News
Educators Invited to Apply for “Reaching Across: History, Humanities and the Promise of America”
May 2022
(May 10, 2022) CHARLOTTE, N.C. – North Carolina Humanities and Carolina K-12 invite educators to apply for “Reaching Across: History, Humanities and the Promise of America.”
Poet Amanda Gorman wrote, “Being American is more than a pride we inherit. It’s the past we step into and how we repair it.” Yet, the concept of critically examining our comprehensive past as a nation, and the lingering impact of our shared history on the present, has become fraught with polarization and controversy – leaving many K-12 and community college educators across the state feeling overwhelmed, if not intimidated, about what to teach and how to teach it. But to fulfill the promise of America, we must learn to better “reach across”, whether across a political aisle or across a dinner table, and use our commonalities as an entry point to civil discourse and courageous conversations.
Practicing 8th – 12th grade teachers, as well as Community College educators, are invited to join Carolina K-12 and NC Humanities for a FREE and unique exploration of these concepts on Tuesday July 12 – Wednesday July 13 – either by joining us in person at the beautiful Rizzo Center in Chapel Hill or participating via Zoom!
The engaging two-day agenda will include top scholars, authors, and performers who will bring to light the challenges we have faced and are facing, with an eye towards elevating that which disarms and unites us in potential paths forward. From thinking about music, to foodways, to the power of story, teachers will engage with a broad potpourri of themes and ideas that ideally leave each participant inspired to learn more, while reinvigorating and reconnecting you to your own role as a scholar yourself. Click here to view the tentative agenda, with presenter and session details.
Workshop highlights include:
- The opportunity to spend two days engaging with meaningful topics, themes and pedagogies, with access to top scholars, authors, performers, etc.
- A copy of Prius or Pickup? How the Answers to Four Simple Questions Explain America’s Great Divid. Get your book signed in an opening session with co-author Dr. Jonathan Weiler!
- Inspiration from and pedagogical exploration with award-winning performer Dr. Sonny Kelly
- “Sounds of Freedom: From Slavery to Civil Rights,” a performance by acclaimed vocalist Mary D. Williams (teachers will receive a free copy of Mrs. Williams’s CD of spirituals and freedom songs)
- Training in & resources for leading controversial issues discussions
- (In-person attendees only) A private screening of “Tales of the American South,” a full-dome short film, to be followed by a discussion with the film’s producer & legendary Southern folklorist, Dr. Bill Ferris
Acceptances are rolling, and the application will close on June 1. To learn more about this opportunity and what to expect as either an in-person attendee or virtual attendee, please visit https://humanities.unc.edu/reachingacross/.
This program is made possible by funding from the North Carolina Humanities, a statewide nonprofit and affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. This event is part of the national “A More Perfect Union” initiative, which administered and funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.