Dr. Rema Reynolds Vassar
Unlike traditional educational organizations, CBCE is more than just a gathering of academics and educators. It's a space where Black students, parents, educators, and community members come together to celebrate Black children, identify harmful policies and practices, and advocate for transformative change. CBCE’s central components coalesce into a fugitive space, a homeplace for resistance against oppressive forces that have historically marginalized Black children.
At the heart of CBCE lies a commitment to dismantling deficit narratives, promoting culturally responsive pedagogies, and enacting activism that prioritizes radical love for and affirmation of Black students’ brilliance. For instance, CBCE’s annual conference offers free and virtual workshops, panels, and keynote addresses led by renowned scholars and educators such as Drs. Tyrone Howard, Gloria Ladson-Billings, Rich Milner, and Bettina Love. These experts, and many more, share critical knowledge and insights about injustice in schools to disrupt inequity, promote inclusive learning environments, and foster belonging for Black folks. But CBCE is more than just a conference; it’s a movement.
A professional learning community for Black women principals, about Black women principals, by Black women principals.
The Leading Well Professional Learning Community offers Black women school leaders in Detroit a supportive community for Black principals to prioritize their own health and wellness. Recognizing that effective leaders are holistically well leaders, principals participate in workshops, coaching sessions, and peer support groups to learn wellness strategies and develop the dispositions and skills they need to lead effectively. To support Black women in revolutionary wellness work that should transform whole school communities, students and parents are receiving the same exposure to wellness, action research, and leadership. Leading Well leaders just returned from a summer retreat in Ghana, have started their school year refreshed with a renewed commitment to lead their schools well, and are committed to their wellness plans.
