Introducing the IDEA Collective

Introducing the IDEA Collective
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access for Teachers of English Language Arts

Members of the MCELA Executive Board created this working group to focus on an important goal: Support Maine educators as they explore ways to develop materials and practices for inclusion, diversity, equity, and access. In particular, MCELA invites educators to think about, discuss, and take steps to address issues related to racism, income disparity, gender identity, environmental justice, equity, genocide, and indigenous sovereignty.

Each month, the IDEA Collective of MCELA will share a resource for educators to explore and consider using in their practice and with their students. This month, we invite teachers to explore the Samantha Smith Challenge, a program based on Maine artist Robert Shetterly’s work in Americans Who Tell the Truth. Not ready to take on a project with students? Consider exploring the materials and resources at Americans Who Tell the Truth as a way to introduce to students the people from history and in the world today who raise their voices about issues related to justice and equity.