High School Ethnic Studies Initiative (HSESI)

Topic for resources, events, and opportunities relating to UC Berkeley's High School Ethnic Studies Initiative (HSESI).

HSESI Scholar Series: Teaching the Black Panther Party Legacy

Event Description

On October 23, 2023, the High School Ethnic Studies Initiative (HSESI) team and the Multicultural Community Center at UC Berkeley hosted the first event in the UCB-HSESI scholar series.

Teaching the Black Panther Party Legacy is a panel discussion featuring Professors Ula Taylor and Waldo Martin, scholars on Black Panther Party history. This...

Cultivating Emotional Relationships to Essential HS Ethnic Studies Concepts

Event Description

During the 2024 Othering and Belonging conference, the UC Berkeley High School Ethnic Studies Initiative (HSESI) coordinated "Cultivating Emotional Relationships to Essential HS Ethnic Studies Concepts, a breakout session intended to support HSESI’s efforts, foster Bay Area teacher leadership and resource sharing vis-à-vis the graduation requirement, and place in conversation OBI’s bridging and belonging frameworks and practices in...

HSESI Scholar Series: Hope, Healing and the Warrior Women Project - A discussion with Dr. Elizabeth Castle

Event Description

On January 30th, 2023 the High School Ethnic Studies Initiative (HSESI), held "Hope, Healing and the Warrior Women Project - A discussion with Dr. Elizabeth Castle”. This event took place at the Multicultural Community Center at UC Berkeley and was a part of the HSESI Scholars Series. The series hosts panel discussions year-round aimed at supporting California high school Ethnic Studies educators.

Filmmaker and scholar Dr. Castle shared her experiences with...

HSESI Conversation: How do we create healing spaces in response to controversial topics?

Event Description

On March 26th, 2024, the High School Ethnic Studies Initiative (HSESI) hosted the event "How do we create healing spaces in response to controversial topics?" with Kyle Beckham, facilitated by Jason Muñiz. Kyle Beckhan is a lecturer and co-director of the UC Berkeley Teacher Education Program (BTEP). Beckham is also a veteran classroom teacher who helped to co-create SFUSD's Ethnic Studies program.

Participants Featured Speaker: Kyle Beckham, Co-...

Soon, California educators must teach ethnic studies. UC Berkeley is helping them prepare.

March 27, 2024
Ivan Natividad

As one of the first universities in the country to create an ethnic studies department, Berkeley is helping high schools chart their own path.

Last summer, California teachers geared up to teach ethnic studies in their classrooms at a weeklong conference held at UC Berkeley, where campus faculty and staff members provided them with support, resources, teaching materials and the opportunity to craft their own lesson plans. Read More

https://news.berkeley.edu/2024/03/27/soon-california-educators-must-teach-ethnic…

Igniting innovation: University of California in the summer

August 2, 2023
Liana Letsos and Emily Kawada

UC Berkeley had one of the nation’s first ethnic studies departments. This summer, its leadership continues with the High School Ethnic Studies Initiative, tailored for high school educators interested in teaching this important course. Through a comprehensive curriculum encompassing concepts, content and community building, participating educators have an opportunity to refine their teaching approaches and develop engaging course...

https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/igniting-innovation-university-calif…

Ethnic Studies Student Panel

About

On Tuesday, June 13, 2023, UC Berkeley's High School Ethnic Studies Initiative held a panel discussion exploring the Ethnic Studies curriculum at the high school and university-level. This discussion featured Ethnic Studies students from Berkeley High School and alum from UC Berkeley, who offered insights into the challenges, opportunities and immense significance of Ethnic Studies courses in today’s academic landscape.

Panelists: Berkeley High School Students Mariarosa Cerritos and Camille Jacala and UC Berkeley Alum Niyatt Mengis....

Ethnic Studies from K-12: A Teaching Conversation

Event Description

In March 2021, the California State Legislature passed Assembly Bill 101, adding an Ethnic Studies graduation requirement for all California high school students graduating during the 2029-2030 school year; it also states that high schools must start offering approved Ethnic Studies courses beginning in 2025-2026. The American Cultures Center, along with several other units and academic departments, is developing a campus-wide initiative to support high school teachers and districts in meeting the requirement rollout.

On November 14, 2022, the...