Educator Open House: Craftivism in the Classroom

Learn about unique, cross-departmental ways to spark student creativity and advocacy through mini workshops, networking with local education organizations, and curricular resources, all inspired by the National Liberty Museum’s newest exhibition Craftivism: Activism Through Craft.

Admission is FREE and open to teachers, administrators, school faculty, and educators of all kinds. 

Food and drink will be provided. 

PROGRAM EVENTS: 

Meet & Greet with NLM Education Staff | ongoing 

Learn about the museum’s school program offerings, including virtual and on-site field trips for elementary through high school students and our long-standing, year-long Young Heroes Outreach Program for students in grades 4-8. 

Activism for the Classroom with Omkari Williams | 5:30PM & 6:30PM 

30-minute mini workshop 

Do your students want to make a difference? We’ll look at age-appropriate ways of bringing students into social justice work and how they can use their creativity to advance their beliefs and make this world more just. Omkari will talk about the necessity of having kids engage in this work from an early age, both to break harmful patterns and to give them an understanding of their own agency. 

 Omkari Williams is a speaker, writer, podcast host, and coach for activists, both experienced and new, helping them develop and sustain their activism. Her passion is teaching people the power of story as a tool in changing social policy. Omkari says, “Our stories are bridges between us and others and can be immensely powerful in creating societal change. Yet the stories of so many have been neglected. When we learn how to leverage the power of our collective stories we can create meaningful change and help bring justice to the world.”  

On her podcast, Stepping Into Truth: Conversations on Race, Gender, and Social Justice, she interviews people doing activist work in areas from Abortion Rights to Zero Plastic Waste. 

Her writing has been featured online by Elephant Journal, My Empowered World, Women For One, and Tattooed Buddha and in print by Savannah Magazine and Paprika Southern.  

Connect with her at her website. 

Art and Advocacy with Ellie Zdancewic | 7:00PM

30-minute learn & stitch
Join high school student artist Ellie Zdancewic for an informal embroidery lesson and take home your hoop to hone your skills and continue your craft. While you stitch, hear from Ellie about her experience with her school’s art club, The Vibe, and her work with UrbEd Advocates, a Philadelphia-based, student-run nonprofit organization advocating for equitable and quality education.

Ellie Zdancewic is a sixteen-year-old embroidery artist and student from Philadelphia. Since falling in love with embroidery in December 2018, her pieces have been featured in her High School’s Newspaper and on the front page of the Art Magazine. Inspired by Shannon Downey’s SewCrafty Embroidery club, Ellie began her “Teen Fiber Arts Club” in Fall 2020 for teenagers interested in embroidery, cross stitch, sewing, crochet, or knitting. The group has met weekly online since then, and is approaching it’s one-year anniversary. Ellie also works as the Visual Media Manager for UrbEd Advocates.

Self-Guided Tours of the NLM’s Signature Galleries and Featured Exhibits | ongoing 

Get exclusive access to all of our exhibit galleries and explore Strength & Fragility: The Story of the NLM, Heroes from Around the World, the inspiring Flame of Liberty by Dale Chihuly, and the newest exhibition Craftivism: Activism Through Craft.

Access to the Museum Shop and Craftivism Marketplace | ongoing 

Continue your holiday shopping by supporting the NLM and local artists. In addition to the museum shop’s regular offerings of unique gifts, Philadelphia-inspired merchandise, and glass art, there will be an assortment of handmade crafts available, made by local artists exclusively for the NLM and the Craftivism exhibition.