Join this pane l discussion with author Crystena Parker-Shandal and guest panelists a bout their book\, Peacebuilding Pedagogies: Racial Justice\, Dia logue\, and Belonging in the Classroom.
\nWhat does it take to build a classroom where every student belongs? Join author and educato r Dr. Crystena Parker-Shandal and a panel of Waterloo Region educators for a conversation about racial justice\, dialogue\, and repair in local scho ols: what works\, what is hard\, and what students tell us when we take th e time to ask. Marking the launch of Peacebuilding Pedagogies (Routledge\, 2026)\, the evening is open to teachers\, parents\, students\, and anyone curious about how schools can become places of belonging. Books will be a vailable for purchase\, and there will be time for audience questions.
\nAbout Peacebuilding Pedagogies: Racial Justice\, Dialogue \, and Belonging in the Classroom
\nPeacebuilding Peda gogies: Racial Justice\, Dialogue\, and Belonging in the Classroom (Routle dge\, 2026) draws on five years of research in Ontario classrooms and circ les to ask a deceptively simple question: what does it take for every stud ent to feel they belong at school?
\nGrounded in the voices of stude nts\, teachers\, and families\, the book shows how dialogue\, circle pract ice\, and restorative approaches can shift the culture of a classroom\, an d what gets in the way when schools treat these approaches as a program ra ther than a relationship. It offers educators practical\, grounded tools f or facilitating difficult conversations about race\, identity\, and confli ct\, while taking seriously the realities of overloaded teachers and under -resourced schools. Chapters attend closely to the experiences of racializ ed students and newcomer families\, and to the work of building classrooms where disagreement does not have to mean harm. Appendices offer facilitat ion guides for circle practice\, disability and language justice\, and AI literacy.
\nPresented in partnership with Words Worth Books.
\nAccessibility Accommodations: We strive to make our programs welcoming and accessible for everyone. If you have any accessibil ity needs\, accommodation requests\, or questions about participating\, pl ease contact us at wplprogramming@wpl.ca and we'll do our best to support you.
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\nFor larger public events \, please note that by attending\, you are consenting to the use of your a ppearance\, image\, and voice in print or digital productions created by t he Waterloo Public Library for promotional use only. Please speak to libra ry staff at the event if you&rsquo\;d like to be excluded from any photo/v ideo. \;
\nProgrammer: Nancy
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