A Fantastic Opportunity for Educators in Miami

The Small Axe Project presents

THE VISUAL LIFE OF SOCIAL AFFLICTION EXHIBITION EDUCATORS’ WORKSHOP

The Little Haiti Cultural Center Gallery

212 NE 59th Terrace, Miami, FL 33137

Saturday, January 25, 2020

PART 1: 10-1pm  |       PART II: LUNCH, 1-2    |       PART III: 2-4pm

The Small Axe Project believes that the visual arts constitute one of the most vital and expressive medias through which to explore social life in general and the life of social affliction in particular. Social Affliction refers to various forms of violence, crises, social, economic and environmental degradation ordinary people, particularly Caribbean people, face on a daily basis in order to survive. How might art generate conversations around economic blight and displacement but also cultural renewal? This workshop is designed to help educators explore ways to utilize arts to broach and discuss various types of social afflictions with their students in diverse disciplines.

The workshop will comprise of:

•       A curatorial tour of the exhibition

•       A careful engagement of the teaching pack and lessons plans containing hands on activities for students applicable to various disciplines and discussion questions for teachers to facilitate more meaningful conversations with their students on the theme. Educators will work through hands-on activities presented in the pack during the workshop.

•       Lunch and refreshments will be provided

•       Teachers will receive complete copies of the teaching pack and the exhibition catalogue free of charge.

Facilitators: The workshop will be led by Daniela Fifi and Hannah Heller.

Readings: In order to prepare for the session, the facilitators have asked participants to make an effort to read the articles listed below. PDFs will be emailed to registered participants.

1.     Fifi, D. A., & Heller, H. D. (2019). Exploring Manifestations of White Supremacy Culture in Art Museum Education and Interpretation. Journal of Cultural Research in Art Education, 36(1), 100-121.

2.     Hendrick, K. and Crum, M. (2014). Multicultural Critical Reflective Practice and Contemporary Art. In J. Accuff-Boyd and L. Evans (Eds.) Multiculturalism in Art Museums Today. Walnut Creek, CA: Alta Mira Press, p. 271-298

3.     Laurel Schimdt, Inquiry-Based Teaching Article - from “Great Teachers Don’t Take No For An Answer”.

Parking: Free parking is available at the LHCC.

Limited seating: Pre-registration is required through the Miami Dade Public Schools or via Eventbrite using the following link:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/educators-workshop-the-visual-life-of-social-affliction-exhibition-tickets-89507343875

Questions?: Contact Professor Erica Moiah James @ emj58@miami.edu

This workshop is completely free of charge thanks to the generous support of The Green Family Foundation.

Save the Date: 13th Annual Louise Bennett-Coverley Reading Festival.

The Committee of the Annual Louise Bennett-Coverley Reading Festival is delighted to present the 13th Annual Festival, titled "Miss Lou's Views," on Saturday, February 1, 2:00 pm, at its original venue - the South Regional Broward College Library, located at 7300 Pines Blvd, in Pembroke Pines, FL 33024.  

This free, community event celebrating its 13th year, is jointly coordinated by the Louise Bennett-Coverley Heritage Council, Broward College, the Friends of the South Regional Broward Library and the Jamaican Folk Revue, Inc. and will launch the Library's Black History Month activities. It will also continue to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birthday of Dr. the Hon. Louise Bennett-Coverley, OM, OJ, MBE, with local authors, Dr. Andrea Shaw Nevins, Geoffrey Philp, and Dr. Susan Davis (Moderator)  

The gifted and incomparable Dahlia Harris's presentation of "Miss Lou's Views" will headline an exciting program, which will re-visit the original Radio program, hosted by the mother of Jamaican culture - Louise Bennett-Coverley ("Miss Lou"), as she was affectionately known. The evening will also feature entertainment by local performers, including Sophia Nicholson, Maxine Osbourne, Malachi Smith, and the Jamaican Folk Revue. 

We will be honored to have you join us for this evening of culturally rich "edutainment" and look forward to welcoming you, to the 13th Annual Louise Bennett-Coverley Reading Festival, at 2:00 pm. - Saturday, February 1, 2020.

New Book: Too Black to Succeed: THE FIN$AC EXPERIENCE,

In Too Black to Succeed: THE FIN$AC EXPERIENCE, Valerie C. Dixon combines her wisdom as a Garveyite and Jamaican entrepreneur to create a compelling narrative about the betrayal of Jamaican entrepreneurs by the Jamaican government during the 90s in the financial debacle known as FINSAC or the Financial Sector Adjustment Company. Blending memoir, testimonial, and historical analysis, Dixon outlines historical parallels of Jamaica in 1865 with events in the 1990s, which resulted in bankruptcy, suicide, and financial ruin of over 44,000 Jamaican entrepreneurs, and also the continuing frustration of black ambition due to discriminatory practices and colorism. By skilfully interweaving the teachings of Marcus Garvey, specifically the self-defeating/self-destructive mind-set of many Africans in the New World, which Garvey tried to overcome when he said, "We must emancipate ourselves from mental slavery," Too Black to Succeed, should serve as a cautionary tale about governmental betrayal and the limits of patriotism if it is not linked to a cohesive vision that transcends political tribalism.

About the Author

Valerie Dixon is wife, mother, teacher, counselor, mentor, entrepreneur, and writer among a myriad of other pursuits. Her background has provided her with the calling to speak for those who are unable to find their own expression. Empathetic and helpful, Mrs. Dixon has made it her life’s work to teach many to fish and even provide them with the rods, helping people in rural communities to experience financial mobility while contributing to improving their surroundings.

Endowed with strong opinions, love of justice, a keen ability to see beyond the obvious, and a brilliant sense of humor, Mrs. Dixon has written op-ed pieces for newspapers, has been a regular contributor since 2006 to “SELF-HELP NEWS–“Giving Voice to the Voiceless”, an on-line publication, whose head office is based in London, England. SELF-HELP NEWS–“Giving Voice to the Voiceless”, is an authoritative publication read widely across the world, by lay readers, academics, state and non-state actors, policy makers, international communicators, community leaders, and students, with a focus on community development and the sanctity of individual free will. This rich and diverse background experience has culminated in her latest venture, her first book, Too Black to Succeed-The FIN$AC Experience, for which, it seems, she was being prepared for all along.