Creating a Sense of Belonging in the Classroom
Join us for an immersive workshop series blending trauma-informed pedagogy with current events discourse. In this 2-part interactive workshop series, participants will explore strategies for creating inclusive learning environments sensitive to the diverse traumas students may carry.
Through reflective exercises, group discussions, and scenario-based activities, instructors will deepen their understanding of trauma’s impact on learning and develop practical techniques for fostering belonging and empathy in the classroom. We’ll explore how to incorporate trauma-informed principles to syllabus and curriculum development, as well as the interpersonal processes of instruction delivery.
Additionally, we’ll delve into navigating challenging conversations around contemporary issues, equipping educators with tools to facilitate constructive dialogue and critical thinking among students. By the workshop’s end, participants will leave empowered with actionable insights to cultivate compassionate, informed, and trauma-aware educational spaces.
Workshops:
Part 1: A focus on trauma-informed pedagogies 3/27/24
Part 2: A focus on facilitating challenging and rewarding conversations 4/3/24
If you are interested in attending these workshops please fill out this RSVP form.
All workshops will be held from 12:15-1:30 pm on Zoom.
Creating A Sense of Belonging in The Classroom Flyer.pdf
Facilitator:
Dr. David P. Rivera is an associate professor and coordinator of the graduate programs in mental health and school counseling at Queens College, City University of New York (CUNY), where he is also the Founding Director of the CUNY LGBTQI Student Leadership Program. He holds degrees from Teachers College, Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Wyoming. His professional experience includes college counseling, higher education administration, and consultations on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
Dr. Rivera has worked at a variety of institutions, including the University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown University, Prince George’s Community College, and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. A counseling psychologist, his research is guided by critical theories and social justice frameworks and explores cultural competency development and issues impacting the marginalization and wellbeing of people of color and oppressed sexual orientation and gender identity groups, with a focus on microaggressions.
He has published books, journal articles, and book chapters in various areas of multicultural psychology, education, and social justice, and his latest co-edited books, the award-winning Affirming LGBTQ+ Students in Higher Education and Critical Theories for School Psychology and Counseling: A Foundation for Equity and Inclusion in School-Based Practice were released in 2022. Dr. Rivera holds leadership positions with The Steve Fund, the American Psychological Association, the Society for the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, and the Council for Opportunity in Education. Dr. Rivera is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and has received national honors from the American College Counseling Association and the American College Personnel Association.