PIE 2019: New Spaces, New Faces

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It has been a transformative 2019 for PIE. A year ago, we set intentions around our leadership transition and doubling down on our commitment to grow through relationships. Guided by those intentions, 2019 has been full of creative programming, building new muscles and embracing change. This year has been a reminder that our strength is fueled by the people and partners that make up PIE.

New Work with Our Woes

We’ve continued to adapt the pop culture “working on excellence” or Woe concept to this work by partnering with some of our favorite people in education to create more youth-led media and tell our stories nationally.  In a collaboration with MiStudents Dream and 482Forward, we presented at the Free Minds Free People Conference in the Twin Cities and made local connections in faraway places. We also worked with 482Forward on their first ever youth-led conference in the spring and with Youth Leaders on a participatory action research project over the summer. Look out for their upcoming media project in early 2020 which documents their process and findings from exploring the question, “What makes school inhumane?”

Evolving Our Programs

The Rida Institute was fire this year, with alumni returning to share their stories of incorporating humanizing practices into their learning spaces. During the summer intensive, alumni also gathered with the newer Rida participants over pizza in Southwest Detroit.

This spring, we wrapped up the 2018/19 Artist-in-Residency program, and this was our first year diving into a single theme with each media project.  We focused on the theme of school lunch, and we did so within new classrooms and a more non-traditional learning space with Alternatives For Girls. 

Connective Storytelling

Last year, we built a team of communications and graphics support to enliven the stories we tell about PIE’s work and community. This year, we’ve refined and diversified our communications, experimenting with multi-media blog posts and merging social media with fundraising on #GivingTuesday.  Your shoutouts, kudos, generosity and continued engagement have affirmed our efforts and made us feel so seen. Thank you. We can’t wait to level up once again in 2020 with dynamic content that connects you to our work.

Squad Goals

Lastly, we expanded and reshaped PIE’s leadership! We brought on a new director and adjusted leadership roles that will position us to achieve our most ambitious goals. We are overwhelmed by the continued support and critical friendship that have kept us sharp and guided us through this process. As such, we’re closing out 2019 with an advisory board retreat; creating this valuable space to collectively set intentions for the years to come. 

2020: Let’s get it 

Wow, it’s hard to believe a new decade is approaching, but with our community and leadership team, PIE is ready for 2020.  We loved this year’s expanded partnerships with our faves, and we look forward to diving in again with WOEs new and old. Of course, we are geeked to reunite with global media justice homies during the return of our beloved Allied Media Conference! And as we gather all our research and learnings from programming in years past, we’re looking ahead to media project releases and collaborative content no one will want to miss (don’t worry, we’ll keep you in the loop). 

PIE’s mission to humanize schooling is powered by connection. Our resolution to grow through relationships is still so resonant today as we partner with educators, young people, artists and communities make space for innovation, co-creation and discovery. 

Yours in partnership, 

The PIE team