To our NYCoRE Community,
We are writing to let you know that we have decided to postpone the NYCoRE 2020 Freedom Dreams Conference for the time being. We hope to reschedule for this May, 2020. At this time, we are not aware of any NYCoRE-affiliated educators, teacher trainers, or other organizers who have tested positive for COVID-19. It is increasingly clear, however, that the coronavirus will spread via community transmission in New York City. The NYCoRE 2020 Conference could potentially speed up that transmission by drawing an intergenerational crowd of people together who will share space and then return to schools and communities across the city, state, and country. As a volunteer-run organization, we do not have the capacity to uphold protocols put in place in New York’s public schools to respond to possible cases or if participants show symptoms during or after the conference.
As such, we feel it necessary to do our part to slow the spread of COVID-19 — particularly because of its danger to the elderly and chronically ill. We are deeply committed to maintaining the safety of our community members at all costs, even if it means delaying our freedom dreaming, dancing, and gathering.
NYCoRE Conference Committee members will convene in the next few days to determine refunds and establish a new timeline for the conference. Our decision to reschedule in May will depend on how the situation evolves; we will confirm a new date and location by mid-to late-April, at which time we will communicate with conference presenters, tablers and registrants by email and via social media. We will send out details as soon as we can, and we appreciate your understanding and patience as we respond to a dynamic and challenging situation.
Peace,
NYCoRE 2020 Conference Committee