Dreaming Justice Speaker Series: Community Conversations About Education and Race

The Dreaming Justice Series provides the community with opportunities to engage with scholars, educators, and artists around topics of education, activism, and belonging. Let this be the time that we learn how to be allies to socially marginalized groups, seek justice, and fight for the un-mattered. Join us as we dream and act for justice.

Americans Who Tell the Truth: Portraits by Robert Shetterly

Thursday, May 1, 7 p.m. in the OES Chapel

A collection of 20 portraits of American truth tellers who have made a difference in the world, painted by renowned artist Robert Shetterly, will be on display in the OES Chapel from April 28-May 30. The OES community is invited to hear Shetterly speak at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 1 in the OES Chapel as part of our Dreaming Justice series.

The selection at OES, curated from the larger traveling exhibit Americans Who Tell The Truth focuses on ecojustice. Each striking portrait on a wood panel includes a quote by the truth teller etched onto its surface. Featured individuals in this series include scientist and environmental ethicist Aldo Leopold, farmer/essayist Wendell Berry, human rights activist Cesar Chavez, and environmental activist Julia Butterfly Hill.

Robert Shetterly was born in 1946 in Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduated in 1969 from Harvard College with a degree in English literature. He was also active in civil rights and in the anti-Vietnam War movement at that time. The direction of his career and the source of his creative output changed when he took drawing courses in college. The portraits in this gallery combine his interests in visual arts (images, image-making) and the written word.

Americans Who Tell the Truth aims to harness the power of teaching social justice through the arts and help students learn to become courageous, engaged citizens. OES teachers are being provided with educational materials to share with their students prior to visiting the exhibit.

The public is invited to view the exhibit between 4 p.m.–7 p.m. on Thursdays during the run of the exhibit: May 1, May 8, May 15, and May 22. Requests outside of this time can also be arranged by contacting Head Chaplain The Rev. Chris Decatur at decaturc@oes.edu.

Americans Who Tell the Truth is presented by the Offices of Chaplaincy, Equity & Inclusion, and Community Engagement.

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Past Dreaming Justice Events

Riding Into the Future: Black Cowboy Culture Today and Tomorrow (1/29/25)

Ivan McClellan, a celebrated Black rodeo producer and photographer, shared his journey to embracing cowboy culture and the stories of modern Black cowboys' and cowgirls' vital contributions to the American West. Through stunning visuals and personal anecdotes, McClellan explored themes of resilience, representation, and cultural pride. This engaging talk, tailored for students and families at Oregon Episcopal School, highlighted the intersection of history, art, and modern rodeo culture, inspiring a deeper appreciation for diversity within America’s rich cowboy tradition.

About Ivan McClellan:

Ivan is a photojournalist and rodeo boss based in Portland, Oregon. His essays have been featured in ESPN, GQ, Atmos, Elle, W Magazine, The New York Times and Juxtapoz. Ivan has led creative projects for Apple, Wrangler, Stetson, Boot Barn, Tecovas, Instagram and US Bank. His work has been displayed in museums and galleries across the country including The Eiteljorg, Portland Art Museum, Phoenix Museum of Art, and Buffalo Bill Center of the West He has spoken on The Moth mainstage and NPR. He is the founder and CEO of the Eight Seconds Juneteenth Rodeo. Ivan is a husband and father of three children.

Building White Racial Literacy (2/27/24)

Building White Racial Literacy

Tuesday, February 27, 7–8:30 p.m. PST

In the Summer of 2020, there was a racial reckoning in the US and beyond that radically changed the conversation on race for many White people. Concepts such as structural racism, anti-Blackness and white supremacy emerged in the mainstream and raised the level of literacy White people need in the current context. This talk will review those concepts, provide a reflection exercise to surface white socialization, and describe common organizational dynamics that protect and maintain racism. Dr. Robin DiAngelo will provide the skills and perspectives needed for White people to build their racial literacy and develop more equitable racial norms and practices.

Dr. DiAngelo is an Affiliate Associate Professor of Education at the University of Washington. In addition, she holds two Honorary Doctorates. She is a two-time winner of the Student’s Choice Award for Educator of the Year at the University of Washington’s School of Social Work. She has numerous publications and books. In 2011 she coined the term White Fragility in an academic article which has influenced the international dialogue on race. Her book, White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard For White People To Talk About Racism has been translated into 12 languages. Her follow up book, Nice Racism: How Progressive White People Perpetuate Racial Harm was released in June of 2021. Her work and interviews have been featured on CBS, MSNBC, the New York Times, the Guardian, the BBC, NPR and PBS, among many other forums. In addition to her academic work, Dr. DiAngelo has been a consultant and educator for over 25 years on issues of racial and social justice.

Note: This event was not recorded.

The Water in Which We Swim (4/21/22)

The Water in Which We Swim

Thursday, April 21, 7 p.m. PST

Musical duo Stephen Brackett and Jamie Laurie are the lead emcees of FloBots, the Denver-based alternative hip-hop band known for their hits “Handlebars” and “Me & U.” We are excited to welcome them for a unique performance where they will use music, conversation, and storytelling to discuss topics that are relevant to us all. With their engaging style and humor, Brer Rabbit (Brackett) and Jonny 5 (Laurie) will bring the audience along on a journey that explores the intersection of art and social movements.

More About the Artists

When Stephen Bracket and Jamie Laurie met in elementary school, they had no idea they were embarking on a 30-year friendship that would weave together social activism, non-profit leadership, and careers as professional rappers. Nor could they have anticipated how they would each have to navigate the complex web of invisible boundaries and minefields laid out for them—for all of us—by a fractured society fragmented by profound historical wounds and competing visions for the future.

Brer Rabbit (Stephen Brackett) and Jonny 5 (James Laurie) are the lead emcees of the Flobots, the Denver-based alternative hip-hop band known for their platinum single, “Handlebars,” and for their commitment to grassroots social change. Flobots recorded their first full-length album, "Fight With Tools," in 2007. The album’s meteoric success led to a record deal, international touring, constant radio play, and appearances on late night television. Since that time, Flobots have utilized the spotlight to shine a light on the needs of their local community and beyond, and have treated the stage as a platform from which to bolster positive social movements.

When they’re not on stage, Brackett serves as Colorado’s music ambassador and works as Director of Innovation & Incubation at Youth On Record, a nationally recognized organization founded by Flobots that offers musical training and recording facilities as a tool for youth development for Denver’s at-risk communities. Laurie is Community Engagement Coordinator for Project Worthmore, where he applies his love of language learning to serve Colorado’s refugee community.

Fostering Transformative Communities Through Restorative Practices (12/9/21)

Fostering Transformative Communities Through Restorative Practices

December 9, 2021, 5 p.m. PST

Participants will explore the roots of the restorative justice movement, discuss the differences between traditional discipline and restorative practices in a school context, and have an opportunity to participate in a Q&A session with the facilitators.

Evan Soken

Evan Soken is a college access and success professional who is passionate about using strategic thinking and policy change to create spaces for belonging and connection. Evan has served as a nonprofit program director, equity project manager, curriculum developer and facilitator, and hiring manager; he is currently earning a Master’s degree in Social Work at the University of California, Berkeley. Evan’s experience leading equity initiatives informs his approach to proactively addressing the challenges that arise during times of organizational change and transition.

Noelani Gabriel-Holt

Noelani Gabriel-Holt is an educator and diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant who is dedicated to supporting schools and nonprofits interested in transformative justice. Noelani brings a wealth of experience planning high-quality training and curriculum for educators to broaden and apply their equity lens. She is currently the High School Principal at the Community Charter School of Cambridge. Noelani’s experiences as a nonprofit program director, community organizer, and school leader inform her stakeholder-centered approach to building structures that achieve equity within institutions.

The Black Panthers You Didn’t Learn in School (4/22/21)

The Black Panthers You Didn’t Learn in School

April 22, 2021, 4:30-5:45 p.m. PDT

The Black Panther Party was one of the most important organizations in the history of the Black freedom struggle and yet its legacy has been deeply distorted in American history textbooks. In some textbooks, the Panthers are barely mentioned and in others, they are maligned as anti-White and the cause for the demise of the Civil Rights Movement.

The rise of the Black Lives Matter movement has inspired a new appreciation for the Black Panthers—and the battle for the truth about their legacy is more important than ever.

Jesse Hagopian, co-editor of Teaching for Black Lives, joined us for an interactive lesson on the Black Panther Party and an examination of their importance to the struggle for racial justice today.

An Evening with Renée Watson (2/18/21)

^{Photo Credit: Shawnte Sims}

An Evening with Renée Watson

Feb. 18, 2021, 4:30-5:30 p.m. PST

Renée Watson's poetry and fiction center around the experiences of Black girls and women, and explore themes of home, identity, and the intersections of race, class, and gender. Renée read from her work and gave a short talk about how her personal experiences growing up in the Pacific Northwest inspire her writing. The event was moderated by social justice educator Cierra Kaler-Jones.

The event was not recorded.

Nurturing Black Children (10/8/20)

Dreaming Justice Speaker Series: Nurturing Black Children

Black Mothers Speak About Raising and Teaching Black Lives in White Spaces

Oct. 8, 2020, 4:30-6 p.m. PDT

Oregon Episcopal School’s Director for Inclusion Dyan Watson, and educators Kara Hinderlie Stroman, and Natalie Labossiere shared their experiences in raising, educating, and supporting Black children in mostly White spaces. Through storytelling and prose, these moms provided glimpses into the conversations they have with their own children as well as Black students in their care. Participants heard about the dilemmas these moms wrestle with as parent educators, and gained insight into how to keep Black lives safe in schools.

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