From Texas Senate Bill 17 outlawing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Offices in higher education to theatre production censorship in K-12 schools, there is a clear hostility towards conversations critical to the ways our students experience race, nationality, gender, and sexuality. Texas arts educators have been maneuvering through the chilling effects of these efforts to halt dialogue about these important issues. In this symposium, participants will gather to brainstorm, strategize, and share space as we imagine new ways to work against, through, and around these hostile environments - all while centering the voices of those most marginalized by these policies.

We will listen to stories of resilience during this time of anti-DEI and work to find the hope for how these critical conversations can continue in our classrooms and communities. While this symposium is focused on educational settings, other community-based organizations with deep investments in our school systems are highly encouraged to attend.