The Japanese American National Museum and the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy are co-sponsoring the 2006-2007 National Summer Institute for Educators in Los Angeles from July 18-21, 2007.

The Institute's theme is "Diversity: Making Democracy Work." The Summer Institute participants will first gather in Los Angeles from July 19-22, 2006 and will re-convene in July 18-21, 2007. Approximately 30 educators from Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah have been invited to join us to accomplish the following programmatic goals:

SHORT-TERM GOALS:
(1) Receive an overview of the Japanese American National Museum and National Center for the Preservation of Democracy.
(2) Gain resources that prompt the expansion of curriculum content to include more perspectives and stories to further problematize history.
(3) Acquire increased tools and ideas on the following: curriculum writing using essential questions, student video oral histories, incorporating primary sources into curriculum writing, building a learning community.
(4) Create and pilot standards-based curriculum that explores an essential question.

LONG-TERM GOALS:
(1) Understand that the role of American pluralism (including ethnicity and cultural diversity) is foundational to American democracy.
(2) Participate in a learning community of professionals, both geographically proximal and distant, that will learn together, create lessons together, share/discuss the results of their work, and be inspired to become lifelong practioners of democracy within a community of learners.

This Institute is by invitation only.