Heritage Panel School Checklist
Contacts:
Rebecca Harkless
Coordinator of Social Justice Programs
Joan Witherspoon-Norris
YWCA Director of Social Justice
309 23rd Street North
Birmingham, AL 35203
Phone:
(205) 322-9922
Fax:
(205) 521-9652
Email:
rharkless@ywcabham.org
jwitherspoonnorris@ywcabham.org
Dates of training: _______________________________
Time: _________________________________________
Location: ______________________________________
Before Training:
______ Schedule dates for 2-day training (see notes on page 2)
______ Schedule times for 2-day training
______ Schedule off-campus site for 2-day training (church or community center)
Location must have:
 space for 35-40 chairs to fit comfortably in a circle tables for snacks
and buffet lunch
 tables for seating during lunch
 access to building by 7:30 am both training days
Name of site contact ____________________ and phone # ________________
______ Arrange transportation for Panelists to and from training site (both days)
______ Organize in-school Heritage Panel Advisory Board with 5 teachers/counselors,
(see “Selecting Advisory Board,” page 3)
______ Send Advisory Board selection memo to teachers (see page 4)
______ Select 25 Panelists (see “Selecting Panelists,” page 3)
______ Send Panelist selection letter to chosen students with any appropriate parental
permission forms (see page 5)
______ Find volunteer (PTA member) to help with set-up of snacks, food, etc. (This
allows educators to participate in all parts of the training.)
______ Plan food for 2-day training (include in the total head count: students, teachers,
2 YWCA trainers, volunteers, visitors) See sample food list, page 2.
______ Arrange substitutes for participating teachers for both days of training
______Have photo consent forms returned
1
Training days:
Heritage Panel training time will coincide with the normal school day. This allows
students and teachers to arrive at school at the normal time and transfer to the
bus for transportation to the Heritage Panel training site. Those participating in
Heritage Panel training will return to school in sufficient to be there at the end
of the school day.
Sample food list:











Lunch (Day 1): Chikfila sandwich combos (sandwich, chips, cookie and drink) - 1
meal per person
Lunch (Day 2): Pizza (average 2 slices per person)
Drinks: 10-15 3-liters for both days
Doughnuts/muffins: (3-4 dozen per day)
Cookies: 3-4 bags (both days)
Chips: 3-4 large bags (both days)
Candy/ mints
Cups (both days, meals and snacks)
Napkins
Plates
Ice/ Ice Chest
Post-Training:
_______ Schedule meeting time(s) with Panelists and moderators to plan and practice
their presentations
_______ Coordinate class schedules and presentation times
THINGS TO CONSIDER WHILE PREPARING FOR TRAINING
a. Are you able to recruit a diverse cross-section of the student population? It’s
a good idea to develop a plan to promote the program to students that are
typically hard to recruit.
2
b. Think about the need for the Heritage Panel program at your school. How
does this affect who you recruit to participate in the training? How can the
program address these needs after the training is over?
c. How do you plan to implement the Heritage Panel program at your school
after the training? What’s your plan for presentations? Will your group
become a club? Are there other things/issues you want your group to
address over the school year?
d. Think about the commitments you, as the school sponsor, will be able to
make to the program. Will you be able to meet on a regular basis with
students? What support do you need in doing presentations in class?
e. How will your school support the Heritage Panel program? Do you have the
support of administration/faculty?
SELECTING THE ADVISORY BOARD
a. Number: Ideally 5 teachers or counselors, at least 3
b. Qualifications: Interest in being involved with the Heritage Panel program,
sensitivity, awareness and flexibility
c. Role:
 Select the 25 student Heritage Panelists
 Participate in the entire two-day training program; it is crucial that they
be present through the entire training
 Determine how Heritage Panel presentations will be used in school by
identifying critical issues in the school as well as the target audiences
to be addressed (ex. classes or other groups)
 Schedule presentations for the Panels
 Serve as moderators in Panel presentations
 Work with the students to improve presentations
SELECTING THE PANELISTS
a. Number: 25 students
b. Composition: Must be a diverse group. Some diversities to consider include
ethnicity, race, socioeconomic level, religion, and social group. The group
must have an almost equal number of males and females.
c. Selection: Teachers may invite participants or may screen and select
volunteers.
d. Qualifications:
 Potential for growth is a key factor
 Understanding of and interest in the purpose of the Heritage Panel
program
 Willingness to speak in public
 Willingness to learn about themselves and others
 Capacity to accept an audience’s attitudes and enough flexibility to
adjust to each audience
3
Advisory Board Selection Memo
Date:
To:
From:
Subject:
YWCA Heritage Panel Program
Our school will participate in the Heritage Panel, a program led by the YWCA Central
Alabama. Five educators are being asked to serve on the school's Advisory Board for
this program and attend the workshop to be trained as Heritage Panel moderators. I
believe you would be a valuable addition to this program and would like for you to
participate.
Heritage Panel is a year-long program that begins by training 25 students and five
educators in an intensive two-day workshop. During the training, participants are asked
to look within themselves and their school community and make personal commitments
to improving relations at school. The students return to school ready to share their own
stories in classrooms or with other groups, in effort to facilitate a discussion with the
audience about issues of prejudice and discrimination. These conversations often
spark discussions related to cliques, race, gender, cultural backgrounds, and exclusion.
Educators participate in the training alongside the students. While the training is
focused on students, educators are often able to make a positive contribution to the
conversation. Further, educators are able to connect with students with which they
would not otherwise interact. During the training, educators will break off with a member
of the YWCA staff to learn how to moderate Heritage Panel presentation and talk about
the future of the program.
The ultimate goal of the Heritage Panel program is to help foster a safe and tolerant
environment at school. This is accomplished through several ways. First, the students
who participate have a transformative experience that creates a strong bond that
continues throughout the school year. Next, the training empowers the students to be
role models who are sensitive and compassionate to all people and groups at school.
Further, the presentations the students make following the training at school have the
potential to help deal with inflammatory issues in a proactive manner.
The YWCA Heritage Panel training will take place on ________________ and will be
conducted at __________________. Participants will be excused from their classes for
two full days. Lunch will be provided. No one will be excused during training to attend
any class or other activity. You must be able to attend the session for the two full days.
I realize the training will take valuable class time, but I believe the program will be
extremely valuable to our school community. Thanks for your support!
4
Heritage Panelist Selection Form
CONGRATULATIONS!
Because of your leadership potential and your interest in furthering good intergroup
relations, you have been selected to participate in the YWCA Heritage Panel!
Heritage Panel is a year-long program that begins by training 25 students and five
educators in an intensive two-day workshop. During the training, you will be asked to
look within yourself and our school community and make a personal commitment to
improving relations at school. The YWCA will prepare you to share your own stories in
classrooms or with other groups, in effort to facilitate a discussion with the audience
about issues of prejudice and discrimination. These conversations often spark
discussions related to cliques, race, gender, cultural backgrounds, and exclusion.
The ultimate goal of the Heritage Panel program is to help foster a safe and tolerant
environment at school. This is accomplished through several ways. First, if you choose
to participate, you will have a transformative experience that creates a strong bond that
continues throughout the school year. Next, the training will empower you to be a role
model who is sensitive and compassionate to all people and groups at school
We think you will be an excellent Heritage Panelist! The training is a fun and
enlightening two days away from school. You do not need public speaking experience,
but you should not be terrified of speaking to a group. Five students at a time give
Heritage Panel presentations, so you won’t be in front of a class by yourself.
The YWCA Heritage Panel training sessions will take place on __________________
and will be conducted at _______________. Participants will be excused from their
classes for two full days. No one will be excused during the training to attend any class
or other activity. You must be able to attend the session for two full days. Participants
will be responsible for all make-up work required by teachers.
The Heritage Panel program is an exciting way to develop your leadership skills and get
to know some other students at school. Again, congratulations on being selected!!
Signatures below indicate that you will participate in the program.
STUDENT SIGNATURE:
___________________________________ DATE: __________
PARENT/GUARDIAN SIGNATURE:
____________________________ DATE: __________
5
Photo Consent
I hereby irrevocably authorize the YWCA Central Alabama to edit, alter, copy, exhibit, publish or
distribute this photo for purposes of publicizing the YWCA Central Alabama or for any other lawful
purpose. In addition, I waive the right to inspect or approve the finished product, including written or
electronic copy, wherein my likeness appears. The YWCA Central Alabama is committed to keeping
all students names confidential and unpublished.
I have read this release before signing below and I fully understand the contents, meaning, and impact
of this release.
Signature
Date
Full Name (Please Print)
If the person signing is under age 21, there must be consent by a parent or guardian, as follows:
I hereby certify that I am the parent or guardian of _______________________________, named
above, and do hereby give my consent without reservation to the foregoing on behalf of this person.
Parent/Guardian Signature
Date
Parent/Guardian Full Name (Please Print)
6