Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/135412
Minority Leadership Conference "Modeling behavior can help make a difference" Former NEA President Reg Weaver keynoted this year's DSEA Minority Leadership Conference to a packed house at Delaware State University in April. eg Weaver, says Kevin Elzie, inspired him to get involved in the Association. "His leadership of NEA was so strong, yet so down-to-earth. His speeches were inspiring, and still are," he says, which is why Elzie asked Weaver to come to Delaware to keynote DSEA's second Minority Leadership Conference. Weaver told the audience that he continues to be involved because kids still need advocates. "All kids deserve the same opportunities. It's up to us!" Weaving stories into his talk about his days as a middle school teacher and his sometimes stubborn students, he talked about how important modeling is. "By modeling compassion, responsibility, and outreach to the less fortunate, you can help make a difference. Kids see what you do more than what you say Kids depend on you. Their . communities depend on you." And he ended with a challenge: "What are you going to do next week?" This year's Minority Leadership Conference also featured workshops on topics ranging from Social Justice to Community Partnerships and Power Language. Also in the mix were Knowing Your Rights, Bullying and Why Cultural Competency Matters. R Dianne Bogle, Capital Educators Association (left) and Denise Foreman of the Red Clay E.A. get ready for an interactive workshop on Developing Community Partnerships. Congratulations to DSEA's Ethnic Minority Affairs Task Force that put this outstanding event together Reg Weaver begins his talk with some old-fashioned jokes. "You have to laugh now and then. It's so challenging for you today." What does the school's community look like? Participants break into groups to map their communities, identifying as many people and groups as possible. 16 May/June 2013 DSEA ACTION! Barry Beckett - Cape Henlopen, co-chair Kevin Elzie - Sussex Tech, cochair Al Booker - NCC Vo-Tech Denise Foreman - Red Clay Cagney France - Cape Henlopen Lynelle Hyland – Seaford Margaret Martinez – Capital Joyce Morton-Elzie – Capital Denise Waples – Milford Marika White – NCC Vo-Tech Administrative support: Mike Hoffmann – DSEA leadership Jocelynne Jones – UniServ director Yvonne Williams – program assistant To see more photos from this inspiring event, check out DSEA's Facebook page at /dseafan. To hear Weaver's speech, go to www.dsea. org and look for Reg's picture on the front page, or go directly to www.dsea.org/audio/RegWeaver Apr27_2013MinLdrshpConfREV. MP3. Leslee Love of the Christina Education Association works on a word exercise related to communicating consequences in a powerful but positive way. It was amazing how many people in the room still remembered something negative that had been said to them at a young school, and the negative influence those words had on their lives. Marika White, NCC Vo-Tech E.A., is a member of DSEA's Ethnic Minority Task Force. She's practicing how to engage community members in conversations that will lead to positive relationshps in support of schools. www.dsea.org