An Essential
VIRTUAL INSTITUTE
for socially conscious educators
Welcome— ABEN's 15th Annual Summer Institute is an online educational event unapologetically designed to address the fierce urgency of educational need and support by students of African ancestry, their teachers, professors, and parents.
Unlike any other time in our 15 year history, students of African ancestry— of all ages and stages in their educational journeys— are in the most desperate need of compassionate, culturally relevant leaders with brilliant plans for today that will expertly deliver teaching and learning to them, wherever they may be seated in the undefined tomorrow we all face.
What has not changed in this year of terrible loss and trauma throughout our community is ABEN's homage to the Black Intellectual Tradition of master educators such as Drs. Asa Hilliard, Joyce E. King, Gloria Ladson-Billings, Linda Darling Hammond and so many others. Throughout our thoughtfully-planned, highly-informative and inspirational on-line sessions, Summer Institute participants will find rich content specifically designed for progressive educators seeking superior professional development from experienced practitioners of Ubuntu ("I Am Because We Are")— a Swahili term representing the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects our humanity.
As in the past, our select presenters are experts in their individual fields and will be providing Summer Institute participants with proven techniques, research and pedagogical resources to ensure Academic and Cultural Excellence (ACE) for students of African ancestry.
Image courtesy of The Kinsey African American Art & History Collection
The Cultivators, 2000
Samuel L. Dunson, Jr.; Oil on canvas
"Culturally relevant teaching is a pedagogy that empowers students intellectually, socially, emotionally, and politically by using cultural referents to impart knowledge, skills and attitudes."
- Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings
Re-imagining Teaching in the Covid-19 Era:
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Mi Rialiti (My Reality): Using Smart Technology to Engage Learners
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The Crown Act: Effectively Dealing with Hair Drama & On-Line Bullying in the Midst of Covid-19
Black Children in Gifted Education
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Re-Imagining Disciplinary Practices: Applying Culturally Relevant Restorative Justice (Wherever Our Children are Learning)
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"This was a serious game-changer."
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"P.D. for teachers of Black students has a new name: ABEN's Summer Institute."
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"I found nuggets of golden wisdom in every session I attended
and can't wait to come back for more teaching gems next year."
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"The Institute can be improved... not by one thing!"
