C O U R A G E O U S C O N V E R S A T I O N S O N R A C E , P R I V I L E G E , &

H O M E L E S S N E S S I N U R B A N S C H O O L S

Lisette Rivera, School District of Lancaster Stephanie Thomas, School District of LancasterLindsay Gregg, School District of Lancaster

WHO ARE YOU?

• Share your name and three words to describe yourself to at least 3 people

PRIVILEGE WALK ACTIVITY

TURN AND TALK

• What were your initial thoughts when doing this activity?

• When reflecting on your own life, were there any similarities and or differences that you encountered?

• How did this exercise make you feel?

KNOWING THE FACTS-

McKinney Vento-The term "homeless children and youths"-means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence 1. Children and youths who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; or are abandoned in hospitals;*

2. Children and youths who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings

3. Children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings;

4. Migratory children (as such term is defined in section 1309 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965) who qualify as homeless for the purposes of this subtitle because the children are living in circumstances described in clauses (i) through (iii).

VULNERABLE POPULATIONS • People of color – particularly African-Americans – are a minority that is particularly overrepresented.

According the Homeless Fact and Figures ’07, 41% are non-Hispanic whites (compared to 76% of the general population), 40% are African Americans (compared to 11% of the general population) 11% are Hispanic (compared to 9% of the general population) and 8% percent are Native American (compared to 1% of the general population).

• Like the total U.S. population, though, the ethnic makeup of homeless populations varies according to geographic location. For example, people experiencing homelessness in rural areas are more likely to be white, female, married, currently working, homeless for the first time, and homeless for a shorter period of time (Fisher, 2005); homelessness among Native Americans and migrant workers is also largely a rural phenomenon.

VULNERABLE POPULATIONS • The disparities between ethnicities in the U.S. population and the homeless population

are striking. In 2007, the homeless population was 47% African-American, though African-American people made up only 12% U.S. adult population. The homeless population was only 35% white, though white people made up about 76% of the U.S. population (U.S. Census Bureau, 2003; U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2007).

VULNERABLE POPULATIONS • Veterans make up approximately one-third of the male homeless population.

Among this population about 46% are white, 56% are African-American or Latino (Department of Veteran Affairs, 2005).

• The sexual orientation of homeless persons is not often measured, but the National Network of Runaway and Youth Services estimates that about 6% of homeless adolescents are gay or lesbian. Studies assessing sexual orientations of homeless adolescents have revealed rates ranging from 11% to 35% (American Journal of Public Health, 2002). These youths face considerable risk of violence and abuse while homeless.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un5JPB0TLcA

VOICES OF HOMELESSNESS

PRIVILEGE

Privilege is defined as a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person

or group.

$100 TO THE WINNER OF THE RACE VIDEO• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwx5IvypC5Q&t=2s

• Thoughts on video?

IMPLICIT BIAS

I SEE, YOU SEE, WE ALL SEE

H O W D O E S R A C E , P R I V I L E G E , A N D B I A S

A F F E C T O U R S T U D E N T S I N U R B A N

E D U C A T I O N ?

• C O M M U N I C AT I O N : O F T E N TA L K E D D O W N T O• S E RV I C E S : B E L I E F T H AT T H E Y A R E E X H A U S T I N G

T H E S Y S T E M• R E P R E S E N TAT I O N : L A C K O F FA C U LT Y S TA F F

T H AT R E P R E S E N T T H E P O P U L AT I O N B E I N G S E RV E D

• H I S T O RY: G E N E R A L T R E N D S

C O U R A G E O U S C O N V E R S A T I O N S

You are at work and overhear two coworkers discussing a student. You work closely with this student and know that the student is experiencing a homeless situation. Your coworkers are commenting on how the student carries a strong odor. One coworker mentions that the student would do great in the afterschool book club, but they feel that a combination of the odor and the demographic of the other book club participants, the student would not fit in. They also mention that the would prefer for the student to not participate because the club requires work at home and they know the mother would not be able to assist as she is so “loud” and probably would not read with the student at home.

JOURNEYS OF TRANSITION

• Main goal is for our families to receive the same educational opportunities as those not experiencing homelessness

• Empowerment

• Identified families sharing their story

– Allowing families to vent and build rapport

– Walk journey with the family

• Referring families to internal and external resources

• Breaking the cycle

RESOURCE PAGE

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwx5IvypC5Q&t=2s

• https://edge.psu.edu/workshops/mc/power/privilegewalk.shtm

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6Pus0Swr-M

QUESTIONS?

CONTACT INFORMATION:

• Lisette Rivera: lmrivera@lancaster.k12.pa.us

• Stephanie Thomas: sthomas@lancaster.k12.pa.us

• Lindsay Gregg: lrgregg@Lancaster.k12.pa.us