Beyond the Proclamation: Interpreting Emancipation for Today’s Youth

A symposium jointly hosted by The African American Museum in Philadelphia, the Friends of Independence National Historical Park, Independence National Historical Park, The Library Company of Philadelphia and University of Delaware. Targeted towards K-12 educators in schools and other learning environments, this symposium encourages creative thinking beyond the traditional classroom setting. The focus will be on sharing multiple techniques to motivate students to understand and discuss complex historical events. Educators will have the opportunity to hear both from their peers as well as from specialists across the many disciplines that interact with history/social studies education.

• Dr. Benjamin Filene, Associate Professor and Director of Public History at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro

SYMPOSIUM HIGHLIGHTS

Panel 1 - Reaching Students in the Classroom and in the Field

Introduction by Erica Armstrong Dunbar, Ph.D., Director of the Program in African American History, The Library Company of Philadelphia

• Museum Programs: Naomi Coquillon, National Museum of American History
• Experiential Learning: Michelle Evans, Conner Prairie Interactive History Park
• K-12 Educator: Amy Cohen, Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School
• Reference Librarian: Krystal Appiah, The Library Company of Philadelphia

Panel 2 - Bringing History Alive Through Literature and the Arts

Introduction by Denise Valentine, Storyteller

• Visual Arts: Jerry Pinkney, Artist
• Games: Amy Hillier, The Ward: Mapping Race and Class in DuBois’ Seventh Ward
• Children’s Literature: Cynthia Levinson, Author
• Performing Arts: Michael Bobbitt, Adventure Theatre

FEES

• $70 for full program, including lunch (discounts for members of hosting organizations)

Participating teachers will earn ACT 48 credits and all participants will have opportunities to purchase panelists products and teaching aides.