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Greetings, friends and colleagues,
Wherever you are, we hope this finds you and your loved ones healthy and safe in these challenging times.
COVID, the resulting economic uncertainty, and the long overdue national reckoning with systemic racism and its impact on all aspects of society, have created an environment that is challenging in ways that have had devastating effects on our communities. But this time also creates opportunities. To think expansively about new approaches to the ways we do things across sectors. To examine what was never working in the old "normal." And to bravely re-imagine a way forward that is more equitable, inclusive and sustainable for everyone.
At World Savvy, our organizational values have always guided our work in the world, and how we show up for each other and for our community. We believe big things are possible, we lean into complexity, and we intentionally grow a change; those are just a few of the values that we've been called upon to put into action more than ever in these uncertain times.
And we are building back better, stronger, and with an even more urgent focus on our vision: a K12 system that is inclusive, relevant and equitable, and prepares all young people to thrive in a more diverse and interconnected world.
The incredible support of donors in our Responsive Fund Campaign has facilitated some amazing things. In the last six months, our Program Team has led an astounding pivot, to bring nearly all of our programs and services online. Our primary goal was simple: be prepared to meet school partners, educators, and students wherever they may be as school returns in the fall, in whatever format - online, in person, or a hybrid model.
And we did it.
We rolled out 17 new online workshops and institutes, and dozens of new and updated resources since March, reaching nearly 160 people across 25 US states and 21 countries. We've translated resources for greater accessibility. We've introduced new programming for K-5 elementary teachers and learners. We're welcoming new partner schools across CA, MN, NY and now, in MA who will engage in deep and intentional work this year to global competence into teaching, learning and organizational culture.
And we're committed to doing better, always.
Though it has always been a focus, we recognize the need to do more to center racial equity in our internal and external work. Together, we've collectively leaned into operationalizing racial equity in every aspect of what we do. As we work intentionally and actively toward becoming an anti-racist organization, together our team has interrogated every corner of our work: recruiting, hiring and advancement, professional development, governance, professional learning, and finance and operations. It's impossible to build global competence without racial equity, and without understanding and advancing intersectional efforts to address systemic
inequities. We'll soon be adding a new section to our website to share our commitments as an organization toward this end, but also to allow you, our community, to hold us accountable as we continue on this journey.
Every day, we continue to see the growing relevance of and need for World Savvy's work, work to cultivate a reality that centers empathy, openness, cultural understanding, and deep commitment to continuous learning about the global and local issues that connect us all. Now is our time to re-imagine how K-12 education can help ensure we can build back better - for greater equity, sustainability, and inclusion, in our communities and the world.
Thank you for continuing to support us on this journey. And - be in touch! We love to hear from you.
Dana Mortenson
Co-Founder and CEO
These past months, our World Savvy Program Team has been working to support educators, school leaders, and learning communities in adapting to our new COVID-19 reality. Schools, "classrooms", and learning have been irrevocably changed as a result of this pandemic. While there certainly have been challenges in this work, we have enjoyed facilitating new partnerships and professional learning opportunities. A few highlights:
- In partnership with a Massachusetts public school district, we launched a pilot "cohort" learning model for implementing global competence in the learner experience, with a specific target of ensuring all scholars have a Knowledge-to-Action (K2A) experience. Pilot participants, all educators working with middle school and/or high school scholars, engaged in our "Integrating World Savvy" series; three 90-minute workshops that provide a foundational understanding of global competence and how to leverage our Case Study and K2A protocols to advance interdisciplinary, project-based, action-taking learning. Personalized coaching, currently underway, supports planning and implementation in both in-school and distance learning settings. Initial
feedback from pilot participants is overwhelmingly positive and supports advancement of cohort learning across our program offerings.
- Our inaugural "Making Your Classroom World Savvy" synchronous professional learning workshop for grade 4-6 educators was a huge success. Designed and facilitated by World Savvy Educator KK Neimann, this 90-session introduced participants to the concept of global competence and its relevance in meeting the holistic needs of upper elementary-aged learners. Using the World Savvy Global Competence Matrix, KK provided specific examples for targeted learning and shared relevant, engaging implementation resources. Additional sessions will be offered beginning in September 2020 and cohort sessions can be personalized to meet the needs of individual learning communities.
As career educators, we welcome the opportunity to support you, now and always. Feel free to connect with us at programs@worldsavvy.org.
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