Events for Educators

Date: January 24, 2023, 6:00-7:30pm EST (virtual) Sponsored by K-14 Education Outreach at the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies and the Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Georgetown University. This panel held at the Middle East Studies Association 2022 Annual Meeting, and sponsored by the Committee for Undergraduate Middle East Studies (CUMES), examines the state of K-12 education in the United States and ways in which Middle Eastern Studies content can be better taught in primary and secondary school settings. Educators Kristin Tassin, Nora Lester Murad, Virginia Cady, Matthew MacLean and Susan Douglass share their expertise in K-12 curriculum, outreach, and literature to explore best practices for incorporating specialized Middle East area studies knowledge into current K-12 pedagogy. This panel seeks to address ways in which area specialization, K-12 pedagogy, and university outreach programs can come together to address this crucial omission in current teaching, and to support teachers in public and private schools trying to improve the level of scholarship on this crucially underserved area, in a manner promotes global cultural competence and regional knowledge. In addition to discussing the shape of the teaching field at the K-14 level, panel members also provide specific tools and resources.

Date: Thursday, February 16, 2023, 6:00-8:00pm (virtual) Sponsored by Georgetown University’s Center for Contemporary Arab Studies, Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, the Arab American National Museum, and Montgomery College Office of Advancement and Community Engagement. Diverse expressions of historical memory persist and gain meaning despite nationalist projects to minimize diversity in pursuit of an imaginary homogeneity that in truth exists practically nowhere in the world. The fact that such attempts at erasure are responsible not only for cultural amnesia, but for denial of common cultural experiences that would foster acceptance instead of rejection. This workshop will place two works of historical memory into conversation. Coincidentally, two authors representing two culturally related but geographically distant societies gave their books the same title: When We Were Arabs to invoke that claim of identity (Cuando Fuimos Arabe). They are Emilio González Ferrín, University of Seville, and journalist Massoud Hayoun based in Los Angeles. This conversation, moderated by educator Dr. Rabiah Khalil, will explore the persistence of memory and affirm the value of recognizing shared roots and accepting the richness of our diversity.

Nov. 10, 2022 3:30 – 6:00 p.m. This program will focus on the history of Islam in East Africa and the evolution of Islamic culture in the region as seen in contemporary films and documentaries

This series is a collaboration with The Library of Congress, Georgetown University, Boston University and Howard University. All programs will be virtual only. Oct. 20, 2022 3:30 – 6:00 p.m. This program will focus on literature, foods, music, and fashion, in modern Muslim societies. Guest speakers will focus on the contemporary Islamic culture and its many influences. Participants will leave the session with a list of library resources to further explore the topic.

Date: Saturday, November 12, 2022, 10:00am-2:00pm (in-person and virtual), held at CCAS Georgetown University, ICC #141. This workshop for educators will feature two of Unity Productions Foundation’s newest projects: “Unfold Your Own Myth,” based on the film Lamya’s Poem, which traces the parallel journeys of a young Syrian refugee fleeing war, and the poet Rumi, traveling ahead of the Mongol invasions and finding his spiritual place in the world. “Unfold Your Own Myth” is a poetry-writing workshop that you can facilitate in your classroom, school, or community youth group to unleash the power of stories and working through difficulties through creative expression. The second film featured in this workshop is The Great Muslim American Road Trip, a journey across the United States rom Chicago IL to Santa Monica CA. American Muslim artist Mona Haydar and her husband, educator Sebastian Robins travel in search of Muslim American heritage along the along famed Route 66. The 3-part series was first shown on PBS stations in summer 2022. The pair visit Muslim communities and individuals serving through their ordinary and extraordinary lives, historic sites as far back as the European voyages of exploration, and famous landmarks along the way. The road trip is also a spiritual journey of discovery for Mona and Sebastian. The workshop features clips from the series, a map of the journey and the sites they visited, and some lesson plans for further exploration of the places and people they encounter on the way. Lunch will be served, and attendees will receive teaching resources and a full set of UPF DVDs for the classroom. This program is made possible by a Title VI grant from the United States Department of Education, which is funding a National Resource Center on the Middle East at Georgetown University, and by support from the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies and the Alwaleed Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University.

CCAS and ACMCU Education Outreach have joined with a number of National Resource Centers to offer a Book Club for Teachers that covers various regions of the world through award-winning books. Register by semester, for $25, which includes the set of books. (Georgetown’s book selection will be part of the second semester, in January). This will fill up fast! Register today! Join us virtually to delve into discussions with speakers from various National Resource Centers as well as other experts across the United States. Registration includes copies of each 8th-grade to 12th grade book, which will be mailed to you. (Book should be read before its featured session.) Time 6:00 pm-8pm CST Dates: October 3, November 7, December 6, 2022 Cost: $25 (includes mailed copies of all books) Registration deadline: September 30, 2022 or until full (@40 teachers) DATES AND BOOKS SELECTED (Fall Semester) October 3,2022 Strong as Fire, Fierce as Flame In 1857 India, 12 year old Meera must choose between relative safety in a British household or standing up for herself and her people. Led by Emera Bridger Wilson(South Asia Book Award) November 7, 2022 Borders is a masterfully told story of a boy and his mother whose road trip from Alberta to Salt Lake City is thwarted at the border when they identify their citizenship as Blackfoot. Refusing to identify as either American or Canadian first bars their entry into the US, and then their return into Canada. In the limbo between countries, they find power in their connection to their identity and to each other. Led byKyla Sweet, (Pacific Northwest Resource Center on Canada, WesternWashington University) December 6, 2022 Home is Not a Country From the acclaimed poet featured on Forbes Africa’s “30 Under 30” list, this powerful novel-in-verse captures one Sudanese American girl, caught between cultures, on an unexpected journey to face the ephemeral girl she might have been. Led by Deborah Jane, (Institute for Global Studies and African StudiesInitiative, University of Minnesota) NOTE: There will be a separate registration for Spring 2023 World Area Teacher’s Book Club (CCAS Georgetown will present a book in January) Sponsored by the Institute for Global Studies (University of Minnesota),the Pacific Northwest Resource Center on Canada (Western WashingtonUniversity), Center for Contemporary Arab Studies and Center forMuslim-Christian Understanding (Georgetown University), South AsiaInstitute (University of Texas/ Austin),Asia for Educators (Columbia),Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (University of Illinois),South Asia Book Award, Freeman Book Award. This program is also made possible by a Title VI grant from the United States Department of Education

A four-part professional development series presented by the Division of African and Middle Eastern Studies at the Library of Congress with Georgetown University, Howard University, Boston University & National Museum of Asian Art

Click the link below for information, videos, and resources from past CCAS Education Outreach events at Georgetown and across the country.