Northwestern University Professor to Discuss Putting Social Justice into Action

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Carol Lee

The University of Arkansas is partnering with Philander Smith College Social Justice Institute in Little Rock to present Carol Lee, a professor at Northwestern University, as the keynote speaker for the third annual Symposium on Multiculturalism and Social Justice.

Online registration is open for the symposium on Sept. 18 and 19 on the Philander Smith College campus. View a flier describing the Sept. 18 call to action.

Lee is a professor of learning sciences and African American studies at Northwestern in Evanston, Illinois, and holds the position of Edwina S. Tarry Professor of Education and Social Policy. She has co-written and edited three books, the most recent titled Culture, Literacy and Learning: Taking Bloom in the Midst of the Whirlwind. Her research addresses cultural supports for learning that include a broad ecological focus, with attention to language and literacy and African-American youth. She founded four African-centered schools that span a 40-year history, including three charter schools under the umbrella of the Betty Shabazz International Charter Schools, for which she serves as chair of the Board of Directors.

She has served in varied leadership roles and has been recognized by several noted educational professional organizations. In addition to serving as past president of the American Educational Research Association, she was awarded the Scholars of Color Distinguished Scholar Award from this prestigious research organization. Working with the National Council of Teachers of English, she served as past co-chair of the Research Assembly and received the Distinguished Service Award. She has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education.

Lee's talk, "Random Acts of Revolution in Action," will initiate and facilitate an audience discussion about putting social justice into action, which is the theme of this year's symposium.

Her session will be part of the Saturday, Sept.19 events. She follows three sessions on how memberships in family, community and education can further social justice. Symposium participants will also meet with others within their region of the state to discuss ways to further social justice work. Pledges for action will become part of the Pledge Wall.

A student panel will discuss how to motivate peers to commit random acts of revolution.

This year's symposium is organized by U of A faculty members Charlene Johnson Carter and Freddie Bowles in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and Jonathan Hutchins, assistant director of the Social Justice Institute at Philander Smith College. Building on previous years' themes, it focuses on the individual as part of the collective action to further social justice with particular emphasis on four areas: family, education, community and peers. Participants will be asked to consider how individual, random acts can be linked to build collective movements toward social justice for everyone.

The symposium kicks off from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 18 with a "Call to Action" with participants bringing and discussing books that reflect varied world views. Books will be donated to a local school.

The Sept. 19 session is a daylong study of social justice beginning with registration at 7:30 a.m. and concluding at 4:15 p.m.