Wayne County Teaching Diverse History Summit: Full Schedule

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

7:30am EDT

Check-in

Wednesday August 13, 2025 7:30am - 8:30am EDT

The Icon

Wednesday August 13, 2025 7:30am - 8:30am EDT
The Icon 200 Walker St, Detroit, MI 48207, USA

8:30am EDT

Opening Remarks

Wednesday August 13, 2025 8:30am - 9:00am EDT

Auditorium

Wednesday August 13, 2025 8:30am - 9:00am EDT
Auditorium

8:30am EDT

Community Resource Fair

Wednesday August 13, 2025 8:30am - 4:00pm EDT

Lobby

Wednesday August 13, 2025 8:30am - 4:00pm EDT
Lobby

9:00am EDT

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Hasan Kwame Jeffries

Wednesday August 13, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am EDT

Auditorium

Wednesday August 13, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Auditorium

10:15am EDT

Youth Panel

Wednesday August 13, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am EDT

Auditorium

Wednesday August 13, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am EDT
Auditorium

11:15am EDT

Freedom-Seeking and Resistance in Detroit: Designing Place-Based Case Studies for Inquiry-Based Learning

Wednesday August 13, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm EDT

Room 5

In this session, participants will explore an historical case study of freedom seeking in Detroit through an activity that is inquiry driven and designed to promote disciplinary literacy learning. They will then learn about underlying pedagogical frameworks, design tools, and additional case studies they can use in their own classrooms in practical, manageable ways. In addition, session participants will get access to multiple text sets and lesson plans they can adapt and use across grades 6 to 12 to explore the complex history of our region and nation through the experiences and narratives of communities often silenced in conventional curricula and textbooks (while still aligning to our GLCEs and HSCEs!).

Speakers

Darin Stockdill

Marsal Family School of Education, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Darin is the Instructional and Program Design Coordinator for the Center for Education Design, Evaluation, and Research (CEDER) at the University of Michigan's Marsal Family School of Education. In this role, he partners with educational organizations, teachers, and UM... Read More →

Wednesday August 13, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm EDT
Room 5

Breakout Session #1

11:15am EDT

Lifting Untold Stories from our Landscape Using Place-Based, EcoJustice Education

Wednesday August 13, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm EDT

Room 3

This session introduces EcoJustice Education as a model for critical place-based learning, with a focus on the different relationship structures developed between ecologically-centered cultures and dominant individual-centered cultures. We will use a particular place (Detroit) as an entry point into the larger story of diverse community histories – human and nonhuman, paying specific attention to discourses associated with them and what this reveals about values held by different world views.

Speakers

Lisa Voelker

Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition (SEMIS)

Nigora Erkaeva

Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition (SEMIS)

Anna Blazer

SEMIS Director, Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition (SEMIS)

Wednesday August 13, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm EDT
Room 3

Breakout Session #1

11:15am EDT

Migration and Religion: Two Tales from Detroit

Wednesday August 13, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm EDT

Room 2

Looking at two of metro Detroit's ethno-religious communities-- Chaldean Catholics and West African Muslims– this session will explore how each group's religious identity has influenced their experience of migration to Detroit and in turn shaped the landscape of the city.

Participants will learn from community members through oral history, observations, and other media, the ways that religious belief and practice have reinforced community identity for two ethno-religious minorities in metro Detroit. As this topic is deeply place-based, participants will be able to look with new eyes at the physical and cultural landmarks around them which bear the marks of these groups' influence.

Speakers

Carole Hawke-Diop

Westwood Community Schools

Wednesday August 13, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm EDT
Room 2

Breakout Session #1

11:15am EDT

Teaching Arab History with Accuracy and Empathy

Wednesday August 13, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm EDT

Room 4

This session is designed for educators who want to bring a more accurate and nuanced understanding of Arab history and culture into their classrooms. Participants will explore key aspects of Arab culture, language, and history while learning how to challenge common stereotypes that often shape perceptions of the Middle East. The session will also offer practical strategies for teaching about Middle Eastern conflicts in a way that balances historical accuracy with empathy and cultural awareness. Educators will leave with concrete tools to facilitate respectful discussions on complex topics, helping students engage with global histories and diverse perspectives in meaningful ways.

Speakers

Rania Hammoud

K-12 Curriculum Coordinator, Plymouth-Canton Community Schools

Rania Hammoud is a passionate educator and curriculum leader dedicated to making history education more inclusive and meaningful for all students. As the K-12 Curriculum Coordinator for Social Studies, World Language, and School Climate at Plymouth-Canton Community Schools, she works... Read More →

Wednesday August 13, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm EDT
Room 4

Breakout Session #1

11:15am EDT

Teaching Social Studies in Michigan: It's a Mission

Wednesday August 13, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm EDT

Auditorium

This session will provide updated information on and around current Michigan policies as related to social studies. This will include discussion around best approaches to create comprehensive social studies learning spaces. In addition, attendees will learn about current resources to share and use to support their work for student learning.

Speakers

Scott Koenig

Michigan Department of Education

Scott Koenig serves as a Social Studies Consultant for the Michigan Department of Education (MDE). His work focuses on guiding educators with their efforts implementing Michigan’s social studies content expectations. Scott’s work includes supporting the creation of inclusive learning... Read More →

Wednesday August 13, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm EDT
Auditorium

Breakout Session #1

11:15am EDT

True Inclusion is Revolutionary: Combating Ableism

Wednesday August 13, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm EDT

Room 6

Detroit Disability Power (DDP) presents "Leveraging the Power of the Disability Community". This is a condensed, one-hour version of DDP’s two-hour Anti-Ableism workshop designed to provide foundational insights into disability justice. This interactive session will explore introductory concepts including disability as a cultural identity, ableism as an intersecting system of oppression, and models of disability—covering who is included in the disability community, appropriate language, and engagement strategies. Participants will begin to build concrete tools for creating inclusive environments and developing effective allyship skills across professional and personal spaces.

Speakers

Ruth Le

Detroit Disability Power

Ruth Le is an educator, coach, and project manager. She was born and raised in Boston, MA and earned her bachelor’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Southern California and master’s in Special Education from Loyola Marymount University. Ruth spent nearly a decade... Read More →

Wednesday August 13, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm EDT
Room 6

Breakout Session #1

11:15am EDT

Zines and Democracy

Wednesday August 13, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm EDT

Room 1

In this session, I will share two guides (one for K-8 and another for 9-12) about the history of zines, how they have been used throughout various social justice movements, and how the creation of zines promotes democratic principles. Instructors will have the opportunity to make their own zines and discuss ways to utilize zine-making in the classroom.

Speakers

Angelica Esquivel

Affiliated with YpsiWrites and Washtenaw Community College

I am a Xicana writer, artist, and educator from Fostoria, Ohio. I received my BFA in English and Creative Writing at the University of Michigan in 2018, during which time I completed a poetry and fiction collection. For my work, I received three Hopwood Awards and the Quinn Prize... Read More →

Wednesday August 13, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm EDT
Room 1

Breakout Session #1

1:45pm EDT

A Community's Effort to Document its Rich and Colorful History

Wednesday August 13, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm EDT

Room 2

A couple of years back current and former members of the Latino community in southwest Detroit formed VOCES: Southwest Detroit History Project team in an effort to more completely document the rich history of the Mexican and Latino communities in Detroit which dates back over 100 years. The current team is made up of a journalist, social workers, an educator, a businesswoman, film makers and a museum specialist. A couple members had been documenting the stories of elders, community activists, educators, and musicians going back almost 15 years through filmed and audio interviews as well as through community newspaper articles. Their success generated enthusiam and a desire from other community members to "pick up the mantle" in promoting community based historical research. In a recent community forum, well over 70 community residents from different generations expressed whole hearted support and encouragement for the team's efforts. A number of those present expressed a desire to help this effort.

The team panel will share with session participants their motivations, and successes and challenges in promoting a community based approach. The team understands the need to promote the importance of research and oral history collection among younger community members. It is part of our intergenertional organizing approach. We are in current discussions with some university instructors on how we can recruit undergraduate students in this process. Our hope is that this interest and possible involvement can "trickle down" to high school aged youth.

Speakers

VOCES

VOCES: Southwest Detroit History Project Team

Latinos have rich and enduring ties to Southwest Detroit. Beckoned by industry, Mexicans and Puerto Ricans arrived in the city at the turn of the 20th century and planted roots—their destinies shaped by shifting policies, promises of work, and social mobility. What ensued was the... Read More →

Wednesday August 13, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm EDT
Room 2

Breakout Session #2

1:45pm EDT

Black Bottom Archives

Wednesday August 13, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm EDT

Room 5

Black Bottom Archives (BBA) is a living community archive dedicated to sharing and preserving the stories of Black Detroit and resisting the erasure and whitewashing of Detroit’s history. Before its destruction in the 1960s, Black Bottom thrived as a predominantly Black neighborhood, home to thousands of residents, over 100 Black-owned businesses, schools, churches, and cultural landmarks. The tragic process of “urban renewal,” often referred to as “negro removal,” led to the devastation of homes and cherished spaces as the city prioritized profit over the vibrant community. Once a thriving center of Black culture and life, it was replaced by a freeway, displacing business owners and residents alike. Today, this crucial history still remains unknown to many Black Detroiters, but Black Bottom Archives (BBA) is committed to changing that narrative through community organizing and digital tools. The organization employs visual installations like the Black Bottom Street View exhibit alongside innovative digital mappings to honor and reclaim the legacy of a neighborhood that served as the heartline for Black Detroiters during the Great Migration. This session will provide hands-on instruction on incorporating BBA's digital archive materials into their classroom, including oral histories and an interactive digital map that reconstructs the Black Bottom and Paradise Valley communities. Attendees will also learn best practices for discussing the history of Black Bottom and making connections to present-day realities of displacement.

Speakers

Marcia Black

Director of Archives and Education, Black Bottom Archives

Marcia (she/her) is a proud Detroiter, Black queer feminist archivist, memory worker, and abolitionist organizer. Marcia is an alum of Marygrove College where she received her Bachelors in Political Science and Sociology, and an alum of the University of Texas at Austin where she... Read More →

Wednesday August 13, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm EDT
Room 5

Breakout Session #2

1:45pm EDT

Facing Histories (Part 1) featuring Dr. Hasan Kwame Jefferies

Wednesday August 13, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm EDT

Auditorium

Speakers

Hasan Kwame Jefferies

The Ohio State University

A Brooklyn, New York native, Dr. Jeffries earned his undergraduate degree from Morehouse College, where he was initiated into the Pi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He went on to earn a Ph.D. in American history, specializing in African American history, from Duke University.Dr... Read More →

Wednesday August 13, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm EDT
Auditorium

Breakout Session #2

1:45pm EDT

Native American Authors: Incoporating Native American Texts in Grades 6-12

Wednesday August 13, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm EDT

Room 3

Our session will introduce educators to student-appropriate Native American books. It will explore how Native American literature can be used in the classroom to introduce students to culture, heritage, and ways of life that may differ from their own.This could be in the form of projects or cultural activities. This session will celebrate diversity and inclusion of students and focus on building a safe learning environment.

In this session, secondary level educators will be introduced to a variety of authors and books with Native American (Indigenous) characters to help foster cultural understanding, equity, and inclusion in the learning community. According to Michigan’s state data there are approximately 8,291 Native American students enrolled in public schools. Native American students need to see characters like themselves being represented in texts to encourage them to grow into themselves. “By promoting diversity in children’s literature we can ensure the next generation of Native American children can see themselves represented in the books they read” (Squires The Importance of Native American Literature).

By including lessons on Native American history and culture, teachers can successfully expose students to accurate and truthful information, including assimilation and boarding schools. Even though some pieces of their history can be challenging to learn, teachers can also foster excitement and joy by bringing in different cultural activities. Including bringing in tribal elders from the community for storytelling with the students, taking them on experiential field trips, and implementing culture into the classroom.

In our session’s slide show we will showcase books for students at a variety of grade levels that are easily accessible for teachers to locate and purchase. After time to browse hard copy books, you will walk away with lists of grade appropriate books, online links, and resources. Work time will be provided where you can reflect on how to incorporate Native American literature into your current lessons or units being taught. Many Native American texts are a great way to introduce a project to your students.

Our session will also explore how to evaluate quality texts and materials for authenticity. We will provide a rubric from the National Museum of American Indians with an explanation of how they score materials for culturally appropriate and responsive texts. We will explain how to evaluate Native American texts for authenticity and accuracy by using the following sources: The National Museum of the American Indian NativeKnowledge360 Rubric, and The American Indian Library Association recommended book list. These sources will give teachers the tools to make selections of texts for their classroom.

Speakers

Wendy Gilliard

6th grade teacher, Sault Area Public Schools

Wendy Gilliard is a veteran teacher with 28 years of experience in various grade levels at the elementary and middle school level. She has been teaching middle school language arts at the Sault Area Public Schools for the past eight years. Wendy is currently teaching sixth grade ELA... Read More →

Sydnie Dumas

7th Grade ELA Teacher, Sault Area Middle School

Sydnie Dumas is a recent graduate of Central Michigan University with a B.S. in Secondary Education with a focus on English Language and History. She is currently teaching 7th grade English Language Arts at The Sault Area Middle School in the rural community of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan... Read More →

Kendall Moser

Sault Area Middle School

Kendall Moser is a first year teacher at Sault Area Middle School, recently graduated Suma Cum Laude from Lake Superior State University with a B.S. in Secondary Education with a focus on English Language Arts. She is currently teaching 7th grade English Language Arts. Kendall is... Read More →

Wednesday August 13, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm EDT
Room 3

Breakout Session #2

1:45pm EDT

Teaching Difficult Histories: Inquiry and Museum-Based Learning at The Zekelman Holocaust Center

Wednesday August 13, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm EDT

Room 4

As part of the Wayne County Teaching Diverse Histories Summit, this session will explore how The Zekelman Holocaust Center serves as a powerful site for historical inquiry and disciplinary literacy. Educators will examine how museum assets—artifacts, survivor testimonies, and exhibits—can support student inquiry and deepen engagement with complex histories. Through culturally responsive, inquiry-based, and place-based pedagogical approaches, participants will develop strategies to integrate museum-based learning into their classrooms. This session will equip teachers with the tools to help students critically analyze historical evidence, explore the experiences of marginalized communities, and make meaningful connections between the past and present. By the end of the session, educators will have a framework for using The HC’s resources to enrich their teaching and foster inclusive, inquiry-driven historical learning.

Speakers

Renea Di Bella

Zekelman Holocaust Center

Renea Di Bella is the Education Specialist at The HC. She has an M.A. in Education from Eastern Michigan University, with a concentration in curriculum and instruction for diverse learning groups. Renea taught 8th grade Social Studies at Scarlett Middle School in Ann Arbor, MI for... Read More →

Wednesday August 13, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm EDT
Room 4

Breakout Session #2

1:45pm EDT

The Backbeat Rewritten: Detroit’s Musical History and the Black American Musical Lineage

Wednesday August 13, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm EDT

Room 1

The backbeat is one of the foundational rhythmic elements of Black American music. In this session, participants will learn a pedagogical approach for teaching this rhythm through the lens of three key genres: jazz, techno, and hip-hop. Concurrent with this history of the backbeat, this session will also analyze the preservation and erasure of the musical history of Detroit, giving educators a set of tools to help students make meaningful, deep connections with the musical history of Detroit.

Student-centered inquiry and historical investigation will be at the heart of this presentation. First, a bit of scaffolding knowledge of music theory and music history will be provided to the attendees. Educators in this session will get a hands-on, kinesthetic approach to teaching the music theory behind the backbeat (read: there will be stomping and clapping) that can easily be applied to students in a classroom setting. This analysis of the backbeat will serve as a springboard into music history, viewing how the backbeat is used in songs both inside and outside the Black American musical lineage and/or the music of Detroit. Specific listening examples will be given to show how elements of the backbeat (and all of the histories wrapped up inside of it) have been preserved, rewritten, and/or erased. Ultimately, these activities can be used by educators to help drive students into inquiry-based learning and make meaningful, deep connections between the modern popular music they listen to and the genres in the Black American musical lineage (How does the music I listen to connect to Detroit musical history? How is this history preserved or erased in the pop music of today?).

Speakers

Andy Jarema

Music Educator and Composer

Wednesday August 13, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm EDT
Room 1

Breakout Session #2

1:45pm EDT

The Scent of Fear: Impacts of the Lavender Scare on the Federal Workforce

Wednesday August 13, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm EDT

Room 6

The "Lavender Scare" was a period of persecution and discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals in the federal government, coinciding with (and arguably outlasting) the Red Scare and McCarthyism, where homosexuality was equated with communist subversion and led to the firing and forced resignation of thousands of federal employees. In this session, participants will interact with a lesson plan and resources from the Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy. The focus of this lesson will be to use congressional investigations and hearings to deepen student understanding of the reality of the “Lavender Scare”. Students will be tasked with examining a time when government policy both implicitly and explicitly sought to marginalize LGBTQ+ Americans and analyze the issues of equity, power, and justice created when society gives in to fear and paranoia.

Speakers

Lauren Jasinski

Levin Center, Wayne State University

Wednesday August 13, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm EDT
Room 6

Breakout Session #2

3:00pm EDT

Connecting National History and DBQs to Local Stories Through Place-Based Inquiry

Wednesday August 13, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT

Room 2

Learn from the success story of The DBQ Project and Wayne RESA’s professional development at River Raisin Battlefield National Park, where place-based inquiry connected national history to local events. This session offers practical steps and dedicated time to help you apply inquiry-driven learning to your own community’s history.

Speakers

John Farris

Wayne RESA

John Farris is the K-12 Social Studies Consultant for the Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency (Wayne RESA). John joined Wayne RESA after three years as a Social Studies Training and Support Coordinator for the Detroit Public Schools Community District. Before DPSCD, John... Read More →

Wednesday August 13, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Room 2

Breakout Session #3

3:00pm EDT

Everything You Needed to Know about Asian Pacific Americans

Wednesday August 13, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT

Room 4

Asian Americans have been an important part of America’s growth and development since the mid-1800s. This course will explore the immigration history of Asian countries into America. Through a closer investigation, we will learn how America shaped these newcomers as well as how the nation was in turn shaped by these immigrants from Asia. While many students are familiar with the Chinese railroad workers and Japanese American internment during WWII, the story of Asians in America offers a deeper introspective into America’s social, political, and economic development. Since the 1965 Immigration Act, immigration from Asia has seen tremendous growth. This increase in immigration has raised new opportunities as well as new challenges for American society. No where is this more evident than in the Metro Detroit area. According to the latest census estimates, the Asian American population is approximately 221,000 which is a 106% increase since the 2000 census. This significant number necessitates a deeper understanding of the Asian American story for both Asian and non-Asian alike. As immigration from Asia continues to expand, we will explore the themes of culture, identity, and other pertinent issues to what it means to be an American.

Speakers

Richard Mui

Plymouth-Canton Community Schools

Richard attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor where he received his B.A. in History. Richard continued his education at Wayne State University where he earned a Masters of Arts in Teaching degree. Since college, Richard has worked with numerous community organizations in... Read More →

Wednesday August 13, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Room 4

Breakout Session #3

3:00pm EDT

Facing Histories (Part 2) featuring Dr. Hasan Kwame Jefferies

Wednesday August 13, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT

Auditorium

Speakers

Hasan Kwame Jefferies

The Ohio State University

Wednesday August 13, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Auditorium

Breakout Session #3

3:00pm EDT

Leveraging Public Media Resources to Support Digital Storytelling

Wednesday August 13, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT

Room 1

In this session, we will explore resources available to Michigan teachers through the Michigan Learning Channel and local PBS stations. PBS has tutorials, lesson plans, and curricula to support media-rich learning and digital storytelling across grade levels and in every possible subject area. The Michigan Learning Channel provides statewide access to local resources and opportunities for publication and celebration, inaddition to coaching and in-person support for teachers who are new to digital content creation with students. We will share what we do and offer some hands-on exploration tiem where attendees can play with equipment and co-design learning experiences with the goal of uplifting student voice and telling local community stories.

Speakers

Matt Hamilton

Michigan Learning Channel

Matt is the Program Director for the Michigan Learning Channel, a statewide PBS station partnership that brings educational media and resources to schools, homes, and communities across Michigan.

Wednesday August 13, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Room 1

Breakout Session #3

3:00pm EDT

Mapping Equity, Amplifying Voices: Exploring Redlining in Detroit

Wednesday August 13, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT

Room 6

In this session, teachers will explore a place-based inquiry designed to connect the historical impact of redlining in Detroit with its lasting effects today. Through mapping and data analysis, participants will examine how geography shapes access, opportunity, and civic voice. Educators will gain strategies to adapt this lesson for their classrooms, fostering critical discussions on equity, history, and community impact. This session focuses on an inquiry developed using the C3 framework and supports students application of Disciplinary Literacy Essentials, equipping teachers to create their own culturally-responsive inquiries center in the power of place.

Speakers

Jasmine Easterly

Central Michigan University / Michigan Geographic Alliance

Gabrielle Likavec

Co-Cooridinator, Central Michigan University / Michigan Geographic Alliance

I am a newly converted environmental educator who is passionate about creating science and socially conscious students!

Wednesday August 13, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Room 6

Breakout Session #3

3:00pm EDT

Our Language Is in the Stars and in Our Bones

Wednesday August 13, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT

Room 3

One of Michigan's indigenous languages, Ojibwe, offers a unique perspective on this place, its beauty, and our connections to the world and one another. Language shapes identity and teaches us our place in the world. This session will explore the challenges of Ojibwe language disruption and endangerment while highlighting efforts in resistance, revitalization, and survivance.

Speakers

Stacie Sheldon Chitwaadewegekwe

Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians

Stacie Sheldon is an enrolled member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. She is passionate about revitalizing the Ojibwe language and leads a language nest and women’s drum group, Asiginaak-Negamojig. She is a co-founder and manager of Ojibwe.net, an independently... Read More →

Wednesday August 13, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Room 3

Breakout Session #3

3:00pm EDT

We Are Our Own Heroes: How the Fight For Freedom Became the Foundation for Detroit's African American Community

Wednesday August 13, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT

Room 5

African Americans have been living in Detroit since the French arrived in 1701. Black people have never accepted slavery, and by the 1800s, the leadership and foundation of the abolitionist movement - the fight against slavery - were Black men and women in Detroit. These men and women formed alliances, founded churches and organizations that not only helped to obtain freedom for thousands of freedom seekers, but also built the foundations of the Black community to this day. The Black leaders of Detroit's abolitionist movement in the 1800s are the foundation for Detroit's African American community in the present-day. They built the foundation for faith institutions, businesses, music, recreation and civic life.

Rich place-based learning experiences that allow youth to see themselves directly as an interdependent part of a local community with important histories. And, using available technologies for storytelling, including recording, preserving, archiving, and/or sharing local stories to share with public audiences (i.e.., oral history projects, databases, podcasts, video field trips).

Speakers

Jamon Jordan

Official Historian, City of Detroit

Wednesday August 13, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Room 5

Breakout Session #3

7:30am EDT

Check-in

Thursday August 14, 2025 7:30am - 8:30am EDT

The Icon

Thursday August 14, 2025 7:30am - 8:30am EDT
The Icon 200 Walker St, Detroit, MI 48207, USA

8:30am EDT

Community Gathering Featuring Jessica Care Moore

Thursday August 14, 2025 8:30am - 9:00am EDT

Auditorium

Thursday August 14, 2025 8:30am - 9:00am EDT
Auditorium

8:30am EDT

Community Resource Fair

Thursday August 14, 2025 8:30am - 12:00pm EDT

Lobby

Thursday August 14, 2025 8:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Lobby

10:00am EDT

Art of the Ages: The Evolution of the Portrayal of Black Americans in the Media (1910-1990)

Thursday August 14, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am EDT

Room 5

The Black Canon is honored to propose "Art of the Ages" as a featured discussion and mini-exhibit at the Wayne County Diverse Histories Summit, hosted by Wayne RESA. This presentation will provide educators with a compelling, visual exploration of Black representation in media from 1910 to 1990, aligning with the Disciplinary Literacy Essentials, Secondary School-wide Practices, and the C3 Framework. Through inquiry-based learning, participants will engage with rare archival materials, tracing the evolution of Black storytelling—from early harmful stereotypes to self-authored narratives of empowerment. By immersing educators in this historical journey, we will equip them with strategies to integrate culturally responsive, place-based learning into their classrooms, deepening their ability to support diverse narratives within their curriculum.

A central pillar of this session is the untold story of Detroit native and trailblazer James E. Wheeler, whose life's work in preserving Black film, theater, and media serves as a testament to the power of cultural preservation. Wheeler’s deep ties to the Detroit arts scene, from his work with Concept East Theater in the 1960s to his historic collaborations with institutions such as MoMA, Harvard University, and the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, highlight the significance of Detroit as a hub for Black artistic excellence. Despite his invaluable contributions, his legacy remains largely unrecognized. By sharing his journey, we aim to illuminate underreported local histories and inspire educators to uncover and integrate similar narratives from their own communities.

As a brother-and-sister team dedicated to preserving our father’s legacy, we founded The Black Canon to ensure that these cultural artifacts remain accessible and impactful for future generations. Our nonprofit arm, The Black Canon Collection, is committed to housing, curating, and archiving over 40,000 historical collectibles spanning film, literature, music, and visual art. Through "Art of the Ages," we invite educators to not only expand their knowledge of Black media history but also build networks of allies who are committed to teaching a comprehensive and inclusive history. By connecting with Wayne RESA’s events and resources, participants will gain tangible strategies to sustain brave, informed, and culturally enriching discussions in their schools and districts.

Speakers

Alima Trapp

The Black Canon

Alima Trapp specializes in driving instinctive solutions that forge smarter thinking. She has a unique blend of expertise including research, brand and cultural strategy, growth and development as well as consumer context planning in the media space. Being recognized by the industry... Read More →

Ali Wheeler

The Black Canon

Ali Wheeler comprises half of the brother and sister duo (The Black Canon) dedicated to preserving not only Black Art in the form of their vast multi-media collection, but also their father's legacy. Upon his passing, they were blessed to inherit his groundbreaking life's work, amassing... Read More →

Thursday August 14, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Room 5

Breakout Session #4

10:00am EDT

Breakout Session Featuring Jessica Care Moore

Thursday August 14, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am EDT

Auditorium

TBD

Thursday August 14, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Auditorium

Breakout Session #4

10:00am EDT

Bringing History to Life: Project-Based Learning Experiences for Teaching a People’s History of Wayne County

Thursday August 14, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am EDT

Room 1

How can educators move beyond traditional textbooks and lectures to create dynamic, student-centered learning experiences that deeply engage students in uncovering and amplifying historically marginalized voices? This session will explore Project-Based Learning (PBL) as a powerful, culturally relevant tool for teaching the rich and often untold histories of Wayne County. Participants will discover how PBL can be an effective means of not only educating students about the diverse cultural fabric of their community, but also empowering them to engage with local histories in meaningful ways.

Participants will:

*Explore how PBL can highlight diverse histories—including Indigenous, Asian American, African American, Arab American, Hispanic American and labor movements—while connecting students to their own cultural roots and Wayne County’s complex legacies, such as Black histories, Arab American communities, and environmental justice movements.
*Collaborate with instructional coaches to actively plan and brainstorm PBL units that incorporate culturally responsive teaching, place-based learning, and student-driven inquiry.
*Leave with actionable strategies to design PBL experiences that empower students to investigate, preserve, and share the stories of their own communities, ensuring that untold histories are acknowledged and respected.

Drawing inspiration from successful PBL experiences such as the Iconic Michigan PBL at Horizon High School, the Healthy Detroit Communities PBL, and The Change Through Street Art PBL at University Prep Art and Design, this session will showcase powerful student-driven projects. Through storytelling, video production, visual arts, and community engagement, these projects empowered students to reclaim, preserve, and share culturally significant narratives. Participants will gain insights into how PBL can be used to amplify student voices, connect with local history, and create meaningful learning experiences that extend beyond the classroom.Whether you are new to PBL or looking to deepen your approach, this session will provide practical tools, inspiration, and collaborative planning time to help you design culturally relevant, justice-centered learning experiences for your classroom.

Speakers

Jill Jenkins

Hamtramck Public Schools

Jill Jenkins is an experienced educator with over 21 years in the field of education. She holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree from Madonna University, an Educational Specialist Degree from the University of Phoenix, and an Administrative Certification from Davenport University... Read More →

Jeremy Hein

Hamtramck Public Schools

Jeremy Hein is in his 12th year of education, with 11 years of experience teaching middle school social studies before transitioning into his current role as an instructional coach. He holds a Master’s degree in Educational Technology from Grand Valley State University and a Secondary... Read More →

Thursday August 14, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Room 1

Breakout Session #4

10:00am EDT

Food for Thought: How Our Diets Reflect Migration, Conquest, & Resilience

Thursday August 14, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am EDT

Room 3

Fluctuations in power and the migration of people have influenced our diets in profound ways. This workshop will equip teachers with several lesson ideas, interactive tools, and primary and secondary sources that highlight how food consumed in various regions of the world is the byproduct of globalization, nationalism, cultural hegemony, cultural fusion, identity and agency among marginalized groups. The session will spotlight ways in which this phenomenon is evident in the greater Detroit area and beyond. Food anthropology offers us a creative way to engage students in historical analyses and thoughtful conversations about identity and geography.

This workshop spotlights how food is an artifact of power, identity, and geography. Our ever-evolving diets reflect the resiliency of marginalized groups, the dominance of colonial powers, and the fusion of ideas inspired by cultural collision.Fluctuations in power and the migration of people have influenced our diets in profound ways. This workshop will equip teachers with several lesson ideas, interactive tools, and primary and secondary sources that highlight how food consumed in various regions of the world is the byproduct of globalization, nationalism, cultural hegemony, cultural fusion, identity and agency among marginalized groups. The session will spotlight ways in which this phenomenon is evident in the greater Detroit area and beyond. Food anthropology offers us a creative way to engage students in historical analyses and thoughtful conversations about identity and geography.

This workshop spotlights how food is an artifact of power, identity, and geography. Our ever-evolving diets reflect the resiliency of marginalized groups, the dominance of colonial powers, and the fusion of ideas inspired by cultural collision.

Speakers

Amy Perkins

Lakeshore Public Schools / Fulbright-Hays Ambassador

Thursday August 14, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Room 3

Breakout Session #4

10:00am EDT

History Day®: Collaborating with Local Museums to Lift Hidden Histories

Thursday August 14, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am EDT

Room 2

National History Day ® is a program in which students in grades 3 –12 choose a historical topic and dive deeply into the past by conducting extensive research in libraries, archives, museums, and historical societies. They then present their conclusions and evidence through papers, exhibits, performances, documentaries, or websites. Through this process, students develop skills in historical thinking, communication, and a deeper awareness of local/regional history and the many untold or neglected histories. The Hamtramck Historical Museum and David Hales will share their History Day collabration and how it has benefited the community

Speakers

David Hales

Historical Society of Michigan

David Hales is a Senior Manager with the Historical Society of Michigan focusing on the implementation of History Day in Southeast Michigan. His role is to support schools, teachers, and students across SE Michigan. Previous to this, Mr. Hales was the K-12 Social Studies Consultant... Read More →

Joe Kochut

Hamtramck Historical Museum

Joe Kochut is a lifelong Hamtramckan and lover of history. Joe has been with the Hamtramck Historical Museum for 10 years, and has been the board president for the last 5 years. Joe has curated major exhibits for the museum,He works to strengthen partnerships with other museums and... Read More →

Thursday August 14, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Room 2

Breakout Session #4

10:00am EDT

Mapping US Elections: Who Votes, and How Does it Matter?

Thursday August 14, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am EDT

Room 4

The struggle for equal voting rights in the United States is as old as the country itself, as different attempts throughout American history to narrow and expand the electorate, both through legal and extra-legal means, have had profound impacts on electoral outcomes and social, political, and economic life in the United States.

In this session, we will use various forms of data– including electoral maps and timelines describing the ongoing struggle for suffrage–to answer these essential questions:
*Who can vote and does vote in US elections?,
*How has who can vote and does vote shaped American social, economic and political life over time?
*What predictions might we make about the electorate moving forward and how it will shape and reshape our country?

By digging into historical timelines and considering data on who votes in elections, we will explore the nature of the fight for suffrage, voting participation, and participants’ lived experiences that inform how voting might shift or re-align during moments in history. The stories of how the American electorate has been shaped and reshaped throughout history are vital to unpacking so much about the overarching American story, including the current chapter.

This session will model practical ways to expand the use of data-based inquiry in the Social Studies classroom and across disciplines. Participants will receive the materials to teach the model lesson in their own classrooms.

Speakers

Kristi Hanby

Wayne RESA

Kristi Hanby has been a Mathematics Consultant at Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency (Wayne RESA) since 2015. In her role, she advocates for students to have greater access to mathematics learning and for educators to critically consider the meaning students can make... Read More →

Thursday August 14, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Room 4

Breakout Session #4

10:00am EDT

Teaching Disability History: The Journey From Disability Rights to Disability Justice

Thursday August 14, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am EDT

Room 6

In this session, participants will explore effective approaches to teaching the history and contemporary experiences of the largest and most diverse minoritized group in the country—the disability community. The discussion will provide a high-level overview of the evolution of the disability rights movement, its intersections with other civil rights movements, and the emergence of the contemporary disability justice movement. Additionally, participants will examine instructional strategies that empower students to draw connections between the fight for disability rights and broader struggles for equality across marginalized communities. The session will also highlight the implications of this history for present-day advocacy.

By participating in this session, attendees will:
*Examine the significance of teaching about the evolution of the disability rights and disability justice movements.
*Explore the history of the disability rights movement and its intersections with other civil rights movements.
*Identify effective instructional strategies to help students understand the historical experiences of people with disabilities and the ongoing impact of the contemporary disability justice movement.

Speakers

Seena M. Skelton

Thursday August 14, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Room 6

Breakout Session #4

11:00am EDT

Lunch

Thursday August 14, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT

The Icon

Thursday August 14, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
The Icon 200 Walker St, Detroit, MI 48207, USA

12:30pm EDT

Detroit '67: A Performance from Detroit Public Theatre

Thursday August 14, 2025 12:30pm - 3:30pm EDT

Auditorium

-This event in ONSITE at The Icon. No travel to an offsite location is required.

Detroit Public Theatre will share one of our signature curriculum-connected arts experiences, Detroit '67 in the Schools. For ten years this program has been bringing the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s to life for high school social studies students studying American History and Detroit's place in that history. The program begins with an engaging in-school lesson, followed by a staged reading of the award-winning play Detroit '67 by Dominique Morisseau, and concludes with a facilitated post-show dialogue with students, educators and actors.

This program was developed in 2016 alongside DPSCD educators. Students and teachers have reported that this play and program have increased students’ understanding of history and our city’s place in it, helped to bridge our past and present, deepened connection to community, cultivated the belief that individuals can positively impact society, and promoted a sense of civic pride and desire for greater engagement.

DPT’s annual production of Detroit ‘67 has connected thousands of Detroit high school students to history through art. It has been the goal of DPT and our DPSCD partners to complement and fortify students' understanding of the 1960's Civil Rights Movement and to bring immediacy and relevance to students' studies of history and current events.

Detroit Public Theatre has steadily expanded our education programs over the past several years and we now build lessons and theatre experiences around multiple productions each season - productions which have curricular tie-ins to social studies, literature, and other academic classes. We look forward to sharing the lesson that started it all and repeats each year with you at the TEACHING DIVERSE HISTORY SUMMIT!

Speakers

Madelyn Porter

Thursday August 14, 2025 12:30pm - 3:30pm EDT
Auditorium

Excursion

12:30pm EDT

Excursion: Arab American National Museum

Thursday August 14, 2025 12:30pm - 3:30pm EDT

Arab American National Museum

-This is an offsite session.
-Roundtrip transportation will be provided by motorcoach from The Icon.

Guided tour of the Arab American National Museum: Join AANM as we take visitors on a guided tour of our core galleries. Along the way, we will explore elements of history, culture and the immigration of Arab Americans to the United States. We will also define the Arab World, highlight ethnic and religious diversity within the Arab World/Arab American community, analyze stereotypes and discuss layers of identity. Guests are welcome and encouraged to ask any questions and interact with our education staff!

Workshop: AANM Primary Sources: This workshop will focus on how the Arab American National Museum utilizes primary sources to tell the stories of Arab Americans. Educators will also share/brainstorm how folks can include these sources into their classroom/lessons.

Workshop: Learning Traditional Arabic Dances: Participants have the opportunity to learn the dabke, a traditional folk dance performed in several countries of the Arab world including Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Jordan.

Speakers

Dave Serio

Thursday August 14, 2025 12:30pm - 3:30pm EDT
Arab American National Museum

Excursion

12:30pm EDT

Excursion: Black Bottom Archives

Thursday August 14, 2025 12:30pm - 3:30pm EDT

Walter P. Reuther Library and Archive, Wayne State University

-This is an offsite tour.
-Roundtrip motorcoach transportation will be provided from The Icon.
This immersive half-day workshop is designed for educators looking to integrate geography and history through place-based inquiry. Focusing on Detroit’s history of redlining and social movements, participants will explore how location shapes social, economic, and political experiences. The workshop includes a guided tour of key sites that illustrate the legacy of redlining in Detroit, helping educators visualize how historical policies continue to impact communities today. Following the tour, participants will visit the Walter P. Reuther Library, where they will work with archivists to examine primary sources, including historical maps, oral histories, and images. Using these materials, educators will develop their own inquiry-driven lessons around the central question: "Does where you live impact how your voice is heard?" Through expert-led discussions, hands-on exploration, and collaborative lesson design, teachers at all grade levels will leave with practical strategies to bring diverse histories to life in their classrooms.

Participants attending this session will receive an additional text:

-Whitlock, Place-Based Social Studies Education: Learning from Flint, Michigan

Speakers

Marcia Black

Director of Archives and Education, Black Bottom Archives

Thursday August 14, 2025 12:30pm - 3:30pm EDT
Walter P. Reuther Library and Archive, Wayne State University

Excursion

12:30pm EDT

Excursion: Detroit Historical Museum

Thursday August 14, 2025 12:30pm - 3:30pm EDT

Detroit Historical Museum

This is an offsite excursion. Roundtrip motorcoach transportation will be provided from The Icon.

Session description is forthcoming.

Thursday August 14, 2025 12:30pm - 3:30pm EDT
Detroit Historical Museum

Excursion

12:30pm EDT

Excursion: Honor in Action: Celebrating the Community History of Detroit’s Black Bottom Neighborhood

Thursday August 14, 2025 12:30pm - 3:30pm EDT

Detroit Public Library

Join us at the Detroit Public Library (DPL) to experience multi-disciplinary methods for teaching about the City’s historically significant Black Bottom neighborhood through museum artifacts, oral histories, and historic photographs. Based on the “Honor in Action: Celebrating the Community History of Detroit’s Black Bottom Neighborhood” curriculum guide, the activities focus on memory, community, and collective honoring of community members past and present through primary sources. Participants will learn about the history of Black Bottom through hands-on analysis of reproduction museum objects, oral histories from community members, and historic photographs from the DPL’s Burton Historical Collection. In addition to being able to experience being at the Detroit Public Library, participants will explore methods and skills with the presenters, then practice through guided group activities. Each participant will be encouraged to consider how these methods/skills can be used with their students to create interest and engagement with local history, primary sources, and the arts. Time to discuss and debrief the session experiences will be included. We hope this session will help educators make connections to local experts who can provide resources and potentially consult in the future.

Participants will receive printed copies of the Honor in Action: Celebrating the Community History of Detroit's Black Bottom Neighborhood curriculum.

Speakers

Denice Blair

Thursday August 14, 2025 12:30pm - 3:30pm EDT
Detroit Public Library

Excursion

12:30pm EDT

Excursion: Midnight: A History of the Detroit River

Thursday August 14, 2025 12:30pm - 3:30pm EDT

William Lambert Home / Blackburn Site / Underground Railround Memorial / Second Baptist Church

-This is an offsite excursion.
-Round trip motorcoach transportation from the Icon will be provided.
-This excursion involves walking; please dress comfortably and for the conditions.

In this interactive guided tour, participants will deepen their knowledge of the textured history of the Detroit River as an international gateway to freedom. Local historian and Underground Railroad descendant, Kimberly Simmons, will lead participants through the complex and powerful journey of Detroit’s abolitionist histories by centering the lesser known stories of Detroit activists, freedom seekers, and the refuge of the Detroit River. Join us as we lift the legacy of William Lambert, learn the resilience and resistance of the Blackburns, visit the Historic Second Baptist Church, and honor the lives of thousands of who sought freedom across the Detroit River.

Participants will receive additional texts for attending this session.

Speakers

Kimberly Simmons

Thursday August 14, 2025 12:30pm - 3:30pm EDT
William Lambert Home / Blackburn Site / Underground Railround Memorial / Second Baptist Church

Excursion

12:30pm EDT

Excursion: “You are Here!” Creating Feminist, Decolonial, and Community Maps

Thursday August 14, 2025 12:30pm - 3:30pm EDT

The Icon

-This excursion will begin at The Icon.
-This is a walking tour. Please dress comfortably for potentially uneven terrain and the weather conditions.
-This excursion will involve making.

“Traveling is more than going from one place to another. It is part of a tradition, and it is a metaphor for life.”
–J. Andrew Darling

“You are here! Creating Feminist, Decolonial, and Community Maps” asks us to reflect on how the ways we visually represent the land impact our relationship to it. U.S. American maps inscribe a colonial version of history on the landscape with place names based on British, French, and U.S. American conquistadors and settlers. This workshop will engage participants in creating maps that center feminist, decolonial and community perspectives, and to learn the meanings, origins, and histories of the place names we use to “label” the land, with a goal of growing connection and healing relationships between land, water and people.

Participants will receive two additional texts for attending this session:

-Monmonier, How to Lie with Maps
-Hill, Detroit in 50 Maps

Speakers

Joanne Coutts

Independent

I am an independent cartographer, writer, and activist whose work focuses on humanitarian aid in the Sonoran Desert and water rights in Michigan. I volunteer with Ajo Samaritans, volunteer search and rescue groups in Arizona and Waawiyatanong Water Protector Network. My cartographic... Read More →

Thursday August 14, 2025 12:30pm - 3:30pm EDT
The Icon 200 Walker St, Detroit, MI 48207, USA

Excursion

Wayne County Teaching Diverse History Summit