ABOUT THIS MINI-CURRICULUM
Hi, I’m Zapoura Newton-Calvert, and I’m the co-founder of Reading Is Resistance and a Teaching Associate Professor at Portland State University (P.S.U.). My organization focuses on justice-focused curriculum creation (Storyseed Curriculum) and a simple social justice reading and conversation practice for all ages of readers. Each mini-curriculum is designed to give you a taste of what we do and how we create opportunities for conversations and action in our communities. This mini-curriculum was written by Kaitlyn Graves, a student in the P.S.U. Anti-Bias Curriculum Capstone. Kaitlyn is currently a peer mentor with the University Studies Department at Portland State University. She is passionate about setting students up for success through inclusive education and strives to make her students feel valid and heard in their learning community and outside of it.
THE ROOTS OF STORYSEED
The Social Justice Standards from Learning for Justice, founded by the Southern Poverty Law Center, serve as guides for the Storyseed Curriculum work. We also draw from abolitionist, decolonizing, heart/body-centered, and white anti-racist practices. Here is a short list of reads from a few of the many folx and communities who we have and continue to learn from and with:
Abolitionist Practice: Abolitionist Teaching Network, Woke Kindergarten
Decolonization: Robin Wall Kimmerer, Eve Tuck, Monique Gray Smith
Heart/Body Practices: Resmaa Menakem, the Bhodi Project, Dr. Angel Kyodo Williams
White Anti-Racist Practice: JORE Project, Chris Crass
I hope you enjoy and reach out with any questions about how to get involved!
INTRODUCTION
This reading guide was written by Kaitlyn Graves and was designed to accompany author and illustrator Nikkolas Smith’s picture book The Artivist. Reading Is Resistance sees reading as an opportunity to seed deeper learning, conversation, and possibilities for action around racial justice and liberation in our communities.
BOOK THEMES
SOCIAL JUSTICE, IDENTITY, BRAVERY, ACTION
READ ALOUD
BOOK SUMMARY
The Artivist is a story of one boy combining two important parts of his identity (the artist and the activist) to become an Artivist. Using these personal superpowers, the Artivist creates the change he wants to see in the world, even if the challenges he’s facing seem scary or too much. Using his art and activism, the Artivist inspires others to create change by bringing awareness to the problems in the world. He uplifts the voices of those around him and defends those who cannot defend themselves. This story is one of activism and social justice, showing that anyone, even you, can be an Artivist.
Thank you to Kaitlyn Graves for writing such a beautiful curriculum to share and for being a part of the heart of Reading Is Resistance.
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