RCSD to Host Community-Wide Collective Care Conference

The Rochester City School District (RCSD) announced on Nov. 9, 2023 that it plans to hold a community-wide Collective Care Conference on Sat., Nov. 11, 2023 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Monroe Community College, Brighton Campus, 1000 East Henrietta Road, Rochester, New York.

This conference is open to all RCSD students, families, and staff and anyone who cares about, loves, or works with youth in the community. The idea is to embrace collective care and how to engage and look out for one another in hard times when the world can feel “heavy.”

RCSD says keynote speaker Dr. Dena Simmons is an activist dedicated to the principles of collective care. s a visionary thought leader and activist who has dedicated her life to the principles of collective care.

“Some of what I’ve learned about healing and justice in education is that you can’t do it alone. It is collective work and there’s no self-care without collective care,” Simmons told journalists Crystal L. Keels ad Anya Malley in the Fall 2021 (Issue 1) of Learning for Justice Magazine.

There will also be workshops where participants will learn practical strategies for building resilience, empathy, and trust within the community. This will include workshops with:

• Anderson Allen: a spoken wordsmith, slam poet, actor, mentor, and teaching artist.

• Anthony Hall: a dedicated family man, community leader, and advocate who is known as a humble hero. He grew up on the Northeast side of Rochester in the F.I.G.H.T Village Housing projects.

• Simone Gamble: a community organizer and educator who resides in New York City with roots in the South Bronx.

School Board Member Elect Isaiah Santiago, a School of the Arts graduate, is expected to facilitate discussions featuring RCSD students.

Additionally, there will be networking opportunities where individuals and organizations may share their passion for collective care. Professional development credits are available for all eligible staff members.