Thursday, February 27, 2025
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Online via Zoom
Cost: Free!
Join us on Zoom for the 3rd quarterly gathering of social justice educators on Thursday, February 27, 2025, to learn more about the Filipino Curriculum Project, an example of student advocacy and social action for representation in our schools.
While Filipinos make up about a quarter of Hawaiʻi's population, Filipino history and culture is significantly underrepresented in education. In 2021, high school student Marissa Halagao mobilized an alliance of peers from public and private schools to advocate for this issue. As a result of their collaborative efforts, Hawaiʻi became the first state to adopt a Filipino social studies course in its schools.
In this session, we will learn from the experiences of students and educators who collaborated on designing the Filipino history and culture curriculum, the pioneering teachers who launched the course in 2024-2025, and students who have been enrolled in this course.
Speakers include:
Dr. Patricia Halagao
Professor and Chair, Department of Curriculum Studies, College of Education
Co-Director, Center for Philippine Studies
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Phil Fernandez-Brennan
Curriculum and Assessment Specialist at Hālau Kū Māna Charter School
Ph.D. Candidate, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, College of Education
Kiara-Jeané Alcaide
Grade 9 -10 Social Studies Instructional Coach, DreamHouse ‘Ewa Beach
Marissa Halagao
Hanahau'oli School, Class of 2017
Punahou School, Class of 2023
Yale University, Class of 2027
Vel Fernando
Farrington High School, Class of 2025
This series of online gatherings is focused on social justice education in Hawaiʻi for those who are:
in a role supporting diversity, equity, inclusion, or belonging at school
on a committee exploring such issues
teaching social justice content in classes
engaged in advocacy or activism around social justice education
or are interested in learning more about the work others are doing toward these ends.
Quarterly gatherings are facilitated by Dr. Jingwoan Chang, and focus on exploring the successes and challenges of social justice education in schools in Hawaiʻi. A component of the Social Justice Education in Hawaiʻi Project offered by Hanahauʻoli School and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Education, these events are offered at no cost thanks to the generosity of Jana and Howard Wolff.