Highlights from the 27th LGW’s International Congress on Education

Under the theme “Inclusion for Equity in Education: a View Beyond the Intellect,” the Legion of Good Will (LGW) of the United States held its 27th International Congress on Education, in Newark, NJ, on Saturday, March 2. The event took place in person at the Paiva Netto Educational and Social Assistance Center and was also broadcast live worldwide. 

The initiative aimed to share paths that promote inclusive education and to serve as a space where educators, social workers, psychologists, and other interested people can exchange their knowledge on pedagogical practices and innovative ideas. Check out some photos of this special day: 

The event date marked the first anniversary of the LGW’s Educational Center in the United States and celebrated the 83rd birthday of the president of the Organization, José de Paiva Netto. He is the creator of the Congress on Education, which guides professionals toward an Education with Ecumenical Spirituality. 

Presentations 

Under the theme “Inclusion: fostering each child’s academic, social, and emotional growth,” Barbara Clark, Director of Special Services for the Orange Public School District, opened the lecture series. Regarding the International Congress on Education, she stated, “I attended the Conference in 2012 in São Paulo; and it was just very impressive. And I'm most happy to be able to contribute to the program today.  . . . These events are amazing, and they open up dialogue and access so that they can give greater knowledge and collaboration between educators, parents, the schools. It shows a big commitment to growth and development and to improving opportunities for the students. So I think just the basis, the fact that we have something that's sharing knowledge and having people who were really dedicated and committed speak to show that devotion and to show how it can really be done. It's not so difficult if we just have the will to try to make it work.” 

Following that, Grace Blanco, Center Director for the Ironbound Early Learning program in Newark, delivered the second lecture on “Perspectives on Inclusive Education in Early Childhood Education.” 

After speaking on Perspectives on Inclusive Education in Elementary School, Luis Henriques, Principal at Oliver Street School, affirmed, “My presentation was geared towards educators and parents, so they're aware of the practices in the classroom, the needs in the classroom, but also the challenges that we might face in the schools. . . . I really saw the power of the event and how powerful it really is for the community, really raising awareness of the needs within the school system, raising awareness to the parents and to the community members that were present today.” 

Educator Brian Donovan, Instructional Vice Principal at East Side High School, shared many insights and strategies with the event's attendees, offering valuable lessons that can be implemented in their work environments. “It's amazing to learn more about the Legion of Good Will and their annual Congress on Education. It's been really amazing to share my experience. It's been a moment for me to reflect on my practice, which is always important. . . . The importance of this event is to ensure that we know that all students are different, which means we need to know how we need them educationally and provide them with the resources, access to resources, provide them with a voice to participate, and provide them with the support that they need to be successful.” 

Highlighting the LGW’s approach of Education with Ecumenical Spirituality, supervisor of the Pedagogy of Affection and of the Ecumenical Citizen Pedagogy, Suelí Periotto, who holds a doctorate and a master’s degree in Education from the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (PUC-SP), presented important insights from the LGW’s Boosting Skills Program, which is successfully applied in LGW schools. 

The event's program also included two practical workshops on the theme “Art and Playfulness as Learning Strategies.” Educator and pedagogue with a background in Performing Arts, Marcelo Rafael, facilitated the workshop in Spanish, and early childhood educator Mariana Tamasan, in English. In a pedagogical and playful way, participants were able to exchange knowledge and experiences within the world of Inclusive Education. 

Special Thanks 

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible volunteers and dedicated school staff. Your commitment, support, and passion have been the driving forces behind this event's success!

A special thanks to our esteemed supporters for their unwavering commitment and generosity: Consulate General of Brazil in New York, SEABRA’S, BrockbusterPrint, PBA Printing, ACB Produce, Oliver Street School, East Side High School, Lollitune, PepsiCo, Grupo Mulheres do Brasil, World Human Accountability Organization, Waksaw-Uddiyana, Sadhu Vaswani Center for World Peace, and Rádio Corações de Portugal. Together, we've created a meaningful impact on Education. Thank you for making this possible!