Chasing the American Dream- Race and Adult and Continuing Education
Session Abstract
The presentation provides an overview of the vast areas of multiculturalism, which include and go beyond race and gender. It also includes an overview and critique of various contemporary race-based theories. It will conclude with defining and developing safe spaces to evolve racial inclusiveness.
Target Audience
The target audience for this presentation is current and future educators, as well as anyone who works in the field of adult education.
Session Description
The chapter titled, Chasing the American Dream: Race, Adult, and Continuing Education, in the Handbook of Adult and Continuing Education by Kassworm, Rose, and Ross-Gordon, is used as a foundation for this presentation. In the growing population of adult learners it is imperative that educators are informed and equipped in working with a diverse group of students. This can only take place when the educator is thoroughly educated in areas such as multiculturalism, contemporary race-based theories, and racial inclusiveness. In the presentation these areas, as well as instructional recommendations will be discussed. The overview, recommendations, and feedback from the audience will provide an interactive setting to discuss and provide best practices to make the adult learning environment more inclusive of race, religion, gender, age, and applicable societal ideologies, representative of the learners and their surroundings. This type of learning environment can only be developed with the continuous education in focal areas discussed in this presentation which include multiculturalism, which extends beyond race and gender; understanding the various contemporary race-based theories; and developing and implementing safe spaces for the continuous evolution of racial inclusiveness.