Hi everyone! My name is Josiah Carolina, I'm a rising Senior at American University in Washington D.C. studying History, Education Studies, and Political Science. I want to first start by thanking my many family members and friends who've supported me in my decisions thus far and who've been rooting for me on the sidelines since day one, I have so much love for every single one of you; I wouldn't be who I am or where I am without it! I've known for roughly three years now that I want to enter the teaching and curriculum world and this course will equip me with the necessary skills to better understand my history and the experiences of my ancestors, as well as the ancestors of the students I hope to work with.

Several professors approached me with the details of a summer course being offered by the School of Education which includes six class meetings and a 10-day trip to Senegal, a country on the North Western coast of Africa. The purpose of this trip is to investigate and study the transatlantic and historical perspectives of antiracist education practices, a huge passion of mine.

This course examines the historical implications of slavery and racism and their influence on antiracist teaching in the United States. Existing efforts at decolonizing the curriculum are incomplete without considering the damaging effects of colonialism on the African continent and slavery and racism toward Black people in the Americas. Through a transatlantic journey to Senegal, I will gain a deeper understanding of the cross-Atlantic legacy of racism and colonialism as a gateway to dismantling racist educational policies and prioritizing equitable educational outcomes for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in the U.S. educational system. I will be able to visit historical sites and engage with education innovators in Senegal, reflect on and critique existing U.S. educational policies and alternatives, and develop an action plan through a set of written recommendations.

Much of the work I've done and do while in college has to do with antiracism, an active process that requires an everyday commitment to analyzing self, systems, mindsets, ideologies, practices, and policies to dismantle White supremacy and anti-Blackness. Antiracist beliefs and practices fundamentally point us toward liberating new ways of thinking about ourselves and each other.

I've worked in freshmen and newly admitted student spaces to support students as they engage with topics of race and oppression, I currently work as a Research Assistant to a Faculty Fellowship supporting antiracist pedagogy in this program, I've recently been hired to be the Outreach Coordinator for the Antiracist Research and Policy Center at American, and I'll be Horizons at Sacred Heart's inaugural Equity and Belonging Coach come the summer.

Being from Bridgeport, I've seen the discrimination and the circumstances which prevent our students from accessing the opportunities of other Fairfield County districts; antiracist perspectives of education can seriously inform future teachers, administrators, and researchers on how best to meet the needs of students just like ours.

This phenomenal opportunity is unfortunately not eligible for financial aid support so I humbly ask for your support. Please consider contributing to this fundraiser for me in any way that you can, I will be and am forever grateful for any support! Feel free to share this as you see fit.

Below you'll see a cost breakdown that explains the overall cost.

$2800 - Section Fee (travel)

$5600 (roughly) - Cost of the Course

$300 (roughly) - Cost to travel to and from DC for the flight

$1300 - Miscellaneous, extra travel expenses, food, supplies, materials (I will also, unfortunately, have to forfeit pay at my summer job to attend this trip)