The Human Rights Educators USA’s virtual Training As Action Series (TAAS) focuses on bridging personal and collective action on some of the most critical human rights issues of today. The annual series is offered each year between September and April.
If your organization would like to support HRE USA’s Training as Action Series (TAAS), your contribution of $100-1000 is welcome!! You can contribute through this donation HRE USA Professional Development (givegab.com) portal. We can invoice your institution, if needed, and answer any questions at kristi@hreusa.org.
2023-2024 Training As Action Series
HRE USA is grateful for the 2023-24 TAAS Co-Sponsors to make this series possible: |
Spring 2024 TAAS Events
Voting Rights: What You Can Do to Combat Voter Suppression
Monday, March 25, 7pm ET
>> Register
Summary
The right to vote as established in Article 21 of the UDHR is the bedrock of democracy and essential to the fulfillment of other rights. Yet this fundamental right is under attack. This module is designed to address the problem of voter suppression and voter apathy by engaging participants in ways they can promote voting and voting rights in their own communities and classrooms
Objectives
- Establish the importance of voting and civic engagement to human rights and democracy
- Discuss modern day voter suppression and voter apathy
- Develop ways to promote the vote and combat voter suppression in one’s own community
TAAS Global Screening & Conversation: Human Rights Education: Empowering Youth to Promote Gender Equality
March 16, 2024
8:00 – 9:30 am PT
11:00 am – 12:30 pm ET
Register in advance: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwpdOmppjoiG9cYN-dHIkETDRTrJtcUBH8F
This HRE USA TAAS Special Global Screening, co-sponsored by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Amnesty International (AI), and Soka Gakkai International (SGI), is centered around the multimedia resource “Changemakers: Stories of Young Human Rights Educators.” Launched in December 2023 by AI, SGI, and the OHCHR, this resource aims to inspire and empower young people to advocate for human rights causes.
Summary and what to expect:
- Screening: Be captivated by the stories of three remarkable young human rights educators whose lives have been transformed by their commitment to human rights education.
- Interactive Discussion: Engage in a thought-provoking dialogue on the role of youth in promoting gender equality through human rights education.
- Q&A Session: Hear directly from three inspiring individuals featured in the multimedia resource
- Ms. Dejana Stosic from Serbia (gender equality and gender-based violence)
- Mr. Soufiane Hennani from Morocco (gender diversity and equality)
- Ms. Aizat Ruslanova from Kyrgyzstan (women’s human rights)
Objectives:
- Present stories of youth empowerment through human rights education, as documented in the multimedia resource.
- Provide a space for dialogue on human rights education for, with and by youth as a tool to promote human rights, including gender equality.
- Discuss ideas on how to utilize the multimedia resource as well as other innovative formats to strengthen human rights education for youth in formal and non-formal contexts.
The event is designed for young individuals and anyone in the general public passionate about advancing human rights and gender equality. Let’s unite to empower youth as effective advocates for gender equality and human rights.
Finding Joy: Integrating Mental Wellness into Your Advocacy Strategies
Monday, February 26, 2024 – 7-9 pm ET
>> Register
Summary
Human rights work often takes an emotional toll on its practitioners, but there are ways to mitigate this toll and find joy and solidarity in the work. This final module aims to explore how to integrate wellness strategies into the various actions discussed throughout the training series, and to establish the importance of self-care in order to care for others.
Objectives
- Understand the importance of maintaining mental wellness during human rights work
- Discuss ways to find joy and solidarity
- Explore how to integrate mental wellness strategies when organizing advocacy campaigns, protests/demonstrations, and other human rights initiatives
Fall 2023 TAAS Events
Session Recordings: YouTube playlist for TAAS 2023
TAAS Overview
Human Rights Educators USA’s annual Training as Action Series (TAAS) is a virtual training series focused on bridging personal and collective action on some of the most critical human rights issues of today. TAAS creates an educational space to connect and collaborate with others in human rights education and training. It also gives participants the skills and information needed to take action on rights issues in their communities. The 2023-2024 training series will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and center on the theme, “Protecting Democracy, Promoting Human Rights.” Sessions will discuss topics such as voting rights, facilitating difficult conversations, organizing an advocacy campaign, communicating with decision makers, protesting, and mental wellness.
TAAS Goals
- Engage members in human rights learning, collaboration, and activism through Human Rights Educators USA’s leadership opportunities and initiatives.
- Enhance the capacity of members to engage in human rights education and training.
- Foster knowledge-sharing and dialogue around human rights and human rights education and training.
- Assist members to bring human rights education and training into their personal and professional contexts.
- Expand the Human Rights Educators USA Training Corps, facilitators who can assist, coach, and mentor others to implement strategies for national and local training and capacity building efforts.
TAAS Outline
Introduction to HRE USA and Human Rights Education
Thursday, September 28th, 7-8 pm ET
Summary
This module is the first session of the training, but is devised to serve as a kind of prequel to the actual series. It will provide an overview of HRE USA and opportunities for participation in the organization as well as an introduction to human rights education more broadly.
Objectives
- Understand the organization of and action opportunities within HRE USA
- Examine different understandings of human rights and human rights education
- Build connections among participants and between participants and HRE USA staff
- Promote participation in the rest of TAAS 2023
Protecting Democracy, Promoting Human Rights (View Recording)
Thursday, October 5th, 7-8:30 pm ET
Summary
This module is intended to be the true start to the training series and all participants are highly encouraged to attend. The purpose of the session is to introduce the series and the theme, “Protecting Democracy, Promoting Human Rights,” while building bonds among participants.
Objectives
- Introduce the 2023 Training As Action Series
- Explore the connection between democracy and human rights Discuss the relationship between civil rights and human rights
- Analyze civic education vs. human rights education
- Build relationships among participants
- Examine local human rights issues in one’s own community and identify key stakeholders to connect with
Voting Rights: What You Can Do to Combat Voter Suppression
Thursday, October 12th, 7-9 pm ET
Summary
The right to vote as established in Article 21 of the UDHR is the bedrock of democracy and essential to the fulfillment of other rights. Yet this fundamental right is under attack. This module is designed to address the problem of voter suppression and voter apathy by engaging participants in ways they can promote voting and voting rights in their own communities and classrooms.
Objectives
- Establish the importance of voting and civic engagement to human rights and democracy
- Discuss modern day voter suppression and voter apathy
- Develop ways to promote the vote and combat voter suppression in one’s own community
- Explore how to integrate voting education and action into classroom curriculum
Calling In: Facilitating Difficult Conversations (View Recording)
Thursday, October 19th, 7-9 pm ET
Summary
The ability to navigate and facilitate difficult conversations is essential for discussing human rights issues and protecting rights and democracy. This module will prepare participants to engage in difficult conversations by addressing conflict management and inquiry based questioning strategies, role-playing dialogues, and exploring the importance of calling in in order to create a brave space for discussion.
Objectives
- Understand the importance of creating a brave space for conversation in order to protect human rights and democracy
- Introduce best practices for successfully moderating difficult conversations
- Discuss when and how it is appropriate to call people in and out
- Explore conflict management and inquiry-based questioning strategiesRole-play facilitating human rights based dialogues on current events
- Role-play facilitating human rights based dialogues on current events
Human Rights in Action: Organizing an Advocacy Campaign (View Recording)
Thursday, October 26th, 7-9 pm ET
Summary
Advocacy campaigns have the power to enact monumental human rights change. This module will help participants better understand the core elements of successful advocacy campaigns and better prepare them to start their own campaigns.
Objectives
- Explore the role of advocacy campaigns in democracy and promoting human rights
- Examine what an advocacy campaign is and prominent examples
- Understand the key components of a successful advocacy campaign
- Draft a bare-bones campaign plan on a chosen advocacy issue
Communicating with Decision Makers: How to Contact Influential Figures (View Recording)
Thursday, November 2nd, 7-9 pm ET
Summary
Communicating with decision makers such as elected officials is key to enacting change. This module will explore the different ways to contact those in positions of power and equip participants with the skills needed to do so effectively.
Objectives
- Identify the role of communicating with decision makers in a democracy and its importance for protecting rights
- Discuss the primary ways to contact decision makers: letters/emails, phone calls, and meetings
- Develop the knowledge and skills needed to communicate with decision makers
- Explore how to use collective action when contacting decision makers, such as through letter writing campaigns, and how these actions can be incorporated into a classroom/educational environment
- Role play advocacy meetings and the Dos and Don’ts of an advocacy meeting
Protest and Beyond: Powerful Ways to Promote Your Message
Thursday, November 9th, 7-9 pm ET
Summary
This module is designed so that participants can better understand the purpose and importance of protest, symbolic action, and creative means in promoting a human rights message while developing the necessary knowledge and skills to participate in and organize these actions.
Objectives
- Discuss the importance of the right to protest and freedom of expression to human rights and democracy
- Identify the purpose(s) of protest and symbolic action
- Understand how to safely attend a protestExamine how to organize a protest
- Explore other ways to make a statement such as through art, music, poetry, demonstration, and performance
Finding Joy: Integrating Mental Wellness into Your Advocacy Strategies
Thursday, November 16th, 7-9 pm ET
Summary
Human rights work often takes an emotional toll on its practitioners, but there are ways to mitigate this toll and find joy and solidarity in the work. This final module aims to explore how to integrate wellness strategies into the various actions discussed throughout the training series, and to establish the importance of self-care in order to care for others.
Objectives
- Understand the importance of maintaining mental wellness during human rights work
- Discuss ways to find joy and solidarity
- Explore how to integrate mental wellness strategies when organizing advocacy campaigns, protests/demonstrations, and other human rights initiatives
Spring 2023 TAAS Events
HOW TO DO HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION: A WORKSHOP BY GLOBAL SCHOLAR AUDREY OSLER
MARCH 27, 2023: 11-1:00 PM ET
Human Rights Expert, Audrey Osler, will provide solutions in this workshop on how to integrate Human Rights Education into your courses, organizations, and life
BOOK BANNING ONLINE DISCUSSION
MARCH 30, 2023: 6-7:00 PM ET
This presentation will give a short overview of the history of book banning and focus on current issues that face schools, libraries, families, teachers, and students.
Together we will explore the relevance of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and strategies that can be used to ensure that children have a right to access information in today’s complex world.
HUMAN RIGHTS IN SPORTS CONFERENCE
APRIL 5, 2023: 8:00 AM-6:00 PM ET
Learn more about human rights in sports from leading scholars around the world and their new book. We are here to help you address rights issues for all athletes!
The videos from the conference are available here!
KNOLOGY EVALUATION & IMPACT WORKSHOP
APRIL 12, 2023: 6-7:00 PM ET
This training will cover basic evaluation terminology and approaches, offering several tools that can be easily implemented by HRE practitioners. At the end of the hour- long session, participants will be able to think strategically about how to design and measure HRE initiatives to maximize impact.
MULTICULTURALISM AND BEYOND:REFLECTING ON THE INTERSECTION OF INTERCULUTURAL LEARNING AND HUMAN RIGHTS
APRIL 27, 2023: 5:30 PM CT
What is intercultural learning? How does it advance human rights? In this session, participants will learn how to create impactful intercultural learning experiences to cultivate a culture of peace and human rights in their schools and communities. We will explore examples of how intercultural learning is applied and its connection to human rights in both formal and informal education.
2022 TRAINING AS ACTION SESSIONS
Monday, 10/17/22 7pm–9pm ET: Action for Human Rights
During this workshop, participants explored various tactics for human rights action. Paying particular attention to youth action for human rights, we discussed how to design a plan of action, the right to protest, and student walkouts as human rights actions. This interactive workshop was facilitated by Ben Fleming and Kristina Eberbach. More information on this session
Monday, 10/24/22 7pm–9pm ET: Indigenous Peoples’ Human Rights – Video Recording
This session explored Indigenous Peoples’ and environmental rights as human rights. International Indian Treaty Council (IITC) leaders address indigenous land rights, justice, and the effects of climate change for various communities. The session began with a brief recognition of IITC as the HRE USA first-ever Impact Award recipients for the 50 years of working to educate and defend the rights of Indigenous Peoples in the US, at the United Nations, and with collaborators around the world. The presenter included Bill Means, Founder and Board Member of IITC & Oglala Lakota Nation, Wicahpi Koyaka Tiospaye, Pine Ridge, South Dakota, Andrea Carmen, IITC Executive Director, and Lisa Bellanger IITC Board Member and St. Paul, Minnesota Indigenous Educator, and White Earth Anishinaabe Nation, Three Fires Society, Manitoba Canada. More information on this session
Saturday, 10/29/22 11am-1pm ET: Facilitating Difficult Conversations
During this session, participants workshopped best practices and effective techniques for facilitation, conflict management, and inquiry-based questioning, focusing on current social issues being debated in society. This interactive workshop was facilitated by Kaylee Bradford and Rebecca Cannara.
Monday, 11/7/22 7pm–9pm ET: Children’s Rights & Youth Activism – Video Recording
This session provided an overview of the United States children and youth rights initiatives and organizing around critical children rights and youth activism. The session offered context and content with practical applications for community action and networking resources. This interactive workshop was facilitated by Hallie McRae, Maddy Wegner, and Adrianna Zhang. More information on this session.
Monday, 11/14/22 7pm–9pm ET: Ending Gun Violence – Video Recording
This workshop provided the human rights framework that guided Amnesty International’s groundbreaking research on gun violence in the US. We received information and personal stories from the most vulnerable communities who experience high rates of gun violence. We also learned advocacy skills to act to support efforts to end gun violence on a local and national front. This session was facilitated by Amnesty International USA leaders, Ernest Converson, Ebony McClease, and Cynthia Gabriel Walsh. More information on this session.
Saturday, 11/19/22 11am–1pm ET: Incorporating Human Rights in the Classroom – Video Recording
During this session, we workshopped how to source human rights resources for your classroom and discuss meaningful ways to incorporate human rights into your lesson plans and learning activities. We also practiced developing/revising lessons plans to incorporate human rights within various subjects. Facilitators included Kaylee Bradford, Elana Haviv, and Sandy Sohcot. More information on this session.
HRE USA is grateful for this year’s 2022 TAAS Co-Sponsors to make this series possible    .   .   .    |
hreusa.org 