SEMINAR: Prof. Linda Juang – The Importance of Identities for Youth and Educators in Migration-Diverse Societies

Abstract: One of the most important global trends is the increase both in diversity and disparity among student populations around the world. Clearly, educators must be equipped to engage constructively and thoughtfully in this changing context. In this talk I highlight the importance of identity for both teachers and their students. I focus on ethnic-racial identity (ERI), an integral aspect of youth development growing up in multicultural and migration-diverse societies. I discuss how the Identity Project, an 8-week school-based intervention developed in the US for secondary school students has been implemented in five European countries. I will describe the intervention, its effectiveness, and its extensions beyond secondary school students to include pre- and in-service teachers themselves. The Identity Project provides important opportunities for both educators and students to reflect on their own identities and, subsequently, their roles in creating more equitable and inclusive classrooms.

Bio: Linda Juang is Professor of Inclusive Education at University of Potsdam, Germany