Dear Community,

I turned 50 in November, celebrating with friends and chosen family. Being half a century into this Life Thing, and a quarter century into my education journey, has me reflecting on what it means to create a sense of belonging for ourselves and others over time. I am blessed to have a close circle of friends who feel like home. I continue to grow my professional circle as I meet and interact with so many of you in the field. It’s an extraordinary gift to do this work alongside you all.

In other news, I got to testify at the confirmation hearing of my sister-friend Kelli Evans who made history as the first openly gay California Supreme Court justice (more here). It was a moving and soul-stirring event (Here’s the public video if you’re interested; my comments are at 15:45). My youngest son, Maximo, built a sailboat for his 8th grade Masterworks Project, and SAILED IT successfully at the Berkeley Marina! My oldest son, Kai, is graduating from high school a year early and enrolling in the University of British Columbia this fall. And I am completing over a year of living in Victoria, BC with Kai–appreciating the opportunity to be on these unceded lands of the Lekwungen-speaking people and Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations, and the new friendships and connections I’ve built.

Professionally, it’s been a busy and vibrant year. Here are some highlights:

  • Dr. Jamila Dugan and I launched and led the first Street Data Mini-Series with over 100 participants from across North America. We saw courageous educators use the Street Data model to make meaningful change! Below we’ve included video testimonials from two of our participants, Dr. Felicia Singleton and Janelle Garcia.
  • We also led the first-ever epic Street Data Student Community of Practice with 50 Grade 11 changemakers from Abbotsford, BC!
  • Alcine Mumby and I completed Season 2 of Street Data Pod, which now includes 15 episodes. We are on hiatus until August 10th when Season 3 will launch with a focus on: What does the Street Data model look like in action?
  • And I have just finished 5 focus groups with teachers from across North America to inform the outline of a next book on student agency and a pedagogy of voice, which will be a collaborative project with teachers.

I have learned so much and continue to feel humbled by the reception of this work. Together we are building a movement for educational justice and student-centered pedagogy. You all are changing the paradigm. I see you and honor you for the beautiful work you do every day.

With warmth and respect,
Shane

Looking Forward: 2023-2024 Offerings

We are so excited to share with you 4 incredible professional learning offerings that have just gone live. Take a look at the offerings below to register yourself and/or your team. Feel free to reach out if you have questions!

Street Data 2023-24 Community of Practice: 7-Month Series

(for teams looking to go deeper in implementing the Street Data framework around a focused equity-centered inquiry question)

This online community of practice, led by co-authors Dr. Jamila Dugan and Shane Safir, will guide you through a deep study of Street Data focused on opportunities to apply the model. You will work in collaborative teams to hone an equity-centered problem of practice, move through the Equity Transformation Cycle featured in Chapter 4 of the book, and practice vulnerability through public learning. By the end of this course, participants will have a deep understanding of the Street Data model by experiencing it and will be ready to move a Reimagine Plan forward.

Click here for details, schedule, pricing, and how to register for the Street Data Community of Practice

Watch a video testimonial here.

Warm Demander 3-Part Mini-Series: Calling In, Restoration, and Transformative Healing

(for teams and individuals engaged in antiracism work and looking to build capacity in how to call folks in and up to the work of equity)

Co-facilitated by Jessica Huang and Shane Safir, this dynamic Mini-Series will take place over 3 virtual sessions for a total of 8 hours of learning. Along with teaching the Warm Demander Framework and the philosophical alignment with being in community with our school community, this 3-part series will delve deeper into Listening Stances, Activating Agency, and Restorative Practices.

Dates: September 19, 26, and 28, 2023

Find out more and register for the Warm Demander Mini-Series

Street Data Agency 5-Session Series: Toward a Pedagogy of Voice

(for teams and individuals–classroom teachers, coaches, and administrators–seeking to cultivate student agency and a pedagogy of student voice)

Join us for this brand new, dynamic, hands-on workshop series co-facilitated by Abby Benedetto and Shane Safir. We begin by articulating the purpose of education before centering the story of one student at the margins as the catalyst for your radical dreaming. We tap into the Street Data model to design from the margins, ending with a concrete design for cultivating student agency and a pedagogy of voice.

Dates: October 12, October 19, October 26, November 9, and November 16, 2023

Find out more and register for the Street Data Agency Series

Cultivating a Pedagogy of Student Voice by Shane Safir

Back 2 Basics: Kicking Off the Year with Radical Dreaming, Pedagogy & Joy

(view the flier here)

Led by Dr. Jamila Dugan, this is an opportunity for educators to get rooted in our collective wisdom around the purpose and practice of education. Using liberatory thinking, this session is designed to help educators prepare for the new school year with the fullness of ourselves in mind. Through personal testimony, storytelling, and artifact building, we will bridge education theory around supporting our most marginalized students with concrete practices. With guidance from incredible educators, participants will collaborate to identify ways to bring vision to life. By the end of the session, educators will feel grounded, inspired, and ready to come back to school with pedagogical resources that lay the foundation for an incredible year.

Dates: August 23 & 24, 2023

Find out more about the Radical Dreaming 2-Day Workshop and register

Radical Dreaming for Education Now (article by Dr. Jamila Dugan)