As we reflect on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s enduring vision of justice, freedom, and belonging, we are reminded that his dream for a better future was not only about what is possible in the distant future horizon—it was also about how we imagine and create the world in the here and now. To commemorate this year’s National Day of Racial Healing, Dr. Wenimo Okoya and Dr. Crystal Martin of the Institute of Healing and Belonging in Schools (IHBS) at NYU Metro Center, will explore how freedom dreaming, a process rooted in radical imagination, empowers educators to transform our schools into spaces of equity, joy, and liberation, reflecting—Dr. King’s vision of a society where all individuals can flourish without barriers.

What would it look like to build schools where every student has the opportunity to thrive, feel valued, and experience the fullness of their potential? How can we create educational spaces where equity and belonging are not just ideals but lived realities, especially for historically excluded students, including students of color, and those with learning differences?

Presented by the Institute for Healing and Belonging in Schools (IHBS) at NYU Metro Center, this session will introduce you to our peer-to-peer professional learning model, which empowers educators, counselors, and school leaders reimagine their schools through the lens of radical imagination. Together, we will explore how this collaborative learning journey can empower educators to co-create schools that are inclusive, antiracist, and filled with joy.