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
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.
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
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).
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.
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 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
