SDSU Center for Human Rights builds community with local K-12 teachers

Last year, Professor Grace Cheng, director of the Center for Human Rights (CHR) at San Diego State University, partnered with the Miner Anderson Family Foundation (MAFF) to develop a workshop for secondary teachers in San Diego County to enhance their knowledge about human rights concepts and ongoing evolution. Inspired by the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training, the workshop supports education that promotes values, beliefs and attitudes that encourage the next generation to uphold their own rights and those of others.

Launched in fall 2025, the workshop assisted teachers in developing their own human rights curriculum, through a series of five Saturday sessions, supplemented by virtual Zoom check-ins during the 2025-26 academic year. 

Although it was designed to provide teachers with a deeper understanding of human rights, it achieved something equally valuable: it created a community of human rights educators from throughout San Diego County. Beyond engaging with human rights concepts, participants also built relationships with fellow educators in a valuable exchange of experiences and ideas.

Coming together with a shared commitment to human rights education, Cheng said the program enabled participants to expand on the work they were already doing, while also creating a network of support to help them continue on developing their curriculum.  

For Cheng, one of the most unexpected discoveries was that the workshop would serve as an important space for educators to connect. "They already knew why human rights education matters,” she said. “What we created was a space where teachers could develop ideas together."

The workshop curriculum combined foundational knowledge about the history and evolution of human rights with practical tools educators could bring back to their classrooms. Participants explored international human rights frameworks, including the role of the United Nations, while also examining contemporary challenges and strategies for promoting human rights in their communities.

A key component of the program was the development of individual projects so that teachers could create curricular activities, lesson plans, or classroom initiatives tailored to their students' needs. It included a session led by community partners from Alliance San Diego, a local nonprofit that provides human rights-related services to the San Diego community.

“It has been a beautiful balance of learning from Dr. Cheng and Dr. Vlad [of MAFF], connecting with other educators over shared passions and goals, and working on our own projects to implement at our respective schools,” Participant Brittany Barnes, teacher at Lemon Grove Academy for the Sciences and Humanities Middle School.

The workshop's impact is already extending beyond the classroom. One participant is developing a series of human rights lessons as part of the California Teachers Association Human Rights Cadre program, creating the potential for broader implementation throughout the state.

For Cheng, however, the program's greatest impact may be the network that is beginning to take shape. "To me, that's the most exciting part," she said. "It's an opportunity for all of us to put our resources and knowledge together, exchange ideas, and support each other’s efforts."

“This kind of person-to-person work is what strengthens communities,” Barnes said. “I've learned so much and am eager to take this to my school and into my classroom.” 

The long-term vision is to build a sustainable community of human rights educators throughout San Diego County and beyond. Future cohorts could involve returning participants who serve as mentors, presenters, and collaborators — helping to expand the program's reach while strengthening connections among teachers.

Cheng envisions this growing into a network: not just a workshop, but a vibrant human rights education community. That goal aligns closely with the SDSU Center for Human Rights' broader mission of connecting academic scholarship with real-world impact. By bringing together university faculty, community organizations, and K-12 educators, the program creates pathways for human rights education to reach students far beyond the SDSU campus.

Cheng is looking ahead to the next group of educators — and the growing community they will join. Teachers at secondary schools in San Diego County are encouraged to apply for the AY2026-2027 workshop that meets five Saturdays throughout the year. Upon completion, teachers receive a certificate and a $500 stipend for their participation. The deadline to register for the 2026-27 workshop is August 15, 2026.

"What I've taken away from this experience, is how important it is to create opportunities for connection,” Cheng said. “When people come together, share their experiences, and support one another, that's where meaningful change begins."