virtual professional development
for educators & youth workers
At the Center we understand the importance of education and the unique dynamics that exist within educational systems. We believe that together, we can shift the trajectory of BIPOC students by helping educational systems create inclusive, equitable spaces for everyone.
Virtual Courses for Educators
Our goal at the Center is to provide transformational learning opportunities to educators who want to build their capacity to interrupt predictable patterns of disparities. While the Center offers week-long and year-long learning for educators, we are excited to introduce topic-specific, education-focused courses in a virtual setting throughout the school year! These stand-alone courses are designed to be accessible and meaningful components of what we offer in our longer-term programs.
Session Topics are:
- An In-Depth Look at Culturally Responsive Teaching
- Reimagining Family Partnership
- Asset-based Communication
- Redefining Discipline
- BIPOC Affinity
- White Affinity
Educator Intensive
This is an advanced, graduate-level learning opportunity for educators who are interested in deepening their practice and developing ways to better serve students and families. Occurs over one week, with two optional follow-ups.
Expect to:
- Build skills on how to communicate cross-culturally in effective ways
- Learn how to apply an equity lens to curriculum
- Practice facilitation skills for delivering culturally responsive curriculum
- Build a community of like-minded educators doing equity work within schools
- Receive five, graduate-level Continuing Education credits through Western Oregon University upon completion of the workshop
2025-26 School Year Dates:
- July 21-25, 9am - 5pm
- August 4 - 8th, 9am - 5pm
Equity Certificate Program
With Equity Certificate, educators come together in a one-year learning cohort to build relationship, community and tools to take their learning to action in classrooms and school buildings.
Three collaborative learning sessions
- Equity Foundation Intensive (60 hours, 2 credits)
- Equity In Action (30 hours, 2 credits)
- Leading For Equity (30 hours, 2 credits)
Equity-based outcomes
- Improving outcomes for all students, especially students of color
- Leadership skill-building for advancing equity work at all levels
- Instructors are recognized, diverse leaders in equity practice
Continuing Education Credit
- Receive total of six degree-applicable, graduate credits.
- Completion of Equity Certificate will be awarded with a certificate and transcript for credits through Western Oregon University Graduate School of Education.
2025/2026 Cohort Dates
- Kickoff Week: August 11-15, 2025
- September 13, 9am - 1pm
- October 11, 9am - 1pm
- November 8, 9am - 1pm
- December 13, 9am - 1pm
- January 10, 9am - 4pm
- February 14, 9am - 1pm
- March 14, 9am - 1pm
- April 11, 9am - 1pm
- May 9, 9am - 1pm
- Closing Week: June 22-26, 2026
Centering Equity in Education
The Center works with school districts and other educational systems to develop clear actionable steps to cultivating an equitable and inclusive work and learning culture for staff and students. We do this through long-term engagements that bring together learning opportunities and action based work sessions. Our work is comprehensive, working with a variety of key stakeholders, and it takes time and commitment to stay the course. We believe that together we can change the experiences of those working within school systems, and most importantly - change the outcomes and experiences of the students and families that are served.
Schedule a call with us to explore how we might partner in this work.
Ways to engage include:
- District wide engagements
- School building specific learning engagements
- Professional Development sessions
- Presentations, webinars
- BIPOC and affinity space sessions and/or development
Schedule a call with us to explore how we might partner in this work.