15th Annual Congress for Critical Pedagogy and Transformative Leadership

Schedule

This is the skyline of Reggio Emilia, Italy.

This is the schedule for the 15th Annual Congress for Critical Pedagogy and Transformative Leadership in Reggio Emilia, Italy, from 13 October 2025 to 17 October 2025.

Notes

  • Arrival: Some attendees arrive on the weekend before the Congress
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinners, & Bars are plentiful. We encourage everyone to explore the area and find different places to dine. Meals are on your own, except the welcome reception.

Monday, 13 October

  • 10am–12 / 10:00-12:00: Pre-arranged guided visits for people who arrive by Monday. Each tour is limited to 10 participants only, and lasts from 10:00-12:00. Because we use local guides, we must know who is going to go to each tour. Email paola.giorgis@gmail.com by Sept. 29th.
    • Option 1: Guided Visit to an Elementary School—‘G. Fiastri’, Sant’Ilario d’Enza is 16 km from Reggio. The school applies the Malaguzzi approach, and our guide will be a teacher named Alessandra. For details email paola.giorgis@gmail.com.
    • Option 2: Guided Visit to an Educational Cooperative—‘Giro del Cielo’ The cooperative, hosted in La Casa del Quartiere, (Centro Sociale L. Spallanzani, Via Arturo Toscanini, 20 Reggio Emilia) is a social and educational project that involves children, adults and communities towards the common goals of commitment, participation, respect. Our guide there is Matteo who runs the Cooperative. The Casa can organize some lunch for us. Learn more at https://popbrand.it/chi-siamo/
    • Option 3: Guided Visit to Circolo Anarchico Berneri—A historical centre for anarchic and political struggles, initiatives, and events, our guide is Gianandrea, a historical figure of the anarchic movement. Learn more at https://federazioneanarchicareggiana.noblogs.org/chi-siamo/
  • 12pm-6 / 12:00-18:00: Lunch, rest, settling in on your own.
  • 6pm-8 / 18:00-20:00: Welcome Reception

Tuesday, 14 October

Activities today will be at UNIMORE – University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. It is located at Viale Timavo, 93. Buses for UniMoRe Viale Timavo: Bus 4, Bus 5, Minibu M.

  • 9am-11 / 9:00-11:00: Walk and Talk Sessions in Reggio
  • 11am-12 / 11:00-12:00: Regroup, questions, and a discussion of the week to come
  • 12pm-4 / 12:00-16:00: Lunch and Rest
  • 4pm-6 / 16:00-18:00: Congress Session
  • 7pm-11 / 19:00-21:00: Aperativos at the historical Circolo Anarchico Berneri in the City Centre followed by an unplugged concert of anarchic songs. Note: tapas etc, will be served

Wednesday, 15 October

  • 9am-12 / 9:00-12:00: Guided Visits to the Officine Reggiane, a historical factory that has been important in political and anti-fascist struggles and strikes. https://www.officinemeccanichereggiane.it/
  • 12pm-3 / 12:00-15:00: Lunch Break on our own(places close by to the factory)
  • 3pm-5 / 15:00-17:00: Guided Visits to Centre Malaguzzi. 10 Euros per person. Documentation and educational research on the Reggio Children approach. Paulo Freire and Loris Malagucci were together at the International Congress in Reggio Emilia: 28-31 March, 1990. The visit includes introduction, historical exhibition Raggio di Luce ataliers, temporary paper/color/design/creative ateliers exhibitions and sales and Documentation Centre. Learn more at https://wwwokmugello.it/articolo/reggio-children-e-la-fondazione-malaguzzi_74829
  • 5pm-? / 17:00-?: Dinner/Evening: On our own

Thursday, 16 October

All events will be held at the University: UNIMORE (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia) Viale Timavo, 93. Buses for UniMoRe Viale Timavo 93: Bus 4, Bus 5, Minibu M.

  • 10:00am-1:00pm / 10:00-13:00: Dialogic Participation: in-group work
  • 1pm-3 / 13:00-15:00: Lunch: On our own
  • 3pm-6 / 15:00-18:00: Walks, connections rest (organize on our own)
  • 6pm-9 / 18:00-21:00: Dinner
  • 9pm-??: CLOSING PARTY & OPEN MIC. BYOB, snacks, and drinks

Friday, 17 October

All morning activities will be at the University. Choose one of the two below (or go between both!).

  • 10am-1pm / 10:00-13:00: Final Congress Meeting: Discussion for 2026 Congress, connections: Research, Publishing, Continuing the Congress from abroad.
  • 11am-1pm / 11:00-13:00: OPTIONAL:  Paper presentations… While the Congress has not been constructed to have presentation sessions, we always have a classroom where those who have written papers and wish to present are able to do so.  Several of our participants must present a paper to be funded and this meeting accommodates that.  English is usually used; however, feel free to present in your own language.
  • 1pm / 13:00:  Bon Voyage, hope to see you next year!

About

The 15th Annual Congress for Critical Pedagogy and Transformative Leadership is being held in Reggio Emilia, Italy, from 13 October 2025 to 17 October 2025. The themes for this year are 1. Pedagogies of Peace and War: Discourses of Power; 2. Is Critical Pedagogy Aging? Our Own Legacies and Paulo, Pato, and Joe; 3. Community Activism: Making a Difference; 4. Preserve and Protect: DEI (May Apply to Americans and Albertans Only), and; 5. Grants, Publishing, and Networking.

Attendance is by invite only, and the Congress is sponsored by the Freire Project. The organizers are:

  • Shirley R. Steinberg, Chair, University of Calgary
  • Adam F.C. Fletcher, Administrator, Freire Project
  • Paola Giorgis, UNIMORE – University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, located in Modena and Reggio Emilia

For more information email institutecriticalpedagogy@gmail.com.