Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit HQ

The Sizemore Urban Education Initiative seeks to address the need for educators equipped with the knowledge and skills required to practice culturally responsive pedagogy. Grounded in the theory of ""generative change"" developed by Dr. Arnetha Ball, the Initiative contains the implementation strategies and the research of those strategies required to build a sustainable model of effective teacher preparation for urban settings. Culturally responsive teachers are change agents who view their work as non-prescriptive and linked to an understanding and respect for the unique, cultural contexts of the students. These urban educators view teaching as a ""calling,"" and educating the next generation as a moral imperative. For them, culturally relevant pedagogy is a way of thinking about educating all children and youth, but especially children in urban settings. We seek to transform the lives of these children in ways that advance social justice and equality of opportunity.