Simple interactions institute
January 2021
This past January, we hosted a virtual Simple Interactions Institute! We hosted two repeated 75-minute sessions per week on the following topics. Through these conversations, we hoped to learn from one another and reflect together on how we encourage, enrich, and empower human relationships in our work and lives. Descriptions are below.
Week 1: Simple Interactions + Stories
Thursday January 14 (12:00 and 7:30pm EST)
Throughout the pandemic we’ve been inspired to hear stories from individuals across child-serving contexts about how COVID has impacted their work and their interactions with families, youth, and children. You can read these stories on our website: HERE
Please join us in the first week of our Simple Interactions Institute for a facilitated panel with four practitioners and professionals. They will share their stories of finding opportunities, overcoming challenges, and using relational thinking to support children and families during the COVID-19 global pandemic. We will hear from:
Week 2: Simple Interactions + COVID
Thursday January 21 (12:00 and 7:30pm EST)
How do we encourage, enrich, and empower the human relationships around children and youth, families, and their helpers? As social distancing disrupts the lives of so many, we are reminded even more of the importance of human connections in our lives.
What ideas of Simple Interactions are timeless and how do we present them in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic? Join us to think about how to communicate these messages across the levels of practice, program, and policy and how we can use these messages for action. This session will be facilitated by Dr. Dana Winters of the Fred Rogers Center and Dr. Junlei Li of Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Week 3: Simple Interactions + Anti-Racism and Equity
Thursday January 28 (12:00 and 7:30pm EST)
Simple, everyday interactions drive human development. Each caregiver and teacher deserve our respect and support. How do we bring these universal messages about human relationships to address the unique challenges of racism and other persistent inequities? The work of Simple Interactions has taken place primarily in places where material resources are scarce and professional practices are under-appreciated. Over time, we recognized that while it is important to highlight the universal power of human relationships, we need to bring attention to the institutional barriers that disempower human relationships.
In this session, we invite you to think with us about how we can advocate for equity and social justice and empower marginalized communities with the work on human relationships. Our team will share our reflections briefly, then we hope to go into break-out rooms with you to discuss and listen. This will be a facilitated conversation with the Simple Interactions Team including Dr. Dana Winters, Emma Lee, and Dr. Annie White of the Fred Rogers Center, Dr. Junlei Li of Harvard Graduate School of Education, Dr. Tom Akiva of University of Pittsburgh.
*ASL Interpretation and captioning is available for all sessions*
Week 1: Simple Interactions + Stories
Thursday January 14 (12:00 and 7:30pm EST)
Throughout the pandemic we’ve been inspired to hear stories from individuals across child-serving contexts about how COVID has impacted their work and their interactions with families, youth, and children. You can read these stories on our website: HERE
Please join us in the first week of our Simple Interactions Institute for a facilitated panel with four practitioners and professionals. They will share their stories of finding opportunities, overcoming challenges, and using relational thinking to support children and families during the COVID-19 global pandemic. We will hear from:
- Lisa Kuh, Director of Early Education, Somerville Public Schools
- Monica Allison, Site Coordinator, ParentChild+ Staff
- Amie White, Director of Family and Youth Engagement, A+ Schools
- Eric Reyes, Digital Media Coordinator, Chicago Public Library
- Dan Turkovich, Senior Program Director, Sarah Heinz House
Week 2: Simple Interactions + COVID
Thursday January 21 (12:00 and 7:30pm EST)
How do we encourage, enrich, and empower the human relationships around children and youth, families, and their helpers? As social distancing disrupts the lives of so many, we are reminded even more of the importance of human connections in our lives.
What ideas of Simple Interactions are timeless and how do we present them in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic? Join us to think about how to communicate these messages across the levels of practice, program, and policy and how we can use these messages for action. This session will be facilitated by Dr. Dana Winters of the Fred Rogers Center and Dr. Junlei Li of Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Week 3: Simple Interactions + Anti-Racism and Equity
Thursday January 28 (12:00 and 7:30pm EST)
Simple, everyday interactions drive human development. Each caregiver and teacher deserve our respect and support. How do we bring these universal messages about human relationships to address the unique challenges of racism and other persistent inequities? The work of Simple Interactions has taken place primarily in places where material resources are scarce and professional practices are under-appreciated. Over time, we recognized that while it is important to highlight the universal power of human relationships, we need to bring attention to the institutional barriers that disempower human relationships.
In this session, we invite you to think with us about how we can advocate for equity and social justice and empower marginalized communities with the work on human relationships. Our team will share our reflections briefly, then we hope to go into break-out rooms with you to discuss and listen. This will be a facilitated conversation with the Simple Interactions Team including Dr. Dana Winters, Emma Lee, and Dr. Annie White of the Fred Rogers Center, Dr. Junlei Li of Harvard Graduate School of Education, Dr. Tom Akiva of University of Pittsburgh.
*ASL Interpretation and captioning is available for all sessions*