and inclusion, and combat the spread of misinformation and disinformation. This session is interactive and touches on real, lived experiences, so come ready with honesty, vulnerability and kindness.
Creating An Inclusive and Responsive School Community
Presented by: Ms. Keziah La Torre and Ms. Kristen Rawlings, Wissahickon School District
Keziah La Torre, Director of Equity and Cultural Responsiveness, and Kristen Rawlings, Community Relations Coordinator, will discuss the Wissahickon School District’s belonging, equity and inclusion efforts and the meaningful partnerships and strategies that the district has employed to inform and engage its school and family community. From professional learning experiences to social emotional learning in the classroom, to community conversations, join us in exploring the intentional steps taken to create an inclusive and responsive school community that prioritizes students’ social, emotional and academic wellness.
Effective Strategies & Tools for Effective Multilingual Communication
Presented by: Melissa Reese and Karim Brown, Allentown School District
Allentown School District is the third-largest urban district in Pennsylvania and has a majority minority population. Roughly 70% of our students and their families identify as Hispanic, and Allentown also has a rich Arabic-speaking population and a growing Korean population. How can we as communicators make sure our messages are reaching these families in their native language? In our presentation, we will cover:
- Making multilingual communication the expectation – not the exception
- Streamlining translation & interpretation requests
- Tips, tools and products to help you make translation a routine part of your workflow!
