TED or TEDx Talks by NAME Members

Bode, Patty: "Art Education as a Civil Right." May, 2014.
As a career public school art teacher, teacher educator, and self-described “accidental policy wonk”, Dr. Patty Bode delves into the critical need for art education. Specifically, Bode positions art education as a Civil Right in relationship to the role of the arts in public school and the the role of the arts in expressing, reflecting, and expanding views of humanity. To achieve this goal, she urges society, in general, and policy makers, in particular, to advance the Arts because they are central to democracy and the human experience.

Emdin, Christopher. “Reality Pedagogy:Teaching, Learning, Truth, and Distortions.” Aug. 2012.
Christopher Emdin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics, Science and Technology at Teachers College, Columbia University. In this talk from TEDxTeachersCollege, he advocates for the necessity of grounding teaching/learning in the reality of students’ lives, identities and communities. Otherwise, concepts such as "peace", "justice", "equity" and "equality" may become impotent abstractions.

Fernandes Williams, Rhina: "What do you See?" June, 2015. 
Dr. Fernandes Williams asks, “What do you see?” and then asks us to, “look again.” Part of a critical multicultural education is acknowledging how ones’ perceptions have a profound influence on individual reality. She encourages teachers to understand the reality of their students, imagine their potential, and facilitate their journey as an honor and responsibility. She challenges us all to deeply “see” the reality of the people as who they are and the amazing ways their life journeys can manifest.

Lopez, Ann E.: "Sankofa and my Journey as a Teacher." June, 2014.
The spirit of Sankofa provides a platform, tells us our stories and guides the path to new discoveries and new challenges grounded in histories and traditions that are supported by our ancestors lifting us on their shoulders. Dr. Lopez shares stories of growing up in Jamaica and how her grandmother’s stories have influenced her journey and molded her into the educator she is today. These stories have fueled her passion and it is through them that she learned how not to let class, status, and poverty get in the way of getting to know or judge others.

Pewewardy, Cornel: "Walk a Mile in My Redface: On Ending the Colonial in Schools, Sports Culture, Mass Media and Civic Life." May, 2014.
One of NAME’s Founders, Dr. Pewewardy has been a long standing advocate for the eradication of Indian raced-based sports mascots. In this talk, he challenges “colorblindness” and details the racist colonial implications of “Indian” mascots. He explains the myths, stereotypes, and distortions of ethnic images that harm indigenous Peoples and supports the “machinery of Whiteness.” To fully engage a multicultural education, he asserts that “playing Indian” is not a part of affirming diversity, but in contrast, offers tangible means to truly honor Native Americans.

Reyes, Kyle : "Defining Success: The ARC Approach." July, 2015.
Dr. Reyes asks, “What if scripts were played out in our society, in our schools? In other words, what if people actually believe that they had certain parts to play based on what they perceive their scripts to be?” For many of our students, their scripts are formulated in schools. However, the script can be flipped for our most underserved students, by utilizing the ARC approach or Authenticity, Relevance, and Connection, in the classroom. Dr. Reyes shares the results of using this approach in “Hidden Voices,” an art exhibit project he worked on with young street artists or street writers i.e. tagging, whose voices were undervalued and hidden and forbidden in their schools.