What do cornmeal, molasses and fatback have to do with murder, mayhem, and the struggle for a living wage? The workshop will be facilitated by Lenora Crabtree, a doctoral candidate in Curriculum and Instruction, Urban Education, at UNC-Charlotte in the Cato College of Education. Lenora's work focuses on culturally relevant teaching practices.

Instructors (all employees are welcome) will have the opportunity to become students as they seek to find the cause of a mysterious epidemic rooted in the political economy of the Southeastern U.S. While this episode is rarely addressed in science or history textbooks, its impact continues to reverberate across our region in ways that may surprise you.

In addition to engaging in this interdisciplinary case study, participants will learn how to design a critical inquiry case study for use in your own courses. Critical inquiry is related to Freire’s (1970/1995; 1969/1998) notion of praxis: reflecting and acting on the world to transform it. Critical inquiry case studies capture students’ interest, expose intersections of course content and inequities centered in race, gender, sexual identity, ability, or socioeconomic status. Experience first-hand the power of inquiry and discovery, and consider ways to incorporate this practice in your classrooms!

In order to participate, registration is required. Registration will close at NOON three (3) business days prior to the start date of the workshop, and a pre-workshop reading will be sent via email two (2) business days before the workshop begins.