Why is Power and Privilege part of the conversation at a nonprofit focused on literacy and creative expression?
Our approach to working with students is built to address some of the issues around Power and Privilege. While we don’t directly refer to power or privilege with students or volunteers, we intentionally focus on being strengths-based, using a growth mindset, and being aware of assumptions we might make about our students and their families.
The way Literacy Connects addresses Power and Privilege is through training and constant reminders that we need to focus on strengths rather than challenges, either real or perceived. We emphasize to our volunteers that learning is a shared process of discovery. No one person has all the knowledge and is charged with disseminating that knowledge to the other.
It’s what one volunteer refers to as being the
“guide on the side” not the “sage on the stage”.
We recognize that all of our learners, even the youngest, have background knowledge and experiences to bring to the table and those experiences should be valued and part of the learning process.
We don’t use deficit language.
Our focus is not on what the student is lacking.
We are strengths-based and build on skills and strengths.
Their socio-economic status is not a factor in their ability to learn.
We see people as people.
We have a constructive approach to learning.
We avoid assumptions and misconceptions.
For children’s programs we also talk with coaches about assumptions regarding parents. We understand that we don’t know what the students’ parents are dealing with and so we are not in a position to judge. We stress that the important things to focus on are all the good things a child has in their life. We try to create an environment of gratitude around both the things we can control and those we can’t.
We all have stories to share. At Literacy Connects we believe when we share our stories it expands our spectrum of awareness.
My Story + Your Story = Our Story
When we share, we plant seeds of awareness and acceptance… and we grow.
