APISA Study Group: Deconstructing the “Model Minority” Myth Using Our Lived Experience

May 05, 2022 9:00AM—11:00AM

Location

Virtual

Cost $600 members; $550 group-rate 3+; $900 non-members

Categories Equity & Inclusion, Online Offerings, Online Workshop, Summer Institute

APISA Study Group: Deconstructing the “Model Minority” Myth Using Our Lived Experience

SESSION 1: May 5, 2022 | 9:00am - 11:00am

SESSION 2: May 23, 2022 | 9:00am - 11:00am

SESSION 3: June 16, 2022 | 9:00am - 11:00am

ABOUT THIS ONLINE STUDY GROUP

This three-day series is an invitation to first-time participants as well as a continuation of the APISA (Asian, Pacific Islander, South Asian) Study Group that began last June 2021. This program is an opportunity to connect with other APISA educators in an affinity setting that will provide a safe and generative space to self-reflect, share stories, and learn from each other’s experiences. Topics we will explore include the model minority myth vs. the Asian minority reality; the history and historical impact of “Asian America”; and deconstructing the Asian monolith through examining colorism, intersectionality, and exceptionalism within our communities. We will be reading excerpts from various APISA authors and scholars and hearing from guest speakers from South Asia and the Pacific Islands (folx from Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, to name a few). With the rise in Anti-Asian violence and hate in the U.S., book banning, and the attack on Critical Race Theory, we must continue to build connections amongst our APISA community so we can begin to heal together and strategize for collective action.

Questions we will consider together:

How can we deconstruct the impact of the model minority myth?
How has U.S. immigration history affected the development of the “Asian American” identity?
In what ways do colorism, intersectionality, and exceptionalism affect our own perceptions of and relationships with other APISA folx?
What is our role in the fight for racial justice and resistance movements in our schools and communities as related to current topics like CRT?

Participants will:

Understand the historical and cultural ways that racism affects the present lives of APISA individuals and communities
Develop a greater sense of agency around the topic of the APISA experience and its relation to the racial culture of the U.S.
Develop an authentic network of APISA professionals for accountability and support
Practice self-reflection through journaling, share lived experiences through storytelling, and use a critical lens to unpack ingrained stereotypes rooted in the model minority myth

CATDC will provide all reading materials in a digital format.

WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE

This program is intended for self-identified APISA educators seeking to explore their own racial identity both in and out of the classroom. With new content, we encourage new participants to join the study group and past participants to return to continue learning and growing alongside other APISA educators.

Do you work at an independent school outside of California? Click here for a discount on our
non-member registration!

ABOUT THE FACILITATORS

Dot Kowal is the Director of DEI and Director of College Counseling at Sonoma Academy. Dot's work is and always has been about helping students and making a difference in individual lives in hopes that these individuals will impact more lives in the future. Right now, she also sees her job as fighting for equality and justice in the greater community. Currently, she consults for a variety of schools in Sonoma County in anti-racist and anti-bias training for their faculty and staff.

Dr. Rochelle Reodica earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership from San Francisco State University, with a focus on social justice and equity. For the past 20 years, she has served as an educational leader in both the public and private sectors including the NYC Board of Education, Sylvan Learning Centers in Manhattan, and various independent schools in New York and California. She has served as a Division Head, Director of Learning Services, Middle School Diversity Coordinator, Grade Dean, Human Development instructor, and learning specialist in K-12 schools. She is a founding member of the Inclusion Dashboarding Consortium, which assists independent schools in developing student belonging and inclusion measures. Rochelle has presented at local and national conferences about culturally responsive leadership, anti-Blackness in communities of color, the impact of the model minority myth on the AAPI community, and the Filipina American Decolonizing Experience (F.A.D.E.). Rochelle has a Master of Education in Special Education, a Master of Social Work from Boston University, and a Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation with a minor in Exercise Science from Ithaca College. She grew up on the East Coast and enjoys going to the beach, hiking, and traveling with her family. She practices yoga and meditation to stay grounded while fighting for racial justice.

Cancellation Policy

Life happens. We understand that there will be times when you cannot attend a workshop that you have registered and paid for. We strive to be as helpful and flexible as possible when things out of your control happen. Please visit our FAQ page for detailed information about our cancellation policy and answers to frequently asked questions about enrollment and membership.