Getting down to business - faculty

On the first full day of the conference we as a group barely had a moment to catch up with each other as the ceremonies opened at 8 a.m. and we didn’t close until 10:30 p.m.

Keynote speaker Sherman Alexie, a Spokane Coeur d’Alene writer, Native American civil rights activist and humorist, energized the crown with laughter and poignant observations as he delivered his take on diversity in America. Hilarious riffs on topics such as gangs of white kids in Seattle accosting him from minivans flashing their “Abercrombie & Fitch” gang signs had the 3,000 attendees rolling in the aisles even as they made us all think about assumptions we all make. Mr. Hoffman and Ms. Perkins got their favorite Alexie books (Reservation Blues and The Lone Ranger & Tonto Fistfight in Heaven) signed afterwards, and began discussions with the author about coming to Brooks at some point. Exciting possibilities!!

The lunch break included a trip to the famed Pike Street Market, where the nationally known angry fishmonger guys who usually thrown fish for fun took a moment to trick Ms. Perkins for their own entertainment, instead. Interested in a curious-looking creature hanging from the ice, Ms. P. was completely freaked out when it jerked up at her as she approached. The poor thing (a monkfish imported from Boston, ironically) was tied to a rope behind the counter and got a good yank whenever the counterman wanted a good laugh.

The various events during the day included a number of fantastic performing arts groups including Native American drummers and dancers, Indian classical dance, African dancers, Japanese drumming, a high school hip-hop dance troupe and a Cambodian dance group, which followed the evening speaker. That speaker, Luong Ung, told her story of surviving the Cambodian killing fields of the mid ’70s, coming to America at age 8 and growing up in Vermont, the “whitest state in the country”. Ms. Ung brought many in the audience to tears as she described losing her parents and several of her siblings on her flight to freedom.

All 5 faculty members attended various 2 half-day workshops and affinity group meetings. Workshop topics ranged from “Solving the Achievement Gap” to “Teaching Huck Finn”, and everyone reported fascinating and energizing conversations.
The students, working on their own material all day, will report on their activities later today!