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Deeper Learning Conference
San Diego 2026

Workshop materials for Deeper Learning 2026 
Community Rap Sessions: Fostering Authentic Family & Community Partnerships
Format

Workshop

Deep Dive Date

March 30th, 2026

Resources

Slide Decks
Handouts
Resources

What you are going to learn

Workshop

Too often, learning environments are created without the voices of the people they are meant to serve. Imagine instead building authentic partnerships with families and communities—working together to identify needs, co-create solutions, and celebrate growth. If you’re a school leader seeking to strengthen these connections, join us to experience community rap sessions, a culturally responsive and restorative practice that elevates every voice.In this session, educators first engage as learners in an immersive rap session, then shift to exploring the structures and planning needed to bring this practice back to their schools. Together, we will examine how to make community rap sessions a routine way to engage families and community members. Participants will leave with strategies, artifacts, action steps, and greater confidence to lead authentically with their communities.

Deborah Parizek

Deborah Parizek, Executive Director, HFLI.
An experienced nonprofit leader and educator,Deborah is known widely for cultivating the conversations, empathy, and capacity critical to addressing complex challenges. She leadsHFLI’s vision, strategy, and work to advance excellence in education for all by developing dynamic learning environments; new models for teaching, learning and leading, all with HFLI’s signature DeeperLearning by Doing(R) engagement framework; and attention to participants’ wellness through an intentional focus on Shared Purpose  Shared Work and Shared Joy.
About
I am excited to return to Deeper Learning this year (my 9th year!) with our workshop, Community Rap Sessions: Fostering Family Engagement. Coming from Detroit, these issues dominate many conversations among our educator colleagues.