Tag: Belonging
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The Invisible Act of Identity: Living Between the Parts of Who We Are
I remember the first time I attended an educational conference centered on the experiences of people of color. At first, it was jarring. I found myself reconciling my own lived experience and my proximity to African American culture with my identity as an Afro-Dominican man. I had always known who I was in these spaces,…
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The Invisible Act of Belonging: Making Room for Students Long Before We Make Music
It’s early August, about four weeks before the school year begins, and I’m looking at my class rosters. I’m trying to learn names. Some of the names are familiar. Others are completely new to me. I’m looking at the list and beginning to imagine the students who will eventually walk through the door. I’m thinking…
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Feeling Safe Enough to Learn
This summer I accepted a part-time position supervising a music camp. It’s different from my work during the school year teaching middle and high school band and orchestra, but after only a few days, I found myself thinking about a place I hadn’t reflected on in quite some time. Almost ten years ago, I wrote…
