The LOVEWORKS: Joy & Justice Leadership Development Retreat is a transformative 3-day, in-person experience that invites IEA members to grow as equity-centered leaders. Designed primarily for emerging activists who are ready to foster their commitment to racial and social justice. Through deep reflection, historical context, and hands-on training, participants will explore the foundations of educational justice, abolitionist teaching, and culturally responsive pedagogy. They will also gain tools to lead equity-focused conversations in their classrooms, buildings, and broader communities, which will increase member engagement and activism to effect equity & excellence in public education.
- Examine historical and present-day impacts of systemic racism and oppression
- Practice facilitating equity-centered conversations
- Learn and develop culturally responsive strategies
This retreat is not just a training-it’s a launchpad for building a collective movement within IEA that is rooted in joy, justice, and liberation.
Limited seating!
APPLICATION WILL OPEN JULY 28
Email: IEARSJ@IEANEA.ORG
Dr. Betinna Love
Renowned as a highly sought-after public speaker, Dr. Love covers a wide range of compelling topics in her engagements.. Her profound insights and expertise have earned her recognition in various news outlets, including NPR, PBS, The Daily Beast, Time, Education Week, The Guardian, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She is also a prolific writer, contributing articles on race in America to Education Week Opinion. With her bestseller We Want To Do More Than Survive, she has sold close to 200,000 copies, making it a staple in classrooms nationwide and solidifying her as a leading voice in the field of education.
Paul Gorski
Founder of the Equity Literacy Institute and EdChange. He has 25 years of experience helping educators, nonprofit workers, and others strengthen their equity efforts. He has worked with educators in 48 states and a dozen countries. He also is the research director of the Equity Literacy Institute, conducting and collaborating on research and other scholarship related to maximizing the transformative potential of equity efforts. Paul has published more than 70 articles and has written, co-written, or co-edited twelve books on various aspects of educational equity.
Kevin Jones
Kevin was granted the Martin Luther King Jr. award by the Bloomington and Normal Human Relations Commission, honored with the Philanthropy of the Year award by the Illinois Prairie Community Foundations, and was nominated for the Grabill-Homan Community Peace Prize. He designs and implements professional development opportunities as well as coursework in the areas of applied restorative practice that includes topics such as social-emotional learning, trauma-informed, social justice, diversity, equity, inclusion, connecting communities, classroom transformation, leadership, and more.
Tim Wise
Tim Wise is one of the country’s most compelling voices on culture, politics, and power, bringing three decades of experience to some of the most urgent issues of our time. A gifted storyteller and sharp strategist, he helps audiences understand how we got here, what’s at stake, and how to move forward with clarity, courage, and purpose. He currently serves as a Senior Fellow at the African American Policy Forum, contributing to public education and strategic dialogue on racial justice and intersectionality.
Our schools reflect broader systems of inequity. To transform education, we must first equip educators to understand and disrupt those systems. By helping members build their awareness, knowledge, and confidence in this space, we strengthen our collective capacity to:
- Create inclusive learning environments for all students
- Dismantle racism and systemic oppression within educational institutions
- Support member-led organizing efforts centered on equity
- Embed justice into professional practice and union work
As our state and nation face attacks on truth, history, and justice in education, this retreat offers a bold and hopeful space for educators to stand together and lead the way forward.
Participation in the LOVEWORKS: Joy & Justice Leadership Retreat is based on a competitive application process. With limited space available, we are looking for applicants who demonstrate a strong interest in educational justice and a readiness to grow as equity-centered leaders. We aim to create a diverse cohort representing a range of backgrounds, regions, and experiences across IEA. Priority will be given to new learners who show a commitment to applying what they learn in their schools, locals, and communities.
Email: IEARSJ@IEANEA.ORG