DISES President’s Letter – Februrary 2024
Hello DISES Community,
As bell hooks so eloquently wrote, “rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation. Healing is an act of communion.” Black History Month is a time for us to:
- look critically at our past and present,
- celebrate the strength of leaders who guide us in challenging oppressive systems,
- acknowledge the beauty and assets within our communities, and
- heed the call to be of service to our local, national, and global communities.
This month I ask you to consider where you can stand in solidarity with our global community. Here are a few opportunities through DISES to join in our efforts this year:
- Give feedback, join a committee, or share ideas using the “Get Involved in DISES” form (please complete by Feb. 23) and/or Register for and attend (if possible) the DISES Committee Information Meeting on 2/24 8:30-9:30am (PST)/11:30-12:30 (EST)
- As part of the Council for Exceptional Children Interdivisional Video Podcast Series on Global Conversations: Supporting Youth, Families & Educators in Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Practices, the Division of Visual and Performing Arts Education (DARTS), the Division of International Special Education and Services (DISES), Division for Early Childhood (DEC), and Division of Career Development and Transition (DCDT) are creating a virtual gallery focusing on work that honors and expresses the artists (visual and performing) intersectionality (Intersectionality – acknowledgment that we have our own identities and unique experiences of discrimination, oppression and privilege). We are encouraging anyone with a disability or who supports youth with disabilities to please submit your work that represents intersectionality here by March 23, 2024.
Who can submit?
- Youth (from birth-to-22),
- Educators (e.g., preservice teachers, in-service teachers, administrators, university faculty, school support personnel, and professionals from outside agencies),
- Family (may be a family of origin, an adopted family, caregiver, or a family comprising people who are not biologically related) to submit their work.
What can you submit? visual art (drawing, painting, photography, sculpture), poetry, dance, musical production, etc. If you have any questions about submitting work please contact Juli Dorff at jdorff@kent.edu or Rebekka Jez at rjez@sandiego.edu.
Register for the virtual gallery opening here. Interdivisional Video Podcast Series on Global Conversations: Supporting Youth, Families & Educators in Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Practices Virtual Gallery will open on May 4, 2024 from 3:00pm-4:30pm with selected artists sharing about their work. We look forward to sharing your work and your story in our Gallery.
- Follow us on social media: DISES Facebook, DISES_CEC Instagram, X (formally known as Twitter) @cec_dises, DISES on Youtube (you can check out our past virtual events here)
- Share our top 10 reasons for Joining DISES Infosheet with others and encourage them to join the DISES community
- Attend our upcoming DISES events:
- (February 24th) Getting Involved in DISES Committees Session Register here.
- (March 13th-16th) CEC Conference- here are some opportunities to join in community in San Antonio
- March 14th 9:15am-10:15am DISES Showcase
- March 14th 5:00pm-7:00pm CEC Divisions Around the World Event
- March 15th 8:00am-10:00am DISES
- Bussiness Meeting & Social: Business & Burritos
- (April 6th) DISES Virtual Event
- (June 26th-28th) DISES International Conference in Panama City, Panama
- Register Here for Conference
- Book your group rate hotel room for the DISES International Conference
"It isn't where you come from; it's where you're going that counts." –Ella Fitzgerald
Thank you for all you do to engage with DISES!
Rebekka J. Jez, EdD
DISES President
Assistant Professor, University of San Diego
