Assisi Foundation Middle School Initiative

The Memphis office has completed the first year and a half of a three year grant from the Assisi Foundation, which will ultimately result in Facing History and Ourselves units in every 6th, 7th, and 8th grade social studies course in both the Memphis City (MCS) and Shelby County School (SCS) Systems.

In 2007, we conducted four three-day Choices in Little Rock workshops, which trained every 8th grade U.S. History teacher in both the MCS and SCS systems. Dr. Terrence Roberts, one of the Little Rock Nine, spoke to1000 MCS and SCS 8th graders and teachers during the teaching of the Choices unit. The teachers' responses to the training were overwhelmingly positive. Said one participant:

"The open discussion and respectful dialogue, coupled with the pacing of the presentations, helped create one of the most dynamic and enjoyable history trainings that I have ever attended."

In the upcoming months we will offer follow-up workshops for Choices in Little Rock and new training for 6th grade social studies teachers. The 7th grade training will take place in 2009.

None of this would have been possible without the help and support of both the Memphis City and Shelby County School administrators, who have done everything from promoting awareness about the project, to getting teachers to register for the workshops, to showing support by attending the workshops themselves, to helping us with follow-up. They have been true partners in this collaboration, and we are so thankful for their efforts.