Thank you for your interest in the Richmond Prejudice Awareness Summit (PAS)! The Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities has conducted this program for middle school students in Virginia for over 20 years.
The program is scheduled to be held at Virginia Commonwealth University on October 18, 2024 from 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM.
The program is designed to bring over 100 middle school students from across a geographic area to discuss ways to combat prejudice in their schools. You can find a report from previous programs held in Richmond and Lynchburg here.
With thanks to the 2024 sponsors (including the Brookfield Foundation and the Alex Lebenstein Fund for Tolerance and Human Rights and the Herbert J. and Ruth B. Rubel Holocaust Education Fund of the Richmond Jewish Foundation), there is no cost for your school to attend! We are asking that schools indicate their interest and nominate student participants by September 20, 2024.
The PAS program was founded by Jewish Women International.
Please read the Frequently Asked Questions below. If you have any additional questions or would like more details about this program, please contact VCIC’s Administrative Programs Coordinator, Haley Taylor, by email at [email protected]. We hope to see you on October 18!
Frequently Asked Questions
What will my students do at the Summit?
- The program curriculum takes participants through a process of awareness-to-action. Students learn to recognize prejudice and intolerance, and to respect others. They work closely with their peers from a wide range of ethnic, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Trained facilitators guide the students through small group learning activities that explore personal experiences with discrimination and develop conflict resolution skills.
What is my role during the Summit?
- We are again pleased to offer an educator professional development session on the day of the Summit, and will continue distributing a monthly “Building Inclusive Schools” e-newsletter to educators featuring curriculum ideas, funding sources, best practices, etc. Note that if you have previously attended the Summit, we recommend sending a new advisor to help support your school in building a critical mass of motivated educators.
What do I need to know about transportation and lunch?
- All students and staff members attending the Prejudice Awareness Summit will be provided with lunch. Please make every effort to secure transportation with your school/district. If lack of transportation will prevent your school from participating, limited assistance is available to transport your students by charter bus thanks to our financial sponsors. Requests for transportation support must be made by Friday, September 20 and placement will be granted on a first come, first served basis. Note that pick-up and drop-off times will be assigned to schools using charter bus services.
How can I register?
- Click here to register your school. You can register up to 8 students from your school. Once school registration is complete, an additional link will be sent to you to be sent to the parents/guardians of your registered students to ensure that they are fully registered for our program. School registration is due by September 20.
How to Apply
Use this link to register up to 8 students
(after VCIC receives this form, a link will be emailed to the school contact to ensure full registration for each student)
School registration must be received by
5:00 pm on September 20, 2024.
Questions:
Haley Taylor
Administrative Programs Coordinator