Every student deserves teachers with the skills to connect with them, facilitate meaningful learning experiences, and advocate on their behalf. Black students with Black teachers experience stronger academic and personal outcomes. Amidst a shortage of Black teachers, kids can't wait: culturally responsive and restorative practices are essential skills for white teachers serving non-white learners.
Allies for Radical Collaboration (ARC) is a two-year, immersive cohort-based learning journey for white educators who lead, love and nurture students from diverse backgrounds. It is designed intentionally as a safe space to explore how their individual identity impacts their educational practice, develop culturally responsive skills and strategies to build strong connections with students and hold one another accountable for personal growth and practice. Specifically, ARC educators:
+Examine personal identity; reflect on how it impacts their instruction and leadership
+Engage in intentional asset-based community experiences to better understand their students and surrounding community
+Explore and apply Deeper Learning by Doing® tools/methods for instruction and leadership
+Ensure a safe ARC learning community that values growth and accountability
They apply emerging competencies to strengthen the community shared with their students and together achieve powerful learning outcomes.
Developed collaboratively by HFLI and Black Male Educators Alliance with support of The Skillman Foundation, ARC was first piloted in Detroit (Nov. 2022-March 2023) where 82% of students are Black compared with 67% of teachers (Detroit Free Press, 2019). 100% of Cohort A advocated for the program to continue with their participation; Phase II launched July 2023 and Cohort B started Phase 1. For July 2024 - June 2025, Cohort B participants will continue their Phase II journey and Cohort C will launch Phase I. Cohort A will serve as mentors for both. By June 2025, we project a combined community of 50 active members serving 1000s of students in 30+ schools. We aim to build a coalition of educators across Michigan and ultimately scale beyond through community-led implementation.
Contact us at designthinking@hfli.org. We recognize that the lack of racial parity between students and their teachers referenced above is not unique to Detroit; this inequity exists nationwide. You may find us working to refine the ARC Fellowship and resources and determine how best to scale access and support to educators across Michigan and nationwide - but we welcome inspiring conversations!
