DEI Book Club: Reclaiming Community: Race and the Uncertain Future of Youth Work by Bianca J Baldridge

Jump into our Zoom room as we dig into our next DEI Book Club pick! Everyone is welcome to join us.

About the Book

Approximately 2.4 million Black youth participate in after-school programs, which offer a range of support, including academic tutoring, college preparation, political identity development, cultural and emotional support, and even a space to develop strategies and tools for organizing and activism. In Reclaiming Community, Bianca Baldridge tells the story of one such community-based program, Educational Excellence (EE), shining a light on both the invaluable role youth workers play in these spaces, and the precarious context in which such programs now exist.

Drawing on rich ethnographic data, Baldridge persuasively argues that the story of EE is representative of a much larger and understudied phenomenon. With the spread of neoliberal ideology and its reliance on racism―marked by individualism, market competition, and privatization―these bastions of community support are losing the autonomy that has allowed them to embolden the minds of the youth they serve. Baldridge captures the stories of loss and resistance within this context of immense external political pressure, arguing powerfully for the damage caused when the same structural violence that Black youth experience in school, starts to occur in the places they go to escape it.

About the Author

Bianca J. Baldridge is Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Policy Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

About the Facilitators

The ACA Illinois DEI Committee is a group of thought leaders seeking to make both ACA Illinois and the camp community more diverse and inclusive. The DEI Committee hosts programs to further the essential work needed to create more inclusive communities. The DEI Committee also advises the ACA Illinois Board of Directors and Staff in DEI policies and procedures to ensure that ACA Illinois is a welcoming organization for all. 

The Book Club is facilitated by the members of the DEI Committee and hosted by the Co-Chairs:

Shauna Guglielmo, Lincoln Park Zoo Camp

Annie Labus, Chicago Botanic Gardens’ Camp CBG

Why Attend?

Here are some reasons we believe attending will benefit your organization and/or your career!: 

Career Advancement: Being at the forefront of DEI work is critical for current and aspiring leaders of all types of organizations. The intentional networking that happens during a professional Book Club, offers opportunities for growth, development, and connection around the topic area that becomes translatable to resumes and career advancement. 

Camp Advancement: Book Clubs offer organizations an opportunity to develop new skills and understanding of the topic presented and consult with other professionals on how they navigate that topic in their own organization. As organizations continue to navigate creating gender inclusive spaces for their campers and staff, this book club will provide an opportunity to learn how other organizations are adapting their policies and programs to be more inclusive. Sure, you could read the book by yourself, but reading and discussing with others helps to reinforce the subject matter and create actionable plans, solutions, & policies that will benefit your camp!

Accreditation: The topic of this Book Club directly relates to many camps’ statements or philosophies specific to respecting the rights and dignity of all individuals. (CR-1.)

DFI Title XX: This event will help DFI Title XX camps meet the requirements for funding related to non-discrimination. 

What to Bring/ How to Prepare

Participants are responsible for obtaining their own books. We encourage folks to check their local library or consider purchasing from Women and Children First, an independent bookstore located in Chicago (ships worldwide) that supports community based organizations including ACA Illinois. 

Location/Style of Event

This event is a live, virtual event and will utilize the Zoom Meeting platform. ACA Illinois will not record this event.

The Fine Print

You must pay for this event at time of registration. If you would like to pay by invoice/check, please contact registration@acail.org prior to registering.

By registering and attending an ACA Illinois event or meeting, virtually or in-person you are agreeing to all the event policies listed here. These policies include the photo release, refund, link sharing, Code of Conduct, and other relative policies.

How to Register

You must have a Member Profile to register for this event. If this is your first event with us, please click here to create a profile. It's free!