15th Annual Promising Practices Conference

The Fifteenth Annual Multicultural Conference Promising Practices took place on November 3, 2012 at Rhode Island College in Donavan Dining Center from 8am - 2pm.  The event began with a welcome speech from Nancy Carriuolo (President of Rhode Island College) and Dr. Corinne McKamey and Dr. Holly Dygert (Promising Practices Co- Chairs). Followed by a keynote speech by Dane Fusco titled "Youth Development -- Promoting equity through child and youth agency" After the presentations the participants departed to attend two work shops located throughout the campus. 

The two workshops I attended where 1.17 Wake Up and Smell the Environmental Racism and 2.10 Preventing Transgender Bullying Before Children are 6 or 7 or 8 by Using Transgender Friendly Picture Books. I enjoyed both presentations. 

Workshop 1.17"Wake Up and Smell the Environmental Racism" was not what I expected. We discussed topics such as the Johnston Landfill located off of 295 south and the sewerage plant located off of Mendon Road in Woonsocket RI and why these plants are placed in poor areas and there is not  anything the towns people can do about it. Not only is it heart breaking and sad that the people who live in these communities have to live with a terrible smell. These plants are polluting the environment and making the residents of these communities sick (more likely to have asthma). Overall I thought the presentation was informative and interesting. I often talk with my parents about topics such as this and I didn't realize there was an active group that is trying to "clean up the environment" the presenters where 2 high school students and they are part of the group ECO Youth (Environmental Justice League of Rhode Island) 


Woonsocket Sewerage Plant 

My second workshop was 2.10 Preventing Transgender Bullying Before Children are 6 or 7 or 8 by Using Transgender Friendly Picture Books. The presenter Elizabeth Hansen Rowell was a very energetic older women who loves sharing and spreading her knowledge about this topic to anyone who will listen. I was unaware that there are picture books available about this topic and I am excited to begin my search in finding them to expand my personal library. We discussed the difficulties that todays children face with their gender specific toys and how bullying unfortunately begins at a very young age in todays society when a boy plays with "a girls toy" or "dresses like a girl" young girls also face similar name calling when if they are different from societies stereotypes. The main focus of this workshop was on young transgender children who understand that they are the opposite sex at heart. I wish this workshop could have been longer the presenter had so much information on this topic that there was little time for discussion at the end of the presentation. 

These books feature little boys who feel that they are in the wrong body 

10,000 Dresses By Marcus Ewert 

Be Who You Are By Jennifer Carr



These books feature little girls who feel that they are in the wrong body 

Backwards Day by S.Bear Bergman 

When Kathy is Keith by Wallace Wong 



 Books that feature children who like to wear the clothes of or and do things usually associated with the opposite gender but nothing is said about them feeling that they are in the wrong body. 

My Princess Boy by Cheryl Kilodouis 

Pictures of our presenter 



Over all I enjoyed the Promising Practice Conference there was a large turn out and all the speeches where informative I'm looking forward to discussing the event in class and learning about the different workshops my classmates attended.