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!).
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
