Understanding & Addressing Anti Blackness

Expanded learning opportunity (ELO) organizations can be important places of youth development for Black youth. However, Black youth often experience racial inequity in ELOs because leadership and outcomes tend to uphold anti-Blackness. For example, Black youth routinely participate in programs that have the least funding and youth development curricula that problematizes their culture as deficient. Leaders must be able to recognize the ways anti-Blackness is occurring and shift their practices if they hope to address the youth development needs of Black youth. This presentation will discuss concepts of anti-Blackness and provide attendees with culturally sustaining leadership practices that assist organizations to better center the youth development needs of Black youth. Please note this session is designed for those with little or no knowledge of the subject.