CONTACT: Veronica Douglas-Givan Director of Communications & External Affairs Bridgeport Public Schools Cell: 203.572.4804 Office: 203.275.1015

Bridgeport Public Schools

Media Advisory

           

Bridgeport Teachers and Leaders join

South African Teachers/Leaders to Attend UN Conference in NYC to Discuss Historical Transatlantic Slave Trade

 

Event:          United Nations Video Conference: “New approaches to teaching African history and the transatlantic slave trade”

When:          Wednesday, March 23, 2011, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm  

Where:        United Nations Headquarters

Economic and Social Council Chamber

North Lawn Building

3 United Nations Plaza

New York, NY 10017

 

 

Teachers/leaders from the Bridgeport Public Schools and teachers/leaders from South Africa, hailing from the Royal Bafokeng Nation near Rustenburg and outside of Johannesburg, have been invited to take part in a video conference at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Wednesday, March 23^rd.

The event, part of the fourth annual observance of the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, is a one-day global video conference for teachers, curriculum supervisors and administrators of both primary and secondary schools from countries that have been affected by the transatlantic slave trade, including the regions of Africa, the Caribbean, Europe and North America.

 

In a three week partnership, BPS teachers travelled to South Africa last month to share their teaching practices and now teachers from South Africa are here to learn.  The invitation came from Amistad America, an organization dedicated to shedding light on the history and legacy of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

 

Donna Thompson-Bennett, parent leader and the Executive Coordinator of Bridgeport’s Parent Center, travelled to South Africa, thanks to our partnership with local Rotarians, the school system and the United Way. During the journey, teachers/leaders from Bridgeport exchanged their teaching practices with teachers from South Africa. Ms. Thompson-Bennett looks forward to Bridgeport teachers taking part in this valuable opportunity.

 

“This is going to be amazing in setting the context of the American story and their story of Apartheid,” she states. “I am excited that they will get to see the back drop of our country and this is a great opportunity to get a context of American History as well as World history and the impact of slavery on the world.”

 

In an interactive discussion, teachers from at least six countries will be given the opportunity to discuss with their peers and share with others what they have learned about this event and how it has shaped the society locally and globally. Historical experts well-acquainted with the history of the transatlantic slave trade will be featured at the conference and will facilitate this discussion.

 

The group is traveling to the UN on a 7:11am train out of Bridgeport. Please contact Director of Communications and External Affairs, Veronica Douglas-Givan for interviews via phone or on camera.

The conference will be webcast live at: www.un.org/webcast. For more information about this event, visit the United Nations website at www.un.org.

                         

 The mission of the Bridgeport Public Schools and its supporting community is to graduate all students “college ready” and prepared to succeed in life.  For more information about Bridgeport Public Schools visit our website at www.bridgeportedu.com.