“Educators have the power to create lasting change for our students and introduce them to a world of limitless possibilities.”
As an educational workshop facilitator and presenter, Brian K. Harris II primarily supports the work of educators, mentors, community leaders and school districts, who are invested in producing successful outcomes for children of color in urban and culturally diverse communities. He is also committed to positively impacting students from these communities directly. His workshops for both educators and students are empowering and steeped in his educational philosophy that focuses on the power of cultural legacy as a prerequisite for writing individual and collective narratives. He has gained credibility and respect among his colleagues with over 15 years of experience in guiding educators and students in urban and culturally diverse communities.
His professional consultations, workshop presentations, professional developments and/or keynote addresses are highly informative, engaging, and inspiring.
Workshops
Educator Workshops
Dancing Through the Debris
Utilizing mindfulness and movement as a response to the impact of trauma and Urban Schools
The impact of trauma among students of color, creates a sense of grief, and negatively affects their trajectory. This workshop addresses how mindfulness practices and the incorporation of meditative movement help students of color discuss and reconcile their thoughts and feelings about the societal, generational and educational trauma they have endured. It focuses on the following three pillars for achieving emotional, mental and spiritual revival: CONNECT, REFLECT and RELEASE! It provides educators and students step-by-step methods and strategies to incorporate mindful practices in the classroom and meditative exercises during the school day that create empathy, kindness and self-awareness.
Awakening the Ase’ of Black boys
Strategies to helping black boys be successful in and out the classroom
Behind every fact, there is a face. Behind every statistic, there is a story of a black boy whose future has become a faint whisper to the roaring voice of loneliness, dying young and feelings of failure.There is a need for boys to return to a place of wholeness, where their goals and dreams can be accomplished and fulfilled. This workshop explores 6 strategies that can be used in and out of the classroom in order for Black boys to have successful outcomes and ‘awaken their ase’, or power to change their narrative and control their destiny. 6 Strategies: Creativity, Cultural Legacy, Character, Compassion, Collaboration, Curriculum.
The Keys to Culturally Spiritual Teaching
Reshaping Identity and Rewriting Narratives through history, culture and legacy
Educators must understand the implications of their pedagogical approaches when teaching Black and brown children. We must see the power and need to incorporate the soul and spirit of our children in our educational philosophies and day-to-day teaching practices. Black and brown children have a broken soul and fractured spirit because of the cultural biases of teachers. As a result of the exclusion of the history, culture and legacy of Black and brown children, students begin to develop feelings of uselessness and unworthiness, and unable to write their own narratives with efficacy. By examining the functions of culturally spiritual pedagogy, this workshop helps educators develop the theoretical and practical tools needed to heal the soul and spirit of Black and brown children.
The Artist and Advocate
Using the Arts to develop greater social-emotional development
The Arts is an area of study that gives every student, regardless of academic, and/or social-emotional status, access to participation and success. Students have the unique opportunity to shine and express themselves freely, while creatively exploring areas of Dance, Music, Theater and Visual Arts. This workshop offers educators strategies to incorporate the arts in daily instruction helping students to develop social-emotional skills and giving them voice through creative expression.
Youth Workshops
Dancing Through the Debris (Student Edition)
Using Mindfulness and Movement to develop emotional regulation tools that can be used in and out of the classroom
It is important for students to understand the origins of their trauma and stressors. This workshop addresses how mindfulness practices and the incorporation of meditative movement help students of color discuss and reconcile their thoughts and feelings about the societal, generational and educational trauma they have endured. It focuses on the following three pillars for achieving emotional, mental and spiritual revival: CONNECT, REFLECT and RELEASE! Students will develop a self-care checklist and understand the impact of daily reflective journal writing.
A Portrait of Me
Reshaping Identity and Rewriting Narratives through history, culture and legacy
When we teach Black and brown children their rich history, culture and legacy, they gain the confidence, awareness and pride to write their own narratives. This workshop teaches students about the history of African-Americans through activities, small group discussions and a Black History gallery walk that is informative, powerful and instrumental in their own knowledge of history and self.
Minding Our Business
Developing essential strategies to becoming a community-centered entrepreneur and business owner
It is important students understand the power in creating a sustainable economic foundation for their families and community, developed by their creativity, talents and skills. This workshop teaches basic entrepreneurial principles, creating a business proposal and the process of establishing an impactful marketing campaign.