2024 Bridge Conference

We will build on the participants' baseline awareness that we all operate in systems that were built to oppress BIPOC or neurodiverse youth. Some of us were formally trained to serve all youth within these systems. Some of us are lucky enough to have awareness of the ways we think and operate that perpetuate the damage these systems have done. This session will help all participants see ways to manage the systemic pressures and internal biases that we all have. Even if we don’t know exactly what we’re thinking when a bias is at play, we can create activities and build relationships with staff, students and leadership that will help us identify, set aside and understand the impacts of bias. The key is to see that we are all learning: educators, students, executives and administrators. We are all experts in our experiences of the lessons presented and have a wealth of experience outside the classroom. When we come to teaching with an expectation that teachers are experts we are less capable of learning how to improve our methods according to the students’ needs. We want to attract participants from all levels of education, whether they are certificated, experienced teachers, administrators, non-profit executive leadership or funding partners who can support program development or implementation.

It can be challenging for caregivers to know how to guide children to appropriate technology use to keep them safe from online sexual grooming. Ready access to smartphones, tables, and computers has created a whole new world of challenges for caregivers. Easy access to devices means that youth do not need to leave their bedrooms to be introduced to risky situations. This training provides a basic overview of commercial sexual exploitation of children, framing the extent of the problem and discussing technology interventions, terminology, pathways, warning signs, and prevention.