Teach-In Registration 2013

This year, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Planning Committee invites the community to reflect on the theme "MLK’s Legacy: The Courage to Create a Just World." As part of the Day of Learning (Monday, January 21st), community members, faculty, staff and students have prepared a series of teach-in topics that address not only this year's theme, but that speak to the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

An integral part of this year’s Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration is the Teach-In experience. A “Teach-In” is a tool of social change used to share information and educate communities. Historically, Teach-Ins were conducted to help community members form participatory educational forums at the grass roots level. The method included relying upon knowledge held by community members that would benefit the entire community and foster the goals of the community for social justice advocacy and uplift. Teach-ins were intentionally held where large numbers of people commonly would be found. They were spontaneously set up and held for anyone who wished to take part, and by anyone who had knowledge to share. From market places, to town-squares, to urban social settings such as parks, festivals, churches, college quads, etc., one could find this tool being applied. Those who stepped forward to use this tool brought important information to anyone who chose to engage on topics they felt relevant and applicable to their lives.

Especially for logistical purposes, we ask participants to register for the teach-in(s) they find of interest and plan to attend. Please read through the entire abstract and logistical information (including maximum number of participants) prior to registering. If you are unable to register for a teach-in, but would like to be placed on a waiting list, contact Teach-In Logistics Coordinator Mark Anthony Arceño (arcenom@denison.edu).

Please note:

The 2013 Teach-In experience will span three periods of 50 minutes each: 2:30-3:20pm, 3:30-4:20pm and 4:30-5:20pm.
Pay particular attention to the timeframe of your Teach-In/s of interest, as many of them overlap sessions (110minutes), taking place from 2:30-4:20pm and 3:30-5:20pm. Due to logistic constraints and maximum numbers of participants per session, it will be expected that you attend the entire session for which you have registered (as opposed to leaving halfway to get to a different, overlapping session.

REGISTRATION FOR ALL TEACH-INS HAS CLOSED. If interested in a session that is not listed as having reached max capacity, visit the Teach-In site and ask if there are any open seats available. Please note that it is up to the jurisdiction of the Teach-In presenter(s) as to whether or not anyone beyond the posted max capacity may be added.

Teach-In Sessions:

“Aesthetic Assimilation: Does Appearance Matter in the Workplace? Should It?”

In his groundbreaking “I Have A Dream” speech, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” But what if that skin is covered with tattoos or piercing? Does their skin then become a reflection of their character?

This session will examine certain cultural and generational markers through the expectations of the professional workplace. Should a job applicant try to hide indicators such as tattoos, piercings, or religious attire? Should they have to? What about different hairstyles such as braids or locks? What about natural hair styles vs. processed hair styles?

During this presentation attendees may be exposed to:

Information regarding various hairstyles worn in certain cultures
Stories of judges and elected officials judging others by their appearance or name
Ideas regarding aesthetic standards based on profession, age, and region of the country

Presenter: Darren Nealy (Multicultural Affairs, Capital University Law School)

Presentation Time: 4.30pm-5.20pm

Room Location: Slayter Auditorium

Maximum Number of Participants: 300

“Banner in the Sky”

The work of MLK evoked passion through language; language that remains as a lasting testimony to his ideal of the ability to dream beyond the present. In the context of the MLK celebration at Denison, we come together to celebrate his work, and strive to continue his ideas of equality and justice in our own lives. In this workshop we will explore the nature of events as occasions of strong emotion and intent, but how does this manifest as we continue with our day to day life? Is there a space created by talking as a community that creates room for new potentials?

Banner in the Sky is a metaphor for the desire and the ephemerality of all calls to possibility. We will consider the initial utopianism, inevitable fading, and potential disappointment as it pertains to the nature of messages in the sky, inspiration and emotion.

Presenter: Sheilah Wilson (Art)

Presentation Time: 2.30pm-3.20pm

Room Location: Ebaugh 113

Maximum Number of Participants: 25

“Creating Community: A Case Study from Dakar, Senegal”

The King Center in Atlanta, Georgia, writes, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led campaigns against "poverty and international conflict, always maintaining fidelity to his principles that men and women everywhere, regardless of color or creed, are equal members of the human family." As we celebrate King's legacy and this year's theme, we should not forget the impact of citizens around the world in creating sustainable and equitable communities for all.

While civil rights were being fought for in the United States, Senegal had just gained its independence (1960). The struggle to reverse unjust systems and respond to the needs of succeeding generations along lines of social, economic and political equality persisted into the 1980s and still continues today. Indeed, citizens from the rural regions undertake migration to the capital city to rebuild and restructure their lives.

In this teach-in, Dr. Joanna Grabski will screen and discuss her documentary film, 'Market Imaginary,' which deals with the Colobane market and neighborhood in Dakar, Senegal. Alongside the challenge to create, define and imagine not only a new market but a new Dakar, the film will generate conversation about displacement, global alternative economies, and the creative economy of second chances.

Presenters: Joanna Grabski (Art History) and Fanta Diamanka (Women's Studies)

Presentation Time: 2.30pm-4.20pm

Room Location: Higley Auditorium

Maximum Number of Participants: 95

“The Courage to Interrogate Our Traditions: Toward a Just Community of Diverse Learners”

MLK proposed a "Beloved Community" where all people can "share in the wealth of the earth." Mapped onto the Denison academic community, this Teach-In strives toward a curriculum where all approaches and values co-exist, without dissolving specific traditions. Today's activity aims to reveal our traditions of knowing in educational disciplines in order to discover how we might invite in a diversity of learners.

Following Dr. King's Six Steps (aka, the Cycle) of Social Change, this teach-in will:

Encourage Personal Commitment--recognizing both shorter- and longer-term conversation teaches us about ourselves and our environment.
Celebrate Education--having each participating faculty nominate/invite one student majors, forming a "Disciplinary Team" of two
Engage in Information Gathering--by having Disciplinary Teams bring forward the kinds of traditions and expectations inherent in their work
Welcome Negotiation--revealing our disciplinary traditions to others and listening to critiques and responses
Enter into Direct Action--drawing up a list of next steps to develop the community of diverse learners
Plan for Reconciliation--anticipating the celebratory nature of implementing consensual change on our campus

Participants will (1) hear a brief opening presentation that shares curriculum investigation appropriate for this forum, (2) divide the Disciplinary Teams into partnerships with another team, (3) share observations about traditions in each of the two disciplines and collaborating on possible shifts, (4) reunite the larger groups to hear each other's suggestions, and (5) close with a collaborative discussion about "next steps" to embrace a just "sharing of the wealth" of possibility and opportunity here at Denison.

Presenters: Professor Gill Wright Miller (Dance)

Presentation Time: 2.30pm-4.20pm

Room Location: Ebaugh 113

Maximum Number of Participants: 20

“Dialoguing Across Differences: A Powerful Tool for Nonviolent Social Change”

We often hear horrific stories of hatred. This hatred seems to stem from a lack of understanding and respect for difference. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. worked to highlight the humanity of all people with nonviolent strategies. King strove to empower and engage the world community, knowing the terrible adversity he would face. This was true courage. Similarly, we strive to use dialogue to increase understanding and empathy, and dialogue requires the courage to share personal sentiments and experiences honestly. Through intensive group activities, we will help session attendees honestly examine the facets of their own and others’ identities. We will also challenge participants to develop tools for dialogue: active listening skills, questioning strategies, and identity awareness. Participants will also gain practice in utilizing these strategies. We will encourage participants to challenge themselves to engage differences as strengths and do so with courage and compassion.

We believe the work of dialogue is important because Denison is a community of individuals from a variety of backgrounds. Each community member brings a different life experience to campus. In order to create a campus community in which tolerance and respect are given to all, it is necessary to engage these differences by honestly sharing personal experiences and courageously seeking to understand the experiences of others. Join us in celebrating our differences and commonalities and in seeking the courage required to advance the vision of a just world for which the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. fought.

Presenters: Stetson Thacker ’14, Ana Victoria Morales ’14, Mike Ivy ’13 and Professor Mary Tuominen (Sociology/Anthropology)

Presentation Time: 2.30pm-3.20pm

Room Location: Welsh Hills Room

Maximum Number of Participants: 40

“Finding Your Inner Clown: a Means to Self-Actualization” (for women only)

This workshop focuses on cultivating women’s authenticity and empowerment through the art of “clowning.”

Many articles about the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. frame him as a model of authentic leadership. His commitment to causes and social change that recognize our common humanity is a dream still in the process of realization. Oppression still exists. Women’s inner power, the potential to “be ourselves,” is often undermined by the social pressures to be perfect physically, mentally, or socially, and to live our lives based on others’ needs and expectations. Experimenting with releasing the judgments that oppress women, we can find the source of authenticity that fuels women’s leadership on our own terms.

To counter these social pressures that rob women of the courage to stand apart and effect change, this workshop will help women to find their “inner clowns,” and cultivate their personal identity. Emmanuelle Delpech, Vail visiting artist in Dance and Theatre, will lead women of all horizons and social identities to dare to be funny, to laugh, to cry, to explore the absurd, and to recognize our vulnerabilities. There will be no need for participants to “impress.” Instead, they can be carefree, funny, or weird in each other’s presence. We will make authenticity our ally so that more meaningful and intimate relationships with others across identities are possible. This will bring us into humanity's real beauty—something that King lived and taught. It is the goal of this workshop to cultivate his “beloved community” through the playfulness of relating to ourselves and others on “real terms”.

Presenters: Professor Sandra Mathern (Dance) and Guest Artist Emmanuelle Delpech

Presentation Time: 3.30pm-5.20pm

Room Location: Doane Dance Building, Upper Studio

Maximum Number of Participants: 30

“Identity, A Realm That Cultivates Leadership”

We all have explicit, as well as hidden, characteristics that help define our identity, who we are. In the spirit of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who once said that "a genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus," we ask: If we look at “identity” as a “realm,” are we allowed to/do we perform, participate and lead within the realm(s) with which we identify? How does diversity within and across these realms affect who we are when we consider the liberal arts experience? Can we take on leadership roles outside of our comfort zones as defined by these identities/realms?

During this workshop, we will discuss a series of such interrelated topics as identity, values, diversity and leadership, and how these play out in our every day lives. In addition, we want to be able to talk about our own identities and how we allow (sub/consciously) are different experiences, environments, etc., shape who we are.

We hope participants will walk away thinking about the correlation among one’s identity, actions and values, in contrast/harmony with the diversity of one’s campus community, and the effect these elements have on one’s leadership abilities. Indeed, this workshop will allow participants with the potential to discover new insights about themselves and how to improve as leaders on their campus, and in their communities and neighborhoods back home, as well. In essence, we believe it is important to know what you believe in and understand who you are in the present, but that it’s also beneficial to jump out of one’s comfort zone and learn from different perspectives.

Presenters: Ashley Johnson '14, Jessie Mack '14, Luchen Peng '15, Itzel Villegas '16, Brianna Moreno '16 and Chris Schroeder '16

Presentation Times: 3.30pm-4.20pm (Session A), 4.30pm-5.20pm (Session B)

Room Location: Welsh Hills Room

Maximum Number of Participants: 30

“Journey to Unity”

In response to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s passion and dedication to ensuring that justice prevails everywhere, this session focuses on informing individuals about past affairs and present issues. When analyzing the past, we will highlight certain parts of the Civil Rights Movement and discuss the similarities that exist with contemporary issues. After equipping individuals with knowledge about the past and present, we will then connect this information to the Denison’s community by illustrating how differences in race, class, or gender have caused separation amongst students. In Martin Luther King, Jr.’s I Have a Dream speech he articulated that he dreamed of a day where, “We will be able to work together, pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.” (source)

Have we achieved his dream? Is the Denison’s community creating a society where segregation exists instead of unity? In order to reclaim and achieve MLK Jr.’s dream, we believe that self-learning and activism is needed. This session is dedicated to expanding participants’ knowledge about the Civil Rights Movement, contemporary inequalities, as well as encourage individuals to become an active member of your society. Our hope is that after we equip the participants with knowledge and provide a safe place to engage in dialogue, that the participants will:

be more cognitive of the inequalities that exist,
engage in self-learning to combat societal and political generalizations,
become an active member of his or her society.

Presenters: Kiara Sims '14, Curtis Edmonds '15 and Jasmine Passa '15

Presentation Time: 3.30pm-5.20pm

Room Location: Slayter Hall, Shepardson College Room

Maximum Number of Participants: 25

“Loving v. Virginia: The Lead-Up, the Legalization and the Lingering Story”

In 1960, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has been quoted as saying: “In a truly integrated society, interracial marriage should be legal. This is not a true problem, since individuals marry, not races.” Seven years later, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned anti-miscegenation laws in the Loving v. Virginia decision.

How did these anti-miscegenation laws come to be? Who were the Lovings and what was their story? In the wake of the Loving decision, is there still controversy regarding interracial marriage? Do individuals in interracial relationships still need courage to create a just world in the realm of marriage?

Attendees will learn about:

Historical information regarding United States miscegenation laws.
The underlying facts of the Loving v. Virginia case.
A number of issues that interracial couples continue to face in the United States.

Presenter: Darren Nealy (Multicultural Affairs, Capital University Law School)

Presentation Time: 3.30pm-4.20pm

Room Location: Slayter Auditorium

Maximum Number of Participants: 300

“Second Term Analysis: The Presidential Inauguration and MLK's Legacy”

For the second time in history, the Presidential Inauguration and national recognition of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. coincide on the same day, offering a unique opportunity to juxtapose two visions. In this Teach-In, we will use President Obama's inauguration as a context to discuss the following themes: a critique of the President's oath of office analyzed against the questions posed within this year's MLK theme description; the extent to which it is our own (the public's) role in helping President Obama fulfill the promises he will make to the American public throughout his address; and the role of our government in structuring society in such a condusive way as to encourage its citizens to be, essentially, changemakers/agents of change.

Presenters: Professors Gladys Mitchell-Walthour (Political Science) and Katy Crossley-Frolick (Political Science)

Presentation Time: 2.30pm-3.20pm

Room Location: Burton D. Morgan Lecture Hall

Maximum Number of Participants: 117

“Seeking Racial Justice Through Protest Movements in Brazil”

Brazilian Black Movement activists have a longstanding tradition of using African American activists such as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as reference points to engage in courageous acts of protests to fight for equal rights. Similar to King’s belief that “a threat to justice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” Brazilian Black Movement activists seek equal rights and justice for Afro-Brazilians who have been marginalized in society. I have traveled and conducted research in Brazil since 2003 and many Afro-Brazilian activists I interviewed cited King as an inspiring leader. There is currently no published scholarship on the impact of King on Brazil’s Black Movements. However, his impact continues among activists engaged in the struggle for equal rights. The most recent recognition of King’s influence is a posthumous award for him by the University of Zumbi, the only Black university in Brazil in November 2012.

In this teach-in I will focus on Black movement activism and the struggle for equality. I will first give a brief history of race and racism in Brazil. This will follow with a discussion of Brazil’s contemporary black movement organizations. Specifically I focus on Educafro, an organization that has been engaged in protest movements and who openly embraces the methods of Civil Rights activists such as King. Lastly, I examine recent legislation that aims for a more democratic and just society in Brazil. Much of this progressive legislation is due to Black movement activists’ demand for justice.

Presenter: Professor Gladys Mitchell-Walthour (Political Science)

Presentation Time: 3.30pm-4.20pm

Room Location: Burton D. Morgan Lecture Hall

Maximum Number of Participants: 32

“Social entrepreneurism as a viable means for achieving economic and social justice? - What would Dr. MLK say?”

“This is America’s opportunity to help bridge the gulf between the haves and the have-nots. The question is whether America will do it. There is nothing new about poverty. What is new is that we now have the techniques and the resources to get rid of poverty. The real question is whether we have the will. True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar. It is coming to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring.” --The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1967)

The Sparta Restaurant and Main Street Project in Newark, Ohio is an experiment in activism for social justice. In addition to the ground floor restaurant, which also functions as a community center, we are developing a jobs program for the most marginalized of our citizens, the poor, the re-entering felon, those struggling at the bottom to survive. The jobs program uses a national curriculum called Roots Of Success which teaches environmental literacy and green construction skills.

In addition we offer classes in life skills and academic support for those wanting to get their GED.

The leadership of Sparta describes its mission as “social entrepreneurism,” an uneasy marriage of traditional business start-up and social/communitarian responsibility. During this teach-in, we will explore what this means, its possibilities, its limitations and whether it answers Dr. King’s challenge to address poverty with reforms AS WELL AS restructure the society that produces poverty.

In addition we offer classes in life skills and academic support for those wanting to get their GED.

Presenter: Lesha Farias (Ohio Campus Compact), Allen Schwartz ’71 and Chris Ramsey (The Sparta)

Presentation Time: 2.30pm-3.20pm

Room Location: Samson Talbot 210

Maximum Number of Participants: 32

“Soldiers for Social Change: Solidarity across Cultures”

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”. Through the efforts of the Black Panther Party and many great activists, it is often believed that after the Civil Rights era, American society had become a progressive ideal of racial equality. The story of Richard Aoki, a founding member of the Black Panther Party, tells us that the aspirations for equality have yet to be satisfied. Aoki has become a legendary figure that served as a pillar of growth in social movements.

'AOKI: A Documentary Film' showcases Aoki's efforts to change an unjust system through mass action which spoke strongly for the oppressed and inspired many to take a stand for a better future. The most important lesson from his life is that oppression is not a singular struggle but rather one that affects the community as a whole. The discourse that revolves around certain activism ignores that struggle is not a problem of “me” or “you” but rather of “us”. Indeed, the notion that struggle can be divided by our faces threatens solidarity in communities. After screening the aforementioned documentary, we will focus our debrief discussion on ways we can create a more cohesive community.

Presenters: Kevin Dao '15, Julio Martinez '16, Nicole Lee '13 and Sunder Willett '15

Presentation Time: 3.30pm-5.20pm

Room Location: Barney Davis Board Room

Maximum Number of Participants: 30

“The Surprising Story of Stuff: Are We Living the Legacy?”

Although the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. may not have addressed environmental sustainability specifically, he recognized the connections between people, planet, and profit. In his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" King writes, “We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly" (1963). The “Story of Stuff” is a short, fun, and educational video that explores how we are connected through our consumerist society. The network we have created is not mutually beneficial. King’s words are highlighted through the video and this presentation will encourage audience participants to consider the impact of their everyday personal choices.

The Denison Sustainability Fellows will be encouraging audience participants to embrace the concept of the Triple Bottom Line with an emphasis on the role they economy plays in regard to sustainability. This session will focus on the "three P's" of Sustainability: People, Planet and Profit.

Audience participants will learn or be able to do the following:

Understand the three components of the Triple Bottom Line
Relate their understanding of the Triple Bottom Line to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy
Acknowledge what competes with their commitment to living a more sustainable life

Presenters: Beth Armitage '13, Sarah Hunter '15 and Maria Mancini '16

Presentation Time: 2.30pm-4.20pm

Room Location: Samson Talbot 212

Maximum Number of Participants: 32

“Where Does Justice Begin?: Education as the Great Equalizer”

One of the many landmarks during the Civil Rights Movement was the push for integration in schools. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote President Dwight D. Eisenhower on behalf of the Little Rock Nine and also aided youth in their quest for equality three years before marching on Washington in 1963. King's speech on April 18, 1959, was delivered to high school and college students, some 26,000, who held a march in Washington, D.C., to demonstrate for desegregation in schools. The first march took place on 25 October 1958, with 10,000 students.

The aim of this teach-in is to engage participants in a conversation on one of the fundamental elements of justice: education. The teach-in will begin with a community mind-mapping exercise in which participants will collectively define education and justice. These concepts will be intertwined throughout our conversation which will be further enriched with a background on the educational history of the United States.

In conjunction with our conversation rooted in history, we will also offer a contemporary approach to this conversation. In this portion of our teach-in, we will take a critical approach to dissecting the state of education by looking at some of the nation’s report cards from different states. We will examine the current justice in our education system as it pertains to issues such as socioeconomic class, race and gender, among others. Participants will be encouraged to examine their own education at this point in their life, as well as the privilege that is connected to education. Ultimately, the conversation will focus on the questions of where does justice truly begin and is education the springboard and call for justice for all?

Presenters: Brittane Maddox ’14 and Professor Tina Pierce (Political Science/Black Studies)

Presentation Time: 2.30pm-3.20pm

Room Location: Slayter Hall, Shepardson College Room

Maximum Number of Participants: 20

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