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​We are committed to disrupting the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families and "villages" that collectively care for one another, and especially "our" children to the degree that mothers, parents and children are comfortable

​On Septima Clark's birthday, May 3, we celebrate Black Radical Educator Day and commit to teaching the truth. Who are the radical educators in your life that allowed you to realize some truth?

"I believe unconditionally in the ability of people to respond when they are told the truth. We need to be taught to study rather than believe, to inquire rather than to affirm." - Septima Clark

This month, we want you to question: How are the themes and radical visions that revolutionary Black artists brought to their art reflected in your classrooms and communities? How can young people continue these legacies?

Join us on Wednesday, May 3, on Zoom at 7pm ET for a happy hour conversation with Keziah Ridgeway, Ismael Jimenez, Denisha Jones, and Sam Carwyn, facilitated by our newest steering committee member from Rethinking Schools, Cierra Kaler-Jones! We will be talking education censorship: banned books, the anti-woke bill, the AP African American Studies course, and more.

This activation is part of the Freedom to Learn National Day of Action organized by African American Policy Forum. There will be many activations across the nation. If you aren't already part of a local activation, join our live conversation and get geared up. It's important that we gather together to fight these continuing and worsening attacks on education. This is our celebration for our Year of Purpose Black Radical Educator Day!
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Follow African American Policy Forum on social media to stay tuned. Instagram: @aapolicyforum; Twitter: @AAPolicyForum

We are committed to fostering an intergenerational and communal network free from ageism. We believe that all people, regardless of age, show up with capacity to lead and learn.

"You can't sit around and wait for someone to say who you are. You need to write it and paint it and do it." - Faith Ringgold

This month, we want you to question: How are the themes and radical visions that revolutionary Black artists brought to their art reflected in your classrooms and communities? How can young people continue these legacies?

In celebration of our April Year of Purpose theme, Revolutionary Black Arts, join us for a panel with @teachingartistsguild @zinneducationproject @campaign4genc !!!
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A Day of Purpose: Decolonizing Arts Education with Black Lives Matter at School
WHEN: Saturday, April 1, 2023 from 11am-1pm EDT/8am-10am PDT
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This is a special professional development opportunity for teaching artists that focuses on the ongoing activations and reflections from BLM at School's Year of Purpose, which aims to uplift Black students and undo institutional racism. The centerpiece of the Year of Purpose is asking educators to reflect on their own work in relationship to antiracist pedagogy and abolitionist practice, persistently challenging themselves to center Black lives in their classrooms. Workshop facilitators from Black Lives Matter at School, Teaching Artists Guild, Zinn Education Project, and Creative Generation will partner on this event. Registration link - https://buff.ly/3FHt2PI

Image Description: Graphic with the panel's title, "A Day of Purpose: Decolonizing Arts Education with Black Lives Matter at School," and the logos of the four participating organizations: Creative Generation, Black Lives Matter at School, Teaching Artists Guild, and Zinn Education Project.
March
Loving Engagement and Empathy

It's Student Activity Month! Let's celebrate Barbara Johns and the many, many, many Black student activists at the forefront of liberation!We are committed to embodying and practicing justice, liberation, and peace in our engagements with one another.
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Loving Engagement

Empathy
We are committed to practicing empathy; we engage comrades with the intent to learn about and connect with their contexts.

As our supporter and follower @classroomforchange said, we must never underestimate the power of student activism!! Here are some highlights from students using their voices during the BLM At School Week of Action in February.

For BLM At School, March is Student Activist Month. For this month's Member Meet-Up, we are offering a student meeting space. We want to meet with you and learn about how youth are supported in your schools and hear your ideas about how Black Lives Matter at School National Committees can support you. Whether you are already active in organizing your community or you are interested in starting to organize in your area, this space is for you. Come get connected with other like-minded young people! One hour meeting. Register - bit.ly/MM-3-2023.
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Graphic Description: Text that states "Member Meet-Up on Sunday, March 26, 5pm ET. This month: Student Meeting Space - A time for check-ins, report backs, and a group needs assessment. Register - bit.ly/MM-3-2023." Black background with profile of a Black woman on the right.
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February
Unapologetically Black

To celebrate the birthdays of Audre Lorde and Toni Morrison, and to live in their embodiment of their unforgiving and unapologetic commitment to be their whole selves, we invite folks to complete Lorde's Questionnaire to Oneself and watch Morrison speak about what it means to continue writing in the face of hate.
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To return to this work day in and out, is an ongoing practice. It reaches far beyond a week of action and asks us to remain committed to hope and transformation. Let us too, live in the essence of Lorde and Morrison, to continue our commitment to teaching truthful histories and amassing the powerful practices, creative tools, and key strategies by which past, present, and future generations can advance the struggle of Black liberation.

January
Queer Organizing Behind the Scenes
We recognize that Queer people have always been a part of social change and are committed to fostering a queer‐affirming network. When we gather, we do so with the intention of freeing ourselves from the tight grip of heteronormative thinking or, rather, the belief that all in the world are heterosexual unless disclose otherwise.

​Saturday, December 3, is International People's With Disabilities Day. To fight against societal ableism, we must celebrate our differences and understand how the lessons from Black disabled organizers teach us how to build inclusive, accessible movements. Uplift the principles of globalism and collective value by incorporating the following resources into education spaces and personal practices.

As an outcome of internal talks on what it means to organize through a Black Queer Feminist lens, ABOLITION DAY expands upon BLM at School's "Justice for George" Day as a tribute to the continuing legacy of Black-led abolitionist organizing which have incited justice-oriented transformations of our world. We commit to continue to lift up the names and memories of our beloved ancestors in the global struggle against state violence, which have always included the leadership of those of oppressed genders, national origins, abilities, sexualities, and more.ACCESS RESOURCES HERE:

Expanding beyond U.S. borders to make connections with movements from Ayiti (Haiti) to Boriquien (Puerto Rico) and Palestine, ABOLITION DAY is a platform for students, educators, and community groups to investigate the ever-present opportunities to overturn policies which promote subjugation, dispossession, and premature death toward co-constructing life-making, earth-nurturing, communities of care.

bit.ly/abolitionday22
​

LEARN MORE HERE: Join us in LIVING the Year of Purpose.

When Black Lives Matter At School launched the Year of Purpose framework, moving beyond our Week of Action, we invited educators to ponder several questions that ask educators to reflect on their practices and organizing work as the school year begins. This year, we're asking folks to submit testimonials (audio, video, image, text document) that answer those questions, as we collectively ground ourselves and set our intentions for the upcoming school year.

bit.ly/startyearofpurpose22

Learn from these two scholar- activists who document how Black-led education organizing in Philadelphia and Chicago actively struggled to reshape public education to serve Black liberation.

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National coalition organizing for racial justice in education.

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Black Educators (certified and classified) please share your response to "What should white colleagues be mindful of in their professional and personal spaces with you to show that they support you?"

Share your thoughts via FlipGrid.

White and non-black educators, listen for action during today's Social Media Action. Reflect on:

What actions have been taken at the district, building, PLC team, and individual level that support Black teachers?"

How are members of privileged groups in USD 497 leveraging their privilege to ensure that Black educators are recruited and retained in our district?

Then, begin to plan for action on how you will support Black educators in professional and personal spaces.

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Flipgrid is where social and emotional learning happens! The leading video discussion platform for millions of PreK to PhD educators, students, and families.

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The National Education Association (NEA), the nation's largest professional employee organization, is committed to advancing the cause of public education. NEA's 3 million members work at every level of education-from pre-school to university graduate programs. NEA has affiliate organizations in every state and in more than 14,000 communities across the United States.

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NEA - Black Lives Matter at School Spotlights Racial Justice in Education

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NEA - Black Lives Matter at School Spotlights Racial Justice in Education

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Jesse Hagopian i s an ethnic studies teacher at Garfield High School in Seattle and a member of the Seattle Education Association (SEA)/Washington Education Association (WEA). As co-editor of Teaching for Black Lives, he helped organize Black Lives Matter at School (BLM at School), a national coalition of educators organizing for racial justice in education. Coalition leaders have encouraged educators, students, parents, union members, community leaders and others to join their annual “week of action,” this year set for February 4-8.

Hagopian explains the beginnings, objectives, and ever-widening scope of BLM at School.

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Jesse Hagopian is an ethnic studies teacher at Garfield High School in Seattle and a member of the Seattle Education Association (SEA)/Washington Education Association (WEA). As co-editor of Teaching for Black Lives, he helped organize Black Lives Matter at School (BLM at School), a national coalition of educators organizing for racial justice in education. Coalition leaders have encouraged educators, students, parents, union members, community leaders and others to join their annual "week of action," this year set for February 4-8. Hagopian explains the beginnings, objectives, and ever-widening scope of BLM at School. When did Black Lives Matter at School start?

JH: October 19, 2016, marked our formal beginning when thousands of educators arrived at John Muir Elementary School here in Seattle wearing shirts that read, "Black Lives Matter: We Stand Together." Hundreds of families and students too. Many of the shirts also included the message "#SayHerName," a campaign to raise awareness about the state of violence and assault against women in the U.S.
What role did educators play during the movement's early stages?
JH: Teachers, education support professionals (ESP), and community members came together in solidarity. It was educators at the school, along with a group called Black Men United to Change the Narrative, who expressed an interest in organizing an event to celebrate black students early that school year. An art teacher, Julie Trout, designed a beautiful shirt that said "Black Lives Matter, We Stand Together." When white nationalists found out about these activities, they sent hate mail to the school. One hateful person made a bomb threat on the school.
How were SEA members involved?
JH: Way before our day of action (October 19), several members of SEA's social justice caucus, which we call Social Equity Educators, met with educators at John Muir about the event. At SEA, we passed a resolution in support of this day of action, but we weren't sure if people would really follow through and take action on October 19. Then the T-shirt orders started coming in, first by the hundreds and then the thousands. We ended up with somewhere around 3,000 educators in Seattle out of 5,000 who went to their schools wearing shirts that said "Black Lives Matter." Many educators taught lessons about institutional racism that day. What's incredible is that educators in Rochester, N.Y., and Philadelphia saw what we had done and organized their own BLM at School actions independent of us. Philly educators were the first to expand the day of action to a whole week of action.
That must have made you very proud.
JH: Yes. We began coordinating with them in 2017 to have a national Black Lives Matter at School Week. Word got around. Last year, thousands of teachers in 20 cities across the country participated in the week of action.
How do leaders and activists in different states coordinate events related to BLM at Schools?
JH: We communicate and organize around monthly national conference calls that anyone who supports the mission and goals of the movement can join. Through elections, we identified a steering committee that helps organize various activities and agendas for other various committees that have been formed. We have a curriculum committee, and a student creative challenge committee that helps kids create art that can inspire people to join this movement. We have a media committee, an outreach committee. It's being organized predominantly by educators and some parents around the country who are doing this for free and with no budget.
How is NEA involved?
JH: We got NEA to vote to support BLM at School week. Many different union locals are also passing resolutions and debating these issues out city by city. There's a tremendous amount of power in bringing together social issues and anti-racist movements with the power of labor. We're beginning to see the red state teachers' revolt move into blue states. I think NEA's ability to bring in issues of over-policing of black and brown kids into the message about fighting for funding and teacher pay will help them be successful in winning that strike and transforming public education. (NOTE: NEA has curated and developed resources helpful to educators. For more, click EdJustice BLM@School. Also, see BLM@School U.S. map showing details on school events near you.)

What's behind the new "demand" item this year: Fund Counselors Not Cops?

JH: In 2018, various groups coalesced as a national movement. We identified three demands: End zero-tolerance discipline and replace it with restorative justice; hire more black teachers and offer black history and ethnic studies in the schools. In addition, we broke down the guiding principles of the BLM Global Network into teaching points for each day of the week. This year, we added a fourth demand, which is "fund counselors not cops."

The demand is a response to the growing movement in this country introduced by a group called, Dignity in Schools. There are numerous examples over the last couple of years of brutality that some police bring into our schools. Recently, the ACLU won a settlement for third graders in Kentucky who were handcuffed by police officers ... not around the wrists because their wrists were too small but instead around the biceps. These were special needs kids, Latino and black, who were having some trouble. Instead of getting help, they were further traumatized. We are now in a situation in America where there are 1.6 million children who go to a school that doesn't have a counselor but that does have a police officer.
NEA: What are you hoping to accomplish regarding this year's week of action?

JH: We hope to engage tens of thousands of students across the country in lessons that illuminate the 13 principles of the BLM movement. In addition, we hope to help transform unions so they see how much more powerful our movements can be if we challenge anti-black racism head on, and bring in black struggle and incorporate it into the union struggle. With that in mind, one of the new features this year is that we're calling on educators, students, parents and community members to hold rallies in their cities on Wednesday (6th), or a day that makes sense for their local, at their school board building or city hall. We are asking for support of our four demands. We hope that this direct action and rally will pressure school districts to make the reforms that are so desperately needed.

National Demands for BLM in School Week of Action

End Zero Tolerance. Focus our Schools on Restorative Justice
The over-policing, out of control suspensions, and expulsions must be brought to an immediate end. To rebuild our structures, we will focus our resources on restorative justice-the organic appointment of community leaders; mediation and processing; and equitable perspectives on rehabilitation. Ending zero tolerance and focusing our schools around restorative justice will honor an autonomous voice and vision for students, staff and faculty.

Hire More Black Teachers in our Schools
Nine U.S. cities demonstrate a rapid decline in the number of Black Teachers: Boston, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland, New Orleans, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington DC. We must increase teacher retention and opportunities for teachers of color.

Black History/Ethnic Studies Mandated K-12
A classroom is incomplete if there is only one history taught to its students. The exclusion of Black History and Ethnic studies curriculum must end. Our students of color deserve to feel empowered in the classroom, by seeing themselves in the curriculum and reading materials. Black History and Ethnic Studies must be included in K-12 classrooms.

Fund Counselors Not Cops
This demand is simple: children need counselors not cops. Schools today spend an enormous amount of their financial resources hiring school resource officers and local police officers. These same schools often lack enough counselors for students to receive the support they need. The reality is our schools need counselors for children. The amount of racial trauma and adverse childhood experiences Black students experience continues to increase. We demand that schools provide counselors who have manageable caseloads that allow them to provide quality service to all students.

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Black Lives Matter at School Spotlights Racial Justice in Education | NEA

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Jesse Hagopian is an ethnic studies teacher at Garfield High School in Seattle and a member of the Seattle Education Association (SEA)/Washington Education Association (WEA). As co-editor of Teaching for Black Lives, he helped organize Black Lives Matter at School (BLM at School), a national coalition of educators organizing for racial justice in education.

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Share via your social media platforms:

How do you build lesson plans where Black voices are included and celebrated?

Have you considered collecting data to hold yourself accountable for implicit bias? (For example, keeping tally of your praise-correction ratio or disaggregating academic data in your PLC team and in your building)

Tag
@LawrenceEdAssoc
@BLMAtSchool
#LEAStrongForBLM
#blacklivesmatteratschool

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Black Lives Matter at Schools Reflection Question

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Black Lives Matter at Schools Reflection Question

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"How are school-wide policies and practices – especially disciplinary practices – applied across categories of race? Do problematic patterns emerge when we look at how policies are applied to Black students and when we also consider the intersections of gender, sexual orientation, and (dis)ability with Blackness?"

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NEA - "What Our Students Need Now: Virtual School Culture That Is Healthy, Just and Strong"

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NEA - "What Our Students Need Now: Virtual School Culture That Is Healthy, Just and Strong"

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How can I support the students within my classroom?

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At a time when many students are learning in virtual settings, educators and administrators must address discriminatory policies and practices that often contribute to disproportionate discipline.

School is a place where childhood happens. And most of us believe that every child, whatever their color, background or zip code, has the right to learn in a supportive environment that respects their humanity, upholds their dignity, and responds fairly to mistakes and missteps.

We are in unprecedented times, and now more than ever, the school community has the opportunity and the responsibility to focus on what matters most - safe, just and healthy students and school communities.

At a time when many students are learning in virtual settings, educators and administrators must address discriminatory policies and practices that often contribute to disproportionate discipline. For far too long data has shown that Black, Brown, Indigenous and LGBT students are more likely to be disciplined and disciplined more harshly than their white peers for the same behavior.

States, districts and educators can create safer and more inclusive learning environments using evidence-based strategies that empower students to learn and thrive.

Respect that students' homes or places of residence are not a classroom.

Educators who lead on practices and policies that support student academic, social and emotional health - no matter where a student is learning - establish stronger relationships and improve school climate and student outcomes.

Cameras don't measure engagement. Allow students to keep them turned off. Forcing students to turn on cameras will not result in greater student success.

Acknowledge that students learning at home may be in spaces with other siblings and or in close proximity to family members; students may not have access to devices or Wi-Fi; or may only be accessing class via a phone.

A growing population of students are homeless, in the foster care system, and/or transitional housing. Many students do not have a designated work space in their homes.

Respect student privacy issues regarding cameras - many students do not want to share their home environment and requiring them to turn on cameras could be traumatic.

Students should not be penalized for opening up their learning spaces to their educators or classmates. Administrators should provide educators with a clear guidance how to connect student with the school and community supports available to them.

Classroom recording policies should balance student and educator privacy needs.

When students feel supported and engaged you may find they turn their cameras on and want to be seen.

Remove discriminatory dress codes

Many school dress codes were discriminatory before the pandemic, predominantly targeting girls, and remain discriminatory in virtual learning.

Many school dress codes were discriminatory before the pandemic, predominantly targeting girls, and remain discriminatory in virtual learning where strict dress codes and enforcement fail to support engaged student learning.

The focus on controlling student attire - whether a student can wear pajamas, how they are wearing their hair, or even requiring students to wear shoes while in virtual learning - misses an opportunity to build relationships with students and focus attention on instruction and emotional health.

Black students, particularly Black girls, are disproportionately disciplined by discriminatory dress code policies -in the school setting and may be at more risk in a virtual setting.

Policing dress codes while students are in their homes, infringes on student's comfort and privacy and places educators in an enforcement role when they need to be building strong student relationships.

Adding dress codes to a long list of things students are worrying about in their lives and in school discourages real meaningful engagement in learning.

Relaxing dress code policies during virtual learning can provide an opening to revisit overall school policies that over-emphasize compliance over social, emotional and academic development.

End student suspensions and expulsions

The use of suspension and expulsion, "zero-tolerance" policies that criminalize minor infractions of school rules, increased policing and surveillance in schools, and overreliance on exclusionary disciplinary referrals to law enforcement and juvenile justice authorities and now child protective services, deny students learning opportunities and prevent them from getting the school-based support they need.

Harsh school discipline policies that failed students before the pandemic continue to fail students in virtual learning.

Instead of punishing and criminalizing young people for minor infractions, educators must be allowed to support students in need and help maximize their participation for engaged and effective learning.

Whether in a virtual or in-person setting, student behavioral issues are best met with an investment in restorative practices, coordination with the school counseling team and community support services.

Support social, emotional and physical health & wellness

Students from K-12 are being asked to be on screen for hours at a time, many without real support because families are struggling with balancing work, job loss and health crises while students are learning at home. In this moment, nothing is more important than the health and wellbeing of students, their families, and our school communities.

Schools are a source of meals, counseling and connection for many students. At a time when an increasing number of students are facing grief and anxiety due to family health, economic and housing insecurity, educators and schools can regularly provide ways to access school and community based support.

Virtual and hybrid-learning provide an opportunity for school leaders to connect students with school and community supports. Meal distribution and food pantries, online and in-person trauma informed counseling, and health services are part of a network of school and community aid that is critical to many families.

By allowing students the flexibility to take care of their physical and emotional health - for instance eating during class to receive nourishment when they need it most or allowing more time for assignments - educators are supporting student wellness while also teaching self-care and community care.

Identify students that need extra support like students with language access needs and students with disabilities.

Finding ways to check-in with students regularly meeting 1:1 or in small groups can open lines of communication to better understand the challenges students may be facing.

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What Our Students Need Now: Virtual School Culture That Is Healthy, Just and Strong - NEA EdJustice

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At a time when many students are learning in virtual settings, educators and administrators must address discriminatory policies and practices that often contribute to disproportionate discipline. School is a place where childhood happens. And most of us believe that every child, whatever their color, background or zip code, has the right to learn in a ...

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How does your classroom visually represent your students?

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How does your classroom visually represent your students?

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Resource for Finding Inclusive Clip-Art Images

I found this website when trying to create content that represented my diverse students.  You can set up a free account and have access to the images.  I have also communicated with the CEO about adding images of people with disabilities.

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We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to bringing diversity to the visuals and videos that surround children in their classrooms. We do this through this website where we produce free media content for teachers. Whether an illustration of classroom behavior for Kindergarteners, or videos of diverse professional role models for 5th graders, the visuals used to instruct our students should reflect student diversity.

Our work is critical because it literally shows students that the classroom is for them. It gives them a reason to believe that the lessons they learn in it have purpose for them and their peers. Find out more here.

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We are a nonprofit bringing diversity to the visuals and videos that surround our students in the classroom. Visuals show students the class is for them. Whether a cartoon to illustrate a class behavior, or a video giving role models they identify with, the visuals that surround our students should

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The LEA Racial & Social Justice Committee wants to focus on community organizing and engagement to work together to promote safe and just schools while supporting our community needs.

The groups we will be connecting with are below. We will be actively seeking out other organizations who would like to work with us.

USD 497 - Staff of Color

USD 497 - Black Student Alliances (LHS)

USD 497 - Native American Student Services & Inter-tribal Club

USD 497 - Gender & Sexuality Alliances (K-12)

BLM-LFK

BLM Topeka

PAL-CWA

Lawrence Education Justice Collective

Sunrise Project

Sanctuary Alliance

POOCH - People’s Owned and Operated Collective Housing

Lawrence Mutual Aid Network

Black Student Union - KU

Black Student Alliance - LHS

BLACK Lawrence

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Black Lives Matter at Schools Reflection Question

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Black Lives Matter at Schools Reflection Question

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"In what ways do our practices erase the histories of our students and prevent them from bringing their whole selves into the learning environment?"

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When we join together - families, educators and community leaders - we can create learning environments where every student can learn and grow. But for far too long, certain policymakers and administrators have dismissed and discriminated against, Black, brown and Indigenous educators, denying our neighborhood schools the diverse perspectives and cultures of care that our students deserve. Across race and place, educators and allies are coming together -Black, brown, Asian, Native and newcomer- to make education justice real for all of us -no exceptions.
Podcast: Too Dope Teachers and a Mic - They Don't Know Who We Be - Evaluations and BIPOC Teachers
Evaluations are a loaded and emotional experience for all teachers, but the biases and assumptions that BIPOC teachers, especially Black teachers, have even more dire consequences. We sit down and discuss a number of studies regarding the evaluations and teachers of color, and call upon administrators, coaches, and other teacher evaluators to recognize the fraught situation that is the yearly appraisal.

It comes down to the lyrics of DMX's "Who We Be," because for many teachers of color, their leaders don't know...who we be. Take heed: this disruptive episode will ask you to re-think how you coach your teachers in general, but especially your teachers of color.

Additional Resources:

The Radical Imagination of Black Educators: Past and Future Directions for the Education Justice Movement
SchottFoundation.org, September 30, 2020

Diversifying the Teaching Profession: How to Recruit and Retain Teachers of Color
Learning Policy Institute, April 19, 2018

Want to Support Black Students? Invest in Black Teachers
Time, August 11, 2020

Recruiting and Retaining Teachers of Color: Why It Matters, Ways to Do It
Education Week, June 30, 2020

Back to School: A Survival Guide For Teachers Of Color
SolidarityWOC.com, August 31, 2017

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When we join together - families, educators and community leaders - we can create learning environments where every student can learn and grow. But for far too long, certain policymakers and administrators have dismissed and discriminated against, Black, brown and Indigenous educators, denying our neighborhood schools the diverse perspectives and cultures of care that our ...

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EVENT: Educators for Black Lives | BLM in Schools

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EVENT: Educators for Black Lives | BLM in Schools

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Time: 4 PM CST

Dr. Denisha Jones, and Jesse Hagopian will discuss their newly published book An Uprising for Educational Justice: Black Lives Matter At School published by Haymarket books. Speakers will discuss their organizing around BLM in their school communities alongside colleagues, students, and families. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about Black Lives Matter At School’s National Demands, Year of Purpose, and Week of Action, and resources for educators for organizing with your own school community. This will be a webinar format, open to the public, and time will be left for participant questions. We hope you will join us!

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Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Educators for Black Lives | BLM in Schools. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

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Dr. Denisha Jones, and Jesse Hagopian will discuss their newly published book An Uprising for Educational Justice: Black Lives Matter At School published by Haymarket books. Speakers will discuss their organizing around BLM in their school communities alongside colleagues, students, and families.

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Share your response on Flipgrid:

What are you going to do differently this year to further the movement for Black lives in our school?

How will you support and elevate Black educators and Black students within your building and within your classroom?

How will you continue to grow your racial consciousness to further interrogate your personal bias and grow your practices to support Black students and Black educators within your personal and professional spaces?

How will you continue to show that Black lives matter in your classroom today and everyday? What specific actions will you take?

How will you hold yourself accountable to these actions? Do you need an accountability partner to ensure the work is done? How can the LEA Racial and Social Justice Committee support you on your journey?

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Flipgrid is where social and emotional learning happens! The leading video discussion platform for millions of PreK to PhD educators, students, and families.

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Black Lives Matter at Schools Reflection Question

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Black Lives Matter at Schools Reflection Question

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"What is our school’s relationship to Black community organizing? Do we have relationships with local movement organizers? Do they see our school as a place that believes in their mission? Do they see our school as a place to connect with local families?"

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Abolitionist Teaching Network Wisdom Fridays

Time: 7 PM CST

Register

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This is a great list of questions to ask yourself as you think about how to make Black Lives Matter at School. Additionally, consider addressing these questions with your teammates and other staff members.

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As you think about how you are going to do things differently during  our year of purpose, it's important we continue to educate ourselves. Here is a great list of books for educators. We encourage you to pick a book and discuss with fellow educators using the CSRC.

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Share via your social media platforms:

How do you ensure that Black stories are being brought into your classroom more than one month of the year?

What lenses and questioning do you use to ensure that your Black students are lifted with those stories?

What stories and materials are you sharing to your students? Have you taken them through the USD 497's Culturally Sustaining Resource Criteria?

Tag
@LawrenceEdAssoc
@BLMAtSchool
#LEAStrongForBLM
#blacklivesmatteratschool

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Black Lives Matter at Schools Reflection Question

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Black Lives Matter at Schools Reflection Question

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"How are the voices, accomplishments, and successes of Black folx uplifted in my lessons, units, and curriculum? Rather than focus on singular events or individuals, does my approach highlight the everyday actions and community organizing that will lead to change?"

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Using the CSRC to reflect & interrogate what you are bringing into your classroom

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Using the CSRC to reflect & interrogate what you are bringing into your classroom

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For LEA members, use this resource criteria tool to take your lesson, book, video, or other classroom material through to reflect on what you are using within your classroom and how you are using it. Take it further by creating a diverse group with multiple perspectives to engage in reflection for your classroom material and allow the CSRC to guide the discussion while adding recommendations for a more culturally sustaining lesson.

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USD 497 - Culturally Sustainable Resource Criteria (2020)

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Select a rich text that celebrates and honors Black lives; build a collaborative lesson with your colleagues that can be used across grade levels.

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What books are you and your kids looking forward to reading in 2020? We're entering this new decade with another epic list of diverse reads to share with you. Ready?

Most of the books listed here are recommended either for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and early elementary readers since my children fall within those groups and so do the little readers in my core target audience. However, I've also included a few middle grade and young adult books for slightly older readers to enjoy as well. The best part is most of these books are available for pre-order now so you can get a head start on your shopping.

Rest assured, I've selected what I think will be the "best of the best" in terms of diverse books. I know other amazing books will be released throughout the year, but these are the ones that were on my radar right now. As other books are released, I will come back and make changes to this post throughout the year so be sure to check it periodically or bookmark it to read later.

I'm definitely looking forward to sharing most (if not all) of these books with my little readers. As always, I tried to target books that will likely have: stunning illustrations, read aloud appeal, a kid-friendly theme - or all three! Enjoy!

Note: ** Since other countries have different release dates, some of these books may be released earlier or later internationally than the months I have listed as publication dates do sometimes change. **

Check out our lists from previous years: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016

With the help of her family and friends, can Mindy find a way to still enjoy her old holiday traditions, and create new ones along the way?

Hosea Plays On by Kathleen M. Blasi (Author), Shane W. Evans (Illustrator) Ages 3 - 9

This heartwarming picture book (based on a true story) depicts a day in the life of Hosea Taylor, a musician who-with his charm, talent, and generosity-brought joy to everyone he met. Every day, Hosea takes the Number 42 bus into the city to play his shiny brass saxophone-and to hopefully earn enough money. Setting up in his favorite place, Hosea makes sweet music as people greet him with a smile, a little girl dances, and crowds surround him. A surprise ending reveals what the money is really for.

Inspired by the #SayHerName campaign launched by the African American Policy Forum, these poems pay tribute to victims of police brutality as well as the activists insisting that Black Lives Matter. Elliott engages poets from the past two centuries to create a chorus of voices celebrating the creativity, resilience, and courage of Black women and girls.

This collection features forty-nine powerful poems, four of which are tribute poems inspired by the works of Lucille Clifton, Audre Lorde, Nikki Giovanni, and Phillis Wheatley.

From acclaimed author and illustrator pairing comes a beautiful picture book biography about the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin and how she fought for respect throughout her life. Aretha Franklin is the Queen of Soul, a legend. But before she became a star, she was a shy little girl with a voice so powerful it made people jump up, sway, and hum along.

Mamie "Peanut" Johnson had one dream: to play professional baseball. She was a talented player, but she wasn't welcome in the segregated All-American Girls Pro Baseball League due to the color of her skin. However, a greater opportunity came her way in 1953 when Johnson signed to play ball for the Negro Leagues' Indianapolis Clowns, becoming the first female pitcher to play on a men's professional team. During the three years she pitched for the Clowns, her record was an impressive 33-8. But more importantly, she broke ground for other female athletes and for women everywhere.

The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita Lorraine Hubbard, illustrated by Oge Mora (Ages 4-8)

From sunset to bedtime, two brown-skinned parents lovingly care for their beautiful brown baby: first, they play outside, then it is time for dinner and a bath, and finally a warm snuggle before bed.

Earth Hour: A Lights-Out Event for Our Planet by Nanette Heffernan, illustrated by Bao Luu (Ages 3- 7)

Earth Hour-a worldwide movement in support of energy conservation and sustainability-takes place each March and is sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF). During Earth Hour, individuals, communities, and businesses in more than 7,000 cities turn off nonessential electric lights for one hour. Across each continent-from the Eiffel Tower to the Great Wall of China to the Statue of Liberty-one small act reminds all of us of our enormous impact on planet Earth.

A Ride to Remember: A Civil Rights Story by Sharon Langley (Author), Amy Nathan (Author), Floyd Cooper (Illustrator) Ages 6-9

A Ride to Remember tells how a community came together-both black and white-to make a change. When Sharon Langley was born in the early 1960s, many amusement parks were segregated, and African-American families were not allowed entry. This book reveals how in the summer of 1963, due to demonstrations and public protests, the Gwynn Oak Amusement Park in Maryland became desegregated and opened to all for the first time.

This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons On How to Wake Up, Take Action and Do the Work by Tiffany Jewell, illustrated by Aurelia Durand (Ages 11 - 15)

Gain a deeper understanding of your anti-racist self as you progress through 20 chapters that spark introspection, reveal the origins of racism that we are still experiencing, and give you the courage and power to undo it. Each chapter builds on the previous one as you learn more about yourself and racial oppression. Exercise prompts get you thinking and help you grow with the knowledge.

This title introduces readers to Harriet Tubman and how she became a shero to free as many enslaved people as possible through the Underground Railroad.

Heidi Woodward Sheffield (Illustrator) Ages 4-7 Are Your Stars Like My Stars? by Leslie Helakoski (Author),

No matter where they live, all children gaze at the blue sky, bask in the warmth of the golden sun, dig in the rich dirt, and watch clouds grow soft and rosy at end of day. Through the eyes of one inquisitive and thoughtful young narrator, young readers explore the idea of perspective, and come to realize that all of us, everywhere, share the colors of the world. The gentle, poetic text and gorgeous collaged illustrations make this just right to say goodnight.

Freedom Bird: A Tale of Hope and Courage by Jerdine Nolen, James E. Ransome (Ages 5 - 9)

Brother and sister Millicent and John are slaves on Simon Plenty's plantation and have suffered one hurt and heartbreak after another. Their parents had told them old tales of how their ancestors had flown away to freedom just as free and easy as a bird. Millicent and John hold these stories in their hearts long after their parents are gone. "Maybe such a time will come for you," their parents said. Then one day a mysterious bird appears in their lives. The bird transforms them and gives them the courage to set their plan into motion and escape to freedom.

Then Savannah meets Lloyd, a young West Indian man from the working class who opens Savannah's eyes to how the other half lives. Inspired to fight for change, Savannah starts attending suffragist lectures and socialist meetings, finding herself drawn more and more to Lloyd's world.

Althea Gibson: The Story of Tennis' Fleet-of-Feet Girl by Megan Reid, Laura Freeman Ages 4-8

Because of segregation, black people weren't allowed to compete against white people in sports. Althea didn't care. She just wanted to play tennis against the best athletes in the world. And with skill and determination, she did just that, eventually becoming the first black person-man or woman-to win a trophy at Wimbledon.

The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver by Gene Baretta, Frank Morrison Ages 4-8

When George Washington Carver was just a young child, he had a secret: a garden of his own.

Here, he rolled dirt between his fingers to check if plants needed more rain or sun. He protected roots through harsh winters, so plants could be reborn in the spring. He trimmed flowers, spread soil, studied life cycles. And it was in this very place that George's love of nature sprouted into something so much more-his future.

Little Martin grew up in a family of preachers: his dad was a preacher, his uncle was a preacher, his grandfather was a preacher...so maybe he'd become a great preacher too. One day, a friend invited him to play at his house. Martin was shocked when his mother wouldn't let him in because he was black. That day he realized there was something terribly unfair going on. Martin believed that no one should remain silent and accept something if it's wrong. And he promised himself that-when he grew up-he'd fight injustice with the most powerful weapon of all: words.

Echo Brown is a wizard from the East Side, where apartments are small and parents suffer addictions to the white rocks. Yet there is magic . . . everywhere. New portals begin to open when Echo transfers to the rich school on the West Side, and an insightful teacher becomes a pivotal mentor.

Each day, Echo travels between two worlds, leaving her brothers, her friends, and a piece of herself behind on the East Side. There are dangers to leaving behind the place that made you. Echo soon realizes there is pain flowing through everyone around her, and a black veil of depression threatens to undo everything she's worked for.

Who Did It First? 50 Politicians, Activists, and Entrepreneurs Who Revolutionized the World brings together all of these trailblazers into one stunning package. With both well-known figures and lesser-known heroes, this book is a celebration of the inspiring innovators who braved uncharted waters to pave the path for future generations.

Cece loves science―and experimenting! In this Cece Loves Science Level 3 I Can Read!, Cece's teacher, Miss Curie, explains the opposite forces of push and pull. To demonstrate this concept, she divides the class into two teams. Each team must make a treat dispenser for Cece's dog, Einstein, that uses both forces. Cece and her classmates rely on science, creativity, and teamwork―and they learn a lot along the way.

The Cece Loves Science books introduce readers to basic concepts of science, technology, engineering, and math, and are perfect for the classroom. This Level 3 I Can Read! focuses on basic scientific vocabulary and includes a glossary of terms and fun activities for readers to try on their own.

In 1870 Benjamin Turner, who spent the first 40 years of his life as a slave, was elected to the U.S. Congress. He was the first African American from Alabama to earn that distinction. In a recreation of Turner's own words, based on speeches and other writings that Turner left behind, co-authors Marti S. Rosner and Frye Gaillard have crafted the story of a remarkable man who taught himself to read when he was young and began a lifetime quest for education and freedom.

Yusra Swims by Julie Aberry, Sally Deng (Ages 6 - 8)

A biography in rhyme relates the story of Olympic swimmer and Syrian refugee Yusra Mardini.

All of a Sudden and Forever: Help and Healing after the Oklahoma City Bombing by Chris Barton (Author), Nicole Xu (Illustrator) Ages 7 - 11

Released to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, this book commemorates what was lost and offers hope for the future.

Sometimes bad things happen, and you have to tell everyone. Sometimes terrible things happen, and everybody knows. On April 19, 1995, something terrible happened in Oklahoma City: a bomb exploded, and people were hurt and killed. But that was not the end of the story. Those who survived―and those who were forever changed―shared their stories and began to heal. Near the site of the bomb blast, an American elm tree began to heal as well. People took care of the tree just as they took care of each other. The tree and its seedlings now offer solace to people around the world grappling with tragedy and loss.

Part Ojibwe and part white, River lives with her white mother and stepfather on a farm in Ontario. Teased about her Indigenous heritage as a young girl, she feels like she doesn't belong and struggles with her identity.

Now eighteen and just finished high school, River travels to Winnipeg to spend the summer with her Indigenous father and grandmother, where she sees firsthand what it means to be an "urban Indian."

Music Is My Life: Soundtrack your mood with 80 artists for every occasion by Myles Tanzer, Ali Mac Ages 8 - 12

Do you remember the first time you discovered an artist you really loved? Have you listened to them over and over again at different points throughout your life? This book harnesses that feeling, by collecting together 80 of music's finest artists to guide young people through the good, bad and sad times. Whatever the feeling, these artists have been there and sung about it. Organised by mood, young ones can dip into the library to discover new artists from decades past to present day. Fall in love with John Legend, shout about it with Nirvana, love yourself with Lizzo, or cry it out with Adele. With 80 artists, bands, and composers from all genres (including classical) there's something for every family member to love and recommend to the next generation.

A little boy who lives with his grandpa isn't reprimanded for being afraid to go to school one day. Instead, Big Papa takes him away in his time machine-a 1952 Ford-back to all of the times when he, himself, was scared of something life was handing him.

Full of heartfelt moments and thrilling magical realism, Big Papa and the Time Machine speaks to the African American experience in a touching dialogue between two family members from different generations, and emerges as a voice that shares history and asks questions about one family's experience in 20th-century black America.

Dictionary for a Better World: Poems, Quotes, and Anecdotes from A to Z by Irene Latham (Author), Charles Waters Mehrdokht Amini Ages 8-12

How can we make the world a better place? This inspiring resource for middle-grade readers is organized as a dictionary; each entry presents a word related to creating a better world, such as ally, empathy, or respect. For each word, there is a poem, a quote from an inspiring person, a personal anecdote from the authors, and a "try it" prompt for an activity.

Growing up in the late 19th century, Laura Wheeler Waring didn't see any artists who looked like her. She didn't see any paintings of people who looked like her, either. As a young woman studying art in Paris, she found inspiration in the works of Matisse and Gaugin to paint the people she knew best. Back in Philadelphia, the Harmon Foundation commissioned her to paint portraits of accomplished African-Americans. Her portraits still hang in Washington DC's National Portrait Gallery, where children of all races can admire the beautiful shades of brown she captured.

It's springtime in Ms. Cupid's class, and the entire class is excited to build their very own leprechaun traps. Maybe, if they catch one, they will all get the gift of good luck!

And after a few magical clues, it looks like there might be a leprechaun on the loose in Frankie Sparks's house! Her best friend, Maya, is convinced the leprechaun exists, but Frankie has her doubts-especially when it feels like every trap she designs fails! Will Frankie and Maya find their lucky charm, or figure out how to create some luck all on their own?

The twenty groundbreaking women-including Rosalind Franklin, Marie Tharp, Shirley Anne Jackson, and more-came from all kinds of backgrounds and had all kinds of life experiences. Some grew up rich. Some grew up poor. Some were always the smartest kid in class. Some struggled to do well in school. But all had one thing in common: They were born curious. Are you curious, too?

Frances realized she had to make her voice heard, even when speaking made her uncomfortable, and use it to fight injustice and build programs to protect people across the nation. So when newly-elected President Franklin Delano Roosevelt finally asked Frances to be the first female Secretary of Labor and help pull the nation out of the Great Depression, she knew she had to walk through that open door and forward into history.

Read as part of the series or as a stand-alone novel! Arcade and the Fiery Metal Tester is the third book in the humorous and imaginative Coin Slot Chronicles series by New York Times bestselling author, former NFL running back, and Dancing with the Stars champion Rashad Jennings.

Where Mango goes, drama is sure to follow! It's summer break, and Mango is content to spend her time babysitting her brother, hanging with her friend Izzy, and binge-watching movies late into the night. Then she runs into her drama teacher, who has some big news: their middle school play Yo, Romeo! is headed to the stage in New York City . . . and he wants Mango for the lead role! After overcoming her mom's initial reluctance-and with some firm rules established-Mango goes off to Brooklyn to stay with her Aunt Zendaya in a teeny apartment and prepare for her theatrical debut. It's the opportunity of a lifetime, but soon Mango must confront homesickness, insecurity, and the all-important question of what it means to be a good friend-especially when you're far away from the people you love.

Jennifer Keelan was determined to make a change―even if she was just a kid. She never thought her wheelchair could slow her down, but the way the world around her was built made it hard to do even simple things. Like going to school, or eating lunch in the cafeteria.

Jennifer knew that everyone deserves a voice! Then the Americans with Disabilities Act, a law that would make public spaces much more accessible to people with disabilities, was proposed to Congress. And to make sure it passed, Jennifer went to the steps of the Capitol building in Washington DC to convince them. And, without her wheelchair, she climbed. ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP!

The most powerful pirate in history was a woman who was born into poverty in Guangzhou, China, in the late 1700s. When pirates attacked her town and the captain took a liking to her, she saw a way out. Zheng Yi Sao agreed to marry him only if she got an equal share of his business. When her husband died six years later, she took command of the fleet. Over the next decade, the pirate queen built a fleet of over 1,800 ships and 70,000 men. On land and sea, Zheng Yi Sao's power rivaled the emperor himself. Time and again, her ships triumphed over the emperor's ships.

Be You! by Peter H. Reynolds

Discover a joyful reminder of the ways that every child is unique and special, from the beloved creator of The Dot, Happy Dreamer, and New York Times bestseller, The Word Collector. Here, Reynolds reminds readers to "be your own work of art." To be patient, persistent, and true. Because there is one, and only one, YOU.

Violet Choudhury may be part of the popular clique at school, but as one of a handful of brown girls in a small Illinois town, all she really wants to do is blend in and disappear. Unfortunately for her, she's got a knack for seeing spirits, including the dead-something she's tried to ignore all her life. But when the queen bee of Violet's cheerleading squad ends up dead following a sex tape that's not as consensual as everyone wants to believe, Violet's friends from the spirit world decide it's the perfect time for Violet to test her skills and finally accept the legacy of spiritual fighters from whom she's descended. Her mission? Find the killer. Or else she's next.

A lyrical meditation on the preciousness of one child and the vastness of the universe, this gorgeously illustrated picture book shares the immensity of a parent's love along with the message that we are all connected to the broader cosmos in important and intimate ways.

Changing the Equation: 50+ US Black Women in STEM by Tonya Bolden

A celebratory and inspiring look at some of the most important black women in STEM
Award-winning author Tonya Bolden explores the black women who have changed the world of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) in America. Including groundbreaking computer scientists, doctors, inventors, physicists, pharmacists, mathematicians, aviators, and many more, this book celebrates more than 50 women who have shattered the glass ceiling, defied racial discrimination, and pioneered in their fields. In these profiles, young readers will find role models, inspirations, and maybe even reasons to be the STEM leaders of tomorrow. These stories help young readers to dream big and stay curious. The book includes endnotes, a bibliography, and an index.

From the New York Times bestselling creators of I Am Enough comes an empowering follow-up that celebrates every child's limitless potential. I Believe I Can is an affirmation for boys and girls of every background to love and believe in themselves.

Evonne grew up on a hot, dusty farm in Australia. She was the third of eight children, and descendant of the Wirundjuri people, who have lived on the land for more than 60,000 years. Her talent for tennis was discovered at a local tennis club, and before she knew it, the girl dreaming about the place called "Wimbledon" was playing on center court.

In this imaginatively illustrated book from the Work It, Girl series, discover how Michelle became an inspirational leader, FLOTUS, lawyer, author, and role model in this true story of her life. Then, learn 10 key lessons from her work you can apply to your own life.

Love Your Body by Jessica Sanders (Author), Carol Rossetti Ages 8 - 12

Love Your Body introduces the language of self-love and self-care to help build resilience, while representing and celebrating diverse bodies, encouraging you to appreciate your uniqueness. This book was written for every girl, regardless of how you view your body. All girls deserve to be equipped with the tools to navigate an image-obsessed world.

Omar and his younger brother, Hassan, have spent most of their lives in Dadaab, a refugee camp in Kenya. Life is hard there: never enough food, achingly dull, and without access to the medical care Omar knows his nonverbal brother needs. So when Omar has the opportunity to go to school, he knows it might be a chance to change their future . . . but it would also mean leaving his brother, the only family member he has left, every day.

Rafael Guastavino Sr. was 39 when he left a successful career as an architect in Barcelona. American cities―densely packed and built largely of wood―were experiencing horrific fires, and Guastavino had the solution: The soaring interior spaces created by his tiled vaults and domes made buildings sturdier, fireproof, and beautiful. What he didn't have was fluent English. Unable to win design commissions, he transferred control of the company to his American-educated son, whose subsequent half-century of inspired design work resulted in major contributions to the built environment of America.

Immigrant Architect is an introduction to architectural concepts and a timely reminder of immigrant contributions to America. The book includes four route maps for visiting Guastavino-designed spaces in New York City: uptown, midtown, downtown, and Prospect Park.

Alaa loves Aleppo, but when war comes his neighbors flee to safety, leaving their many pets behind. Alaa decides to stay-he can make a difference by driving an ambulance, carrying the sick and wounded to safety. One day he hears hungry cats calling out to him on his way home. They are lonely and scared, just like him. He feeds and pets them to let them know they are loved. The next day more cats come, and then even more! There are too many for Alaa to take care of on his own. Alaa has a big heart, but he will need help from others if he wants to keep all of his new friends safe.

How to Solve a Problem: The Rise (and Falls) of a Rock-Climbing Champion by Ashima Shiraishi, Yao Xiao

Ashima Shiraishi draws on her experience as a world-class climber in this story that challenges readers to tackle the problems in their own lives and rise to greater heights than they would have ever thought possible.

In My Anaana's Amautik by Nadia Sammurtok (Author), Lenny Lishchenko (Illustrator) Ages 3 - 7

Nadia Sammurtok lovingly invites the reader into the amautik―the pouch in the back of a mother's parka used to carry a child―to experience everything through the eyes of the baby nestled inside, from the cloudlike softness of the pouch to the glistening sound of Anaana 's laughter. Sweet and soothing, this book offers a unique perspective that will charm readers of all ages.

Bo the Brave by Bethan Woollvin (Author, Illustrator) (Ages 5-9 )

A feisty little girl learns who the real monsters are in this brilliantly funny medieval adventure.
Once, there lived a little girl called Bo. Bo wanted to be just like her brothers and capture a fearsome monster. Bo is small, too small to catch a monster―or so her brothers say. But Bo isn't one to take no for an answer, so she sets off on a quest to catch a monster of her own.

A hopeful and timely picture book about a spirited little girl living in a refugee camp.

Of all her friends, Abia has been at the Shimelba Refugee Camp the longest-seven years, four months, and sixteen days. Papa says that's too long and they need a forever home. Until then, though, Abia has something important to do. Be a queen.

A Journey Toward Hope tells the story of Rodrigo, a 14-year-old escaping Honduran violence; Alessandra, a 10-year-old Guatemalan whose first language is Q'eqchi'; and the Salvadoran siblings Laura and Nando. Though their reasons for making the journey are different and the journey northward is perilous, the four children band together, finding strength in one another as they share the dreams of their past and the hopes for their future.

Inspired by the eagerly awaited birth of her daughter, Kaavia James Union Wade, New York Times bestselling author and award-winning actress Gabrielle Union pens a festive and universal love letter from parents to little ones, perfect for welcoming a baby to the party of life!

She Persisted in Sports is a book for everyone who has ever aimed for a goal and been told it wasn't theirs to hit, for everyone who has ever raced for a finish line that seemed all too far away, and for everyone who has ever felt small or unimportant while out on the field.

It Doesn't Take a Genuis by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich Ages 10 - 15 and up

As Luke seems to be moving on to new adventures, Emmett struggles in unexpected ways, especially in swim class and the "It Takes A Village" entrepreneurship class. Without his brother to turn to for support, Emmett works to build a new crew of "superfriends," who'll help him plan something spectacular for the end-of-camp awards night and celebration. Along the way, Emmett learns that no matter what, there can be many ways to define family.

Based on the feature film Boy Genius, starring Miles Brown, Rita Wilson, and Nora Dunn.

One day, much to Swashby's chagrin, a young girl and her granny commandeer the empty house next door. All Swashby wants is for his new neighbors to GO AWAY and take their ruckus with them.

Decades later, a reporter caught wind of the news that an old man in the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home was actually a woman. The news swept through the country. What would happen to Albert and his military pension? Would he be allowed to continue to live as he wished? How would his friends, fellow soldiers, and others in the community react? This book is published in partnership with GLAAD to accelerate LGBTQ inclusivity and acceptance.

Federico and the Wolf by Rebecca J. Gomez (Author), Elisa Chavarri (Illustrator) Ages 4 - 7

With his red hoodie on and his bicycle basket full of food, Federico is ready to visit Abuelo. But on the way, he meets a hungry wolf. And now his grandfather bears a striking resemblance to el lobo. Fortunately, Federico is quick and clever-and just happens to be carrying a spicy surprise! Federico drives the wolf away, and he and Abuelo celebrate with a special salsa. Recipe included.

Biographies include:

Adam Rippon, Alan L. Hart, Alan Turing, Albert Cashier, Alberto Santos-Dumont, Alexander the Great, Al-Hakam II, Alvin Ailey, Bayard Rustin, Benjamin Banneker, Billie Jean King, Chevalier d'Éon, Christina of Sweden, Christine Jorgensen, Cleve Jones, Ellen DeGeneres, Francisco Manicongo, Frida Kahlo, Frieda Belinfante, Georgina Beyer, Gilbert Baker, Glenn Burke, Greta Garbo, Harvey Milk, James Baldwin, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, José Sarria, Josephine Baker, Juana Inés de la Cruz, Julie d'Aubigny, Lili Elbe, Ma Rainey, Magnus Hirschfeld, Manvendra Singh Gohil, Marsha P. Johnson, Martine Rothblatt, Maryam Khatoon Molkara, Natalie Clifford Barney, Navtej Johar, Nzinga, Pauli Murray, Renée Richards, Rudolf Nureyev, Sally Ride, Simon Nkoli, Stormé DeLarverie, Sylvia Rivera, Tshepo Ricki Kgositau, Wen of Han, We'Wha

In this deeply moving nonfiction picture book, award-winning author Caren Stelson brings Sachiko Yasui's story of surviving the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and her message of peace to a young audience.

Sachiko's family home was about half a mile from where the atomic bomb fell on August 9, 1945. Her family experienced devastating loss. When they returned to the rubble where their home once stood, her father miraculously found their serving bowl fully intact. This delicate, green, leaf-shaped bowl which once held their daily meals now holds memories of the past and serves as a vessel of hope, peace, and new traditions for Sachiko and the surviving members of her family.

From Children's Literature Legacy Award winner Nikki Grimes and highly-acclaimed illustrator Wendell Minor comes a stunning picture book about the beauty of the natural world and finding a new place to call home.

Every morning, a young girl walks her grandmother to the Aajibaichi Shala, the school that was built for the grandmothers in her village to have a place to learn to read and write. The narrator beams with pride as she drops her grandmother off with the other aajis to practice the alphabet and learn simple arithmetic. A moving story about family, women and the power of education-when Aaji learns to spell her name you'll want to dance along with her.

Women in countless countries continue to endure the limitations of illiteracy. Unjust laws have suppressed the rights of girls and women and kept many from getting an education and equal standing in society. Based on a true story from the village of Phangane, India, this brilliantly illustrated book tells the story of the grandmothers who got to go to school for the first time in their lives.

Once Upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy by 15 Muslim Voices by S. K. Ali, Aisha Saeed Ages 8 - 12

Once Upon an Eid is a collection of short stories that showcases the most brilliant Muslim voices writing today, all about the most joyful holiday of the year: Eid! Eid: The short, single-syllable word conjures up a variety of feelings and memories for Muslims. Maybe it's waking up to the sound of frying samosas or the comfort of bean pie, maybe it's the pleasure of putting on a new outfit for Eid prayers, or maybe it's the gift giving and holiday parties to come that day. Whatever it may be, for those who cherish this day of celebration, the emotional responses may be summed up in another short and sweet word: joy. The anthology will also include a poem, graphic-novel chapter, and spot illustrations.

Violet and Pablo are best friends who love science! So when they discover a riddle that opens a magic portal in the Science Space at school, they can't wait to check it out! Along with their new classmate, Deepak, the friends discover a magical makerspace called the Maker Maze. It's a laboratory full of robots, 3D printers, an antigravity chamber, and more. Doors line the walls of the makerspace, with a new science adventure waiting behind each one.

Violet and Pablo are best friends who love science! So when they discover a riddle that opens a magic portal in the brain fair at school, they can't wait to check it out! In this adventure, the friends enter the Maker Maze-a magical makerspace-along with a set of twins who are interested in learning all about the brain. The kids can't wait to solve science puzzles . . . if first, they can learn to work together!

Ubeatable Betty: Betty Robinson, The First Female Olympic Track & Field Gold Medalist by Allison Crotzer Kimmel, Joanie Stone Ages 4 - 8

At only sixteen years old, Betty Robinson became the first female gold medalist in track and field in the 1928 Olympics and an overnight sensation. She was set for gold again and had her eyes on the 1932 Olympics.

Her plans changed forever when a horrible plane crash left her in a wheelchair, with one leg shorter than the other. But Betty didn't let that stop her. In less than five years, she relearned how to stand, to walk, and finally to run again and try to taste gold once more in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

Joey: The Story of Joe Biden by Dr Jill Biden, Kathleen Krull Amy June Bates Ages 4 - 8

Joey is the first ever picture book about the young life of Joe Biden, the 47th Vice President of the United States, and includes never before told family stories about the presidential candidate and former vice president's childhood-written by Jill Biden, his spouse.

Joe Biden grew up in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the oldest of four children. His parents always encouraged him and his siblings to be independent and strong. The family moved to Wilmington, Delaware, where at twenty-nine, Biden was elected one the youngest United States Senators ever elected. This is his story.

Musa's feeling nervous about his first day of school. He's not used to being away from home and he doesn't know any of the other kids in his class. And when he meets classmates Moisés, Mo, and Kevin, Musa isn't sure they'll have much in common. But over the course of the year, the four boys learn more about each other, the holidays they celebrate, their favorite foods, and what they like about school. The more they share with each other, the closer they become, until Musa can't imagine any better friends.

Take your first steps with Antiracist Baby! Or rather, follow Antiracist Baby 's nine easy steps for building a more equitable world.

With bold art and thoughtful yet playful text, Antiracist Baby introduces the youngest readers and the grown-ups in their lives to the concept and power of antiracism. Providing the language necessary to begin critical conversations at the earliest age, Antiracist Baby is the perfect gift for readers of all ages dedicated to forming a just society.

3 2 1 Awesome!: 20 Fearless Women Who Dared to Be Different by Eva Chen (Author), Derek Desierto (Illustrator) Ages 1-3

Instagram superstar and New York Times-bestselling author of Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes Eva Chen shines a spotlight on 20 amazing women―including Megan Rapinoe, Sonia Sotomayor, J.K. Rowling, Greta Thunberg and more!―in this sassy and fun counting board book, perfect for the youngest of budding feminists.

Little Jesse, originally J.C., was born in Oakville, Alabama, during segregation. When he was nine, he moved with his parents and nine brothers and sisters to Cleveland, Ohio, to find a better life. There, he found his passion for running, and was making national headlines by high school, where he equaled the world record in the 100-yard dash. It was during the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics that he established himself as a legend, winning four gold metals that also delivered an unforgettable blow to Hitler and racism.

Forest of Souls by Lori M. Lee Ages 14 and up

Featuring an all Asian cast of characters!

Sirscha Ashwyn comes from nothing, but she's intent on becoming something. After years of training to become the queen's next royal spy, her plans are derailed when shamans attack and kill her best friend Saengo. And then Sirscha, somehow, restores Saengo to life.

But her dad isn't so sure she's ready for the big responsibility. Can Mindy prove to her dad that she can handle a new addition to the Kim household?

Black Heroes: A Black History Book for Kids: 50 Inspiring People from Ancient Africa to Modern-Day U.S.A. by Arlisha Norwood Ages 8 - 12

Explore the stories of well-known people like Rosa Parks and Barack Obama, and lesser-known figures like Rebecca Lee Crumpler, the first African-American doctor, and Benjamin Banneker, an astronomer and mathematician. This vibrant black history book for kids makes it fun to learn about how these individuals created lasting change and paved the way for future leaders.

I Am Not a Label by Cerrie Burnell, Lauren Mark Baldo Ages 6 - 12

When Marva sees Duke turned away from their polling place, she takes it upon herself to make sure his vote is counted. She hasn't spent months doorbelling and registering voters just to see someone denied their right.

And that's how their whirlwind day begins, rushing from precinct to precinct, cutting school, waiting in endless lines, turned away time and again, trying to do one simple thing: vote. They may have started out as strangers, but as Duke and Marva team up to beat a rigged system (and find Marva's missing cat), it's clear that there's more to their connection than a shared mission for democracy.

In this powerful, affirming poem by award-winning author Zetta Elliott, a Black child explores his shifting emotions throughout the year. Summertime is filled with joy ―skateboarding and playing basketball ― until his community is deeply wounded by a police shooting. As fall turns to winter and then spring, fear grows into anger, then pride and peace.

Already a Butterfly: A Meditation Story by Julia Alvarez Weybridge VT (Author), Raúl Colón (Illustrator) Ages 5 - 9

With so much to do in so little time, Mari is constantly on the move, flitting from flower to flower, practicing her camouflage poses, and planning for migration. She's the busiest butterfly around. But does being productive mean she is happy? Mari couldn't say. The only way she feels like a butterfly is by acting like one. Little does Mari know, the secret to feeling like herself is simply to focus her breath, find her quiet place, and follow her instincts. With the guidance of a thoughtful flower bud, Mari soon learns to meditate and appreciate that she was a butterfly all along.

Frustrated by a day full of teachers and classmates mispronouncing her beautiful name, a little girl tells her mother she never wants to come back to school. In response, the girl's mother teaches her about the musicality of African, Asian, Black-American, Latinx, and Middle Eastern names on their lyrical walk home through the city. Empowered by this newfound understanding, the young girl is ready to return the next day to share her knowledge with her class. Your Name is a Song is a celebration to remind all of us about the beauty, history, and magic behind names.

I Promise by Lebron James, Nina Mata Ages 4 - 8

I Promise is a lively and inspiring picture book that reminds us that tomorrow's success starts with the promises we make to ourselves and our community today.

Featuring James's upbeat, rhyming text and vibrant illustrations perfectly crafted for a diverse audience by New York Times bestselling artist Nina Mata, this book has the power to inspire all children and families to be their best.

You See Me, God is a beautifully illustrated children's book based on Jan's understanding of how God sees her-and all of us-since before birth. The flowing poetry describes the beauty of Psalm 139 in a way children will understand, and the colorful, detailed illustrations will capture their imaginations, further bringing this important message to their young hearts.

This exciting collaboration with the New York Times will reveal the untold stories of the diverse heroines who fought for the 19th amendment. On the 100th anniversary of the historic win for women's rights, it's time to celebrate the names and stories of the women whose courage helped change the fabric of America.

After a childhood spent looking up at the stars, Caroline Herschel was the first woman to discover a comet and to earn a salary for scientific research. Florence Nightingale was a trailblazing nurse whose work reformed hospitals and one of the founders of the field of medical statistics. The first female electrical engineer, Hertha Marks Ayrton registered twenty-six patents for her inventions.

Marie Tharp helped create the first map of the entire ocean floor, which helped scientists understand our subaquatic world and suggested how the continents shifted. A mathematical prodigy, Katherine Johnson calculated trajectories and launch windows for many NASA projects including the Apollo 11 mission. Edna Lee Paisano, a citizen of the Nez Perce Nation, was the first Native American to work full time for the Census Bureau, overseeing a large increase in American Indian and Alaskan Native representation. And Vera Rubin studied more than two hundred galaxies and found the first strong evidence for dark matter.

The Dramatic Life of Azaleah Lane by Nikki Shannon Smith, Gloria Felix Ages 6 - 8

The fourth of five children, Aretha was born in Tennessee and took the stage at an early age in her father's church choir. She went on to become the best-selling rhythm and blues singer of all time, and the first woman to be installed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Her string of hit songs earned her the title "the Queen of Soul," multiple Grammy Awards, and a place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. But Aretha didn't just raise her voice in song, she also spoke out against injustice and fought for civil rights.

Fauja Singh was born determined. He was also born with legs that wouldn't allow him to play cricket with his friends or carry him to school miles from his village in Punjab. But that didn't stop him. Working on his family's farm, Fauja grew stronger to meet his own full potential.

He never stopped striving. At the age of 81, after a lifetime of making his body, mind, and heart stronger, Fauja decided to run his first marathon. He went on to break records all around the world and became the first person over 100 to complete the grueling long-distance race.

The true story of Fauja Singh reminds us that it's both where we start and how we finish that make our journeys unforgettable.

Good thing Isaiah can count on his best friend, Sneaky, who always has a scheme for getting around the rules. Plus, his classmate Angel has a few good ideas of her own-once she stops hassling Isaiah.

Corazon Aquino by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, Ginnie Hsu Ages 4-7

Love is Powerful by Heather Dean Brewer, Leuyen Pham Ages 5 - 8

Mari is getting ready to make a sign with crayon as the streets below her fill up with people. "What are we making, Mama?" she asks. "A message for the world," Mama says. "How will the whole world hear?" Mari wonders. "They'll hear," says Mama, "because love is powerful." Inspired by a girl who participated in the January 2017 Women's March in New York City.

Who Was Kobe Bryant? by Ellen Labrecque, Gregory Copeland Ages 8 - 12

Kobe Bryant was just an eighteen-year-old high-school basketball player when he decided to enter the National Basketball Association's draft. Though he was the thirteenth overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets, he would never play a single game for them. Instead, Kobe was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he would spend his entire twenty-season career, winning five championships and numerous awards. Author Ellen Labreque takes readers through each exciting moment, from his iconic dunks to his 81-point game-all the milestones that span Kobe Bryant's legendary career and legacy.

But her beloved neighborhood is changing. Trees are chopped down, flashy new buildings spring up, and one by one Naomi's neighbors are forced to move away. Faced with the rapid transformation of her once-familiar city block, Naomi turns to painting murals to preserve her favorite 11th Street memories. When something we love goes away we paint it on the wall so it's always with us, Mister Ray tells her, and Naomi discovers that no matter how her world changes, as long as she has places and people to love, she will always have a home.

Bunheads by Misty Copeland, Setor Fiadzigbey Ages 5 - 8

Featuring themes of teamwork, friendship, dedication, and hard work, children everywhere will be inspired to reach for their dreams in Misty's exciting new picture book series, Bunheads.

Red Shoes by Karen English, illustrated by Ebony Glenn Ages 3 - 5

Malika is delighted when Nana surprises her with a beautiful new pair of red shoes! And with a click-clack-click and a swish, swish, swish, Malika wears her wonderful new shoes everywhere she goes. But one day, the shoes begin to pinch Malika's toes. And alas, they don't let her forget that her feet have grown! Soon Malika and Nana are off to the Rare Finds Resale Shop, where the shoes can be resold - so another little girl can enjoy them!
Who will be the next to wear the red shoes? Malika wonders. Then Inna Ziya buys the shoes, and readers follow the shoes all the way across the world to Africa, where Amina, another little girl, who has fasted her first time for Ramadan is about to get an amazing gift!

Reverend F.D. Reese was a leader of the Voting Rights Movement in Selma, Alabama. As a teacher and principal, he recognized that his colleagues were viewed with great respect in the city. Could he convince them to risk their jobs-and perhaps their lives-by organizing a teachers-only march to the county courthouse to demand their right to vote? On January 22, 1965, the black teachers left their classrooms and did just that, with Reverend Reese leading the way.

Featured figures include: Harriet Tubman, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Woody Guthrie, Mohandas Gandhi, Irena Sendler, The Hollywood Ten, Claudette Colvin and Rosa Parks, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, The Greensboro Lunch Counter Sit-in protestors, Martin Luther King, Jr., Larry Itliong, Doloras Huerta, Cesar Chavez, Richard Oakes, The Tree-Sitters of Pureora, Father Luis Olivares, Tank Man, Nelson Mandela, Ryan White, Ai Weiwei, the "It Gets Better" Project, The March For Our Lives protestors, and Greta Thunberg.

More than half of the world's refugees are children, with millions of kids fleeing wars, floods, and other scary situations in search of a safe place to live.

Arriving in a new place is stressful for both newcomers and their new communities, especially when the newcomers are little ones. But this beautiful counting book captures the joy of finding a home and the power of a welcoming community. From playing to sleeping, eating to reading, leisure to learning, Counting Kindness proves we can lift the heaviest hearts when we come together. Commended by Amnesty International.

One seed to start a garden, one note to start a melody, one brick to start breaking down walls: Every movement and moment of change starts with just one. From the #1 New York Times-bestselling team behind I Am Yoga, I Am Peace, I Am Human, and I Am Love comes a powerful call to action, encouraging readers to raise their voices, extend a hand, and take that one first step to start something beautiful and move toward a better world. Includes a guided meditation and self‑reflection activity.

This beautifully illustrated board book highlights true stories of black men in history. The exceptional men featured include artist Aaron Douglas, civil rights leader John Lewis, dancer Alvin Ailey, lawman Bass Reeves, tennis champion Arthur Ashe, and writer James Baldwin.

If Dominican Were a Color by Sili Recio, illustrated by Brianna McCarthy Ages 4 - 8

The palette of the Dominican Republic is exuberant and unlimited. Maiz comes up amarillo, the blue-black of dreams washes over sandy shores, and people's skin can be the shade of cinnamon in cocoa or of mahogany. This exuberantly colorful, softly rhyming picture book is a gentle reminder that a nation's hues are as wide as nature itself.

Oh, The Things We're For by Innosanto Nagara Ages 4 - 8

Oh, The Things We're For! is a celebration of the better world that is not only possible, but is here today if we choose it. Today's kids are well aware of the many challenges that they face in a world they are inheriting, from climate change to police violence, crowded classrooms to healthcare. Poetically written and beautifully illustrated in Innosanto Nagara's ( A is for Activist) signature style, this book offers a vision of where we could go-and a future worth fighting for.

Before he was a household name, Cassius Clay was a kid with struggles like any other. Kwame Alexander and James Patterson join forces to vividly depict his life up to age seventeen in both prose and verse, including his childhood friends, struggles in school, the racism he faced, and his discovery of boxing. Readers will learn about Cassius' family and neighbors in Louisville, Kentucky, and how, after a thief stole his bike, Cassius began training as an amateur boxer at age 12. Before long, he won his first Golden Gloves bout and began his transformation into the unrivaled Muhammad Ali.

Drawn from author Kao Kalia Yang's childhood experiences as a Hmong refugee, this moving picture book portrays a family with a great deal of love and little money. Weaving together Kalia's story with that of her beloved grandmother, the book moves from the jungles of Laos to the family's early years in the United States.

When Kalia becomes unhappy about having to do without and decides she wants braces to improve her smile, it is her grandmother―a woman who has just one tooth in her mouth―who helps her see that true beauty is found with those we love most. Stunning illustrations from Vietnamese illustrator Khoa Le bring this intergenerational tale to life.

But planning Grandma's birthday together is a pretty huge challenge. There are presents to buy, decorations to pick, and a special birthday cake to bake. Together. How they manage it is a testament to affection being stronger than differences.

Lizzy Rockwell is the artistic director and organizing force behind the Norwalk Community Quilt Project: Peace by Piece, and this book is inspired by all the people who have gathered over the years to teach and learn and to make something beautiful together.

Warm morning sunlight and love fill the Neal home. And on one quiet day, playtime leads to an important realization:Trinity wants long hair like her dolls. She needs it to express who she truly is.

So her family decides to take a trip to the beauty supply store, but none of the wigs is the perfect fit. Determined, Mom leaves with bundles of hair in hand, ready to craft a wig as colorful and vibrant as her daughter is.

Melody, the littlest sea princess, is not content just to sing in the choir of mermaids like her sisters. She is an explorer who wonders about what lies above the water's surface...especially the young girl she has spied from a distance. To meet her requires a terrible sacrifice: she trades her beautiful voice for a potion that gives her legs, so that she may live on land instead. It seems like a dream come true at first. But when trouble stirs beneath the ocean, Melody faces another impossible choice - stay with her friend, or reclaim her true identity and save her family.

Legendary artist Jerry Pinkney's singular reinvention of this tale about love and sacrifice empowers young, twenty-first century girls with the strong message that "you should never give up your voice...for anyone."

You will find nonstop, give-it-all-you've-got, out-to-win-it, sky's-the-limit BASKETBALL! Voices from the March on Washington by George Ella Lyon, J. Patrick Lewis Ages 10 -14
From the woman singing through a terrifying bus ride to DC, to the teenager who came partly because his father told him, "Don't you dare go to that march," to the young child riding above the crowd on her father's shoulders, each voice brings a unique perspective to this tale. As the characters tell their personal stories of this historic day, their chorus plunges readers into the experience of being at the march-walking shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers, hearing Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous speech, heading home inspired.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many children have been introduced to wearing face masks and seeing others in masks. Author and illustrator Marla Lesage normalizes mask-wearing by introducing young readers to artists, ranchers, pilots, welders, scientists and many more people who already wear masks in their day-to-day lives. This delightful, rhyming picture book will help explain to children why wearing a mask is important as we interact with others in our communities. Readers will learn that, when they put on their mask, they are choosing to be kind and considerate of others.

We Wear Masks is a fun tool to help children make sense of this new reality and make wearing masks less scary and more relatable. This book can be used as a conversation starter about the pandemic, the spread of germs and viruses, and what families can do to keep themselves and the people they care about safe.

Ayesha is excited to attend her cousin Ritu's wedding. She can't wait to dance at the baraat ceremony! But not everyone is happy that Ritu is marrying her girlfriend Chandni. Some have even vowed to stop the celebrations. Will Ayesha be able to save her cousin's big day?

I Am Smart, I Am Blessed, I Can Do Anything! by Alissa Holder, Zulekha Holder-Young, illustrated by Nneka Myers Ages 4 - 8

Flying Free: How Bessie Coleman's Dreams Took Flight by Karyn Parsons, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie Ages 4 - 8
Based on Karyn Parson's critically acclaimed Sweet Blackberry video series comes the story of Bessie Coleman, the first African American female to earn her pilot's license.
Before Bessie Coleman blazed a high trail with her plane . . . Before she performed in death-defying flying shows that would earn her fame as "Queen Bess" . . . Before she traveled the country speaking out against discrimination, Bessie was a little girl with a big imagination that took her to the sky, through the clouds, and past the birds.
Knocking down barriers one by one, Bessie endured racism and grueling training to become the first black female pilot and an inspiration to Mae Jemison, Josephine Baker, and many more influential people of color for years to come.

The ABCs of Black History by Rio Cortez, illustrated by Lauren Semmer Ages 5 and up

The perfect Valentine's gift for your baby or toddler! In My Baby Loves Valentine's Day, celebrate all the lovely things that Baby discovers about Valentines Day:

Celebrate diversity with this bright, joyful level 1 Step Into Reading book that will have girls everywhere repeating the book's chorus: I love being me.

Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr.?: A Who Was? Board Book by Lisbeth Kaiser (Author), Who HQ (Author), Stanley Chow (Illustrator) Ages 2 - 4
The #1 New York Times Bestselling Who Was? series expands into the board book space, bringing age-appropriate biographies of influential figures to readers ages 2-4.The chronology and themes of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s meaningful life are presented in a masterfully succinct text, with just a few sentences per page. The fresh, stylized illustrations are sure to captivate young readers and adults alike. With a read-aloud biographical summary in the back, this age-appropriate introduction honors and shares the life and work of one of the most influential civil rights activists of our time.

Amy loves craft time at school. But when her teacher asks everyone to make their own dragon, Amy feels stuck. Her first dragon has a long, wingless body, stag-like horns, and eagle claws, but her friends don't think it's a real dragon. Then she makes dragons like theirs, but none of them feels quite right...None of them feels like hers.

I Want to Ride the Tap Tap is a day-of-the-week picture book about a Black family who ride the taxi-bus service―called a tap tap―in Haiti, and the fascinating people they meet along the way, illustrated by a Haitian artist known for his vibrant street art. Trailblazers: Martin Luther King, Jr.: Fighting for Civil Rights by Christine Platt Ages 8 - 12

Bring history home and meet some of the world's greatest game changers! Get inspired by the true story of the civil rights leader whose peaceful fight for justice still motivates people today. This biography series is for kids who loved Who Was? and are ready for the next level.

On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. spoke to more than 250,000 people in Washington, DC about his dream of racial equality. His message of peaceful protest inspired a generation to stand up for their rights. Find out how a boy who was not allowed to go to school or the movies with white people blazed a trail in civil rights.

My Very Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World by Malcolm Mitchell, illustrated by Michael Robertson Ages 4 - 8

Meet Henley, an all-around good kid, who hates to read. When he's supposed to be reading, he would rather do anything else. But one day, he gets the scariest homework assignment in the world: find your favorite book to share with the class tomorrow.What's a kid to do? How can Henley find a story that speaks to everything inside of him?

Major Eights 6: The Secret Valentine by Melody Reed, Émilie Pépin Ages 6 - 8
In book 6 of the Major Eights series, someone is leaving notes for the band. Do the Major Eights have a secret admirer?

Scarlet is flattered when she finds a sweet message in her locker. But she doesn't know who it's from. Is it fan mail? Or a secret admirer? Can the band figure out the mystery?

Did you enjoy this list? Feel free to subscribe to my mailing list if you're not already. Let's stay in touch!

Your turn: What books from this list are you most looking forward to? What books should I add to the list? Feel free to share in the comments.

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The 2020 Ultimate List of Diverse Children's Books - Here Wee Read

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What books are you and your kids looking forward to reading in 2020? We're entering this new decade with another epic list of diverse reads to share with you. Ready? Most of the books listed here are recommended either for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and early elementary readers since my children fall within those groups and...

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Finish the sentence: "In schools where Black Lives Matter..."

What would schools look, sound, or feel like if we lived by the 13 Black Lives Matter guiding principles?

Post your response in your Black Lives Matter Shirt on social media with #LEAStrongForBLM and #BlackLivesMatterAtSchool. Tag @LawrenceEdAssoc and @BLMAtSchool

[Thank you to NYC Public Schools for the media action idea!]

Purchase a shirt if you do not have one by supporting Black-owned businesses, ordering from Black Lives Matter at School, or the NEA Hispanic Caucus. Shirt profits from the NEA Hispanic Caucus from the sale of their Educators/Latinos for Black Lives Matter items will be used to fund scholarships for NEA Aspiring Educators of color with a percentage of the profit earmarked as a donation to the NEA Black Caucus Reg Weaver Scholarship.

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Black Lives Matter at Schools Reflection Question

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Black Lives Matter at Schools Reflection Question

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"How do I understand the role that local/state laws and policies have on the educational experiences of my students? What is my role in working to change policies, regulations, and practices that harm Black students and families?"

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How does your actions affect Black, Indigenous, and Students of color?

Members, take data on your praise and correction ratios in the classroom and reflect on the following questions:
Which groups are you praising the most?
What kinds of praise and correction are given to certain groups?
To build upon that, what trends can you see in academic data?

Look at trends at your school.

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Checklist for Safe and Just Schools during COVID

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Checklist for Safe and Just Schools during COVID

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By NEA's Center for Social Justice

As we expand digital learning models, due to COVID-19, it's important to remember that students with disabilities, those without access to the internet, and LGBTQ, Black, brown and Indigenous populations are at higher risk of experiencing school closures more intensely.

Regardless of the education delivery system during the pandemic, all students must be provided the care and attention and learning opportunities they are guaranteed and deserve.

Ask yourself the following questions when planning or assessing digital instruction through a racial justice lens:

Clarifying your goals

What kind of decision is under consideration (e.g., policy, program, budget)?

Do all my students have access to the internet? If not, who does? Who does not?

Should I assign digital work to students if I don't know whether they have internet access? How much flexibility should be built into digital learning experiences and assignments?

How do I ensure my students with disabilities are properly accommodated?

What results or changes am I seeking that advance racial/social justice?

Engaging necessary stakeholders

Who is most directly impacted (think: those who are marginalized or under-represented, e.g., educators or students of color, students with disabilities, rural students, lowest-paid workers)?

How can they be meaningfully engaged and empowered in this process?

Analyzing data

What is the relevant history and current context?

What data do we have, and what do we need? Is it disaggregated by race?

Who benefits, and who is most burdened? How are different racial/ethnic groups affected differently?

What are the root causes of the problem? Are there intersecting dynamics?

Generating options

What proposed solutions can address the root causes, remedy existing negative impacts, and change systems?

How will this proposal advance racial and social justice, equity, and inclusion?

Assessing impacts

What are the positive and negative impacts on different racial communities?

How will marginalized groups and communities of color benefit from each option?

How can this help counteract dominant patterns of white supremacy?

What positive values, norms, and narratives can we affirm and project?

How does this align with our values, vision, mission, and priorities?

Deciding a Solution

What are the pros and cons of each option?

Are there ways to revise the options to prevent adverse consequences?

Which option best advances equity?

Developing an implementation plan

What strategies, staffing, and funding are needed to ensure success?

What is the implementation plan and timetable? Who will move it forward?

How will we document and measure progress? What are the success indicators?

How can we ensure ample communication, participation, and accountability?

Operationalizing equitable change

How can we operationalize equity practices to sustain success?

How do we institute these changes, so they become ongoing practices, protocols, and habits, i.e., a part of our organizational culture?

Resource

Considerations for Special Education Administrators- A list of considerations for special education administrators from how to talk about COVID-19 to how schools should respond to the pandemic.

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A Social and Racial Justice Checklist for Safe, Healthy and Just Learning - NEA EdJustice

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By NEA's Center for Social Justice As we expand digital learning models, due to COVID-19, it's important to remember that students with disabilities, those without access to the internet, and LGBTQ, Black, brown and Indigenous populations are at higher risk of experiencing school closures more intensely.

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Home Page - NEA EdJustice

Home Page - NEA EdJustice

NEA EdJustice engages and mobilizes activists in the fight for racial, social and economic justice in public education.

Get connected and engaged to advocate for racial and social justice in our schools and communities.

Find tools to take your education justice activism to the next level

Explore our curated resources to get information, build your organizing skills, and inspire others.

Become part of the next story

Find inspiring stories, connect with others and get involved in culture change for racial and social justice in education.

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Home Page - NEA EdJustice Home Page - NEA EdJustice NEA EdJustice engages and mobilizes activists in the fight for racial, social and economic justice in public education. Get connected and engaged to advocate for racial and social justice in our schools and communities.

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Scholarships for Aspiring BIPOC teachers

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Scholarships for Aspiring BIPOC teachers

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Designate/fundraise a scholarship for a graduate of USD 497

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Diverse BookFinder | Identify & Explore Multicultural Picture Books

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Are you looking for multicultural children’s books? We’ve got you covered! You can search our circulating collection of picture books (2002-present), explore our quick lists, then borrow our books from your own library through interlibrary loan. We believe that too many children are left out of main…

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Elementary Social Justice Books-Black History

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Elementary Social Justice Books-Black History

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Teaching for Change carefully selects the best multicultural and social justice books for children, young adults, and educators.

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In the wake of high-profile school shootings, many schools over the past decade have invested scarce educational funds into putting more police in schools. School districts have shown a near obsession with "hardening" schools despite federal data revealing that the real crisis of schools isn't violence, but a broad failure to hire enough support staff to serve students' mental health needs.

Today's students are experiencing record levels of depression and anxiety and many forms of trauma. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the suicide rate among children ages 10 to 17 increased by 70 percent between 2006 and 2016. Approximately 72 percent of children in the United States will have experienced at least one major stressful event - such as witnessing violence, experiencing abuse, or experiencing the loss of a loved one - before the age of 18.

School counselors, nurses, social workers, and psychologists are frequently the first to see children who are sick, stressed, or traumatized - especially in low-income districts. The benefits of investing in mental health services are clear: Schools with such services see improved attendance rates, better academic achievement, and higher graduation rates as well as lower rates of suspension, expulsion, and other disciplinary incidents. Data shows that the presence of school-based mental health providers not only improves outcomes for students, but can also improve overall school safety.

By contrast, there is no evidence that increased police presence in schools improves school safety. Indeed, in many cases, it causes harm. When in schools, police officers do what they are trained to do, which is detain, handcuff, and arrest. This leads to greater student alienation and a more threatening school climate.

The glaring deficit of mental health staff in schools is inexcusable, especially given the growing use of law enforcement in schools. This dangerous combination is a central reason the most vulnerable students are being funneled into the school-to-prison pipeline.

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In the wake of high-profile school shootings, many schools over the past decade have invested scarce educational funds into putting more police in schools. School districts have shown a near obsession with "hardening" schools despite federal data revealing that the real crisis of schools isn't violence, but a broad failure to hire enough support staff to serve students' mental health needs.

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Here are lesson plans and other resources that our local association can start taking through the CSRC.

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This is a nice visual website that explains why Black Lives Matter at School supports ending the regular presence of law enforcement in schools.

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Call on your policy-makers to remove police from schools!

Members and allies of the Dignity in Schools Campaign from around the country will hold actions in support of these five demands:

#1 Shift funding from school police to counselors, peace builders and positive discipline.
#2 Fund and use transformative and restorative justice, mediation and positive interventions.
#3 Stop arresting and pushing out students of color, LGBTQ youth, students that are homeless, and students with disabilities at higher rates. (Black students are pushed out at the highest rates nationally.)
#4 Make sure states and districts focus on school climate under the new federal law - the Every Student Succeeds Act.
#5 End paddling and physical punishment in all schools.

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Counselors Not Cops Ending the Regular Presence of Law Enforcement in Schools

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The presence of police in schools has escalated dramatically in the last several decades, and the figures on arrests and referrals to law enforcement show disproportionate targeting of Black and Latino students. This is just one aspect of the school-to-prison pipeline, where some students are denied an opportunity to succeed, and instead are pushed out of school and into the juvenile or criminal justice system.

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An explanation from Dignity in Schools explaining the reasoning for counselors, not cops. If you are feeling uncomfortable around this demand, read additional information HERE.

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Register at: http://bit.ly/NEU-BLM-LGBTQIA
​Join National Educators United and Black Lives Matter at School as we uplift the Black Lives Matter at School Year of Purpose Transgender and Queer affirming principles. In this town hall, we will come together to reflect on what it means to be Transgender and Queer affirming in our classrooms, curriculum, and communities.

We will be joined by USC Professor Channing Gerard Joseph, who will be discussing William Dorsey Swann, a man born into slavery who was America's "first drag queen," and Emory University doctoral student, Victor Ultra Omni, who will reflect on the legacy of Bayard Rustin as a "Queer Organizer Behind the Scenes." In addition, BIPOC trans youth will speak about their experiences in public education.

After their presentations, we will have space for community share outs, questions, and a discussion with our speakers. Youth, come as you are! Educators, please come with questions about how you can best be Queer and Transgender affirming in school and in your community.

Speakers:

Channing Gerard Joseph teaches at the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. He is also an award-winning journalist and writer whose byline has appeared around the globe. See Channing's article in The Nation on William Dorsey Swann. Later this year, Picador will publish his forthcoming book The House of Swann.

Victor Ultra Omni is a doctoral student in the Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies department at Emory University. Before coming to Emory, they earned their B.A. with highest honors in Africana Studies from the Claremont Colleges in Southern California. Broadly, Victor studies Black trans cultural formations and social life; with a particular emphasis on Black trans world building through the house/ballroom scene. Outside of the classroom, they are a proud Father in the house of Ultra Omni, board member at Trans Studies Quarterly, and the Political Education chair for Black Youth Project-100 Mecca Chapter.

Sponsors:

Black Lives Matter at School
National Educators United

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Register at: http://bit.ly/NEU-BLM-LGBTQIA ​Join National Educators United and Black Lives Matter at School as we uplift the Black Lives Matter at School Year of Purpose Transgender and Queer affirming principles. In this town hall, we will come together to reflect on what it means to be Transgender and Queer affirming in our classrooms, curriculum, and communities.

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Advocating for our BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ Members

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Advocating for our BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ Members

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Reaching out to our BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ members to hear how our committee can support them and advocate for them with affinity spaces for collaboration and support.

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core values

The strength of KNEA is centered around our core values. These values are at the heart of our organization and help guide our decision making every day. See all our core values by clicking the button below.

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The strength of KNEA is centered around our core values. These values are at the heart of our organization and help guide our decision making every day. See all our core values by clicking the button below.

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Our original thirteen principles came from the Global Black Lives Matter Network. At this time, we want to remain connected to a broader message and the history of the first week of action, which centered on these thirteen principles. We have rewritten the description of many as we recognize that language is always evolving. We aim to capture putting these ideals into practice on a national and local level using language that is accessible, inclusive, and currently relevant.

The Black Lives Matter Movement is guided by the following principles. We seek to expand student understanding of these principles through the week of action.

1. Restorative Justice
As we forge our path, we intentionally cultivate and sustain an environment that is rooted in compassion and empathy, where we can make mistakes, grow, and express the fullness of our humanity.

2. Empathy
We cultivate empathy by seeking understanding and engaging comrades with the intent to learn about and connect with their contexts.

Our interactions are guided by a commitment to embody justice, peace, and liberation. 3. Loving Engagement

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4. Diversity
We recognize, accept, and celebrate the unique qualities that make us different and the shared perspectives, circumstances, and commonalities that connect us.

5. Globalism
We recognize that we're part of the global Black family in a common struggle toward liberation. We stay attuned to the different ways we are impacted including our privilege as Black folx who exist in different parts of the world alongside our other contexts. ​

6. Queer Affirming
We reclaim the word queer as an act of defiance and in solidarity with those who have paved the way for us to live openly. When we gather, we do so with the intention of freeing ourselves from the tight grip of cis-heteropatriarchal assumptions. We foster a network in which all people can be genuine and express their authentic, embodied selves.
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7. Trans Affirming
We are self-reflexive and consistently do the work required to dismantle cisgender privilege. We hold space for our siblings who are agender, intersex, transgender, and gender expansive to participate and lead. We uplift Black trans folk, especially Black trans women who continue to be targeted and subjected to violence. We work outside of the binary to achieve full liberation.

8. Collective Value
We are guided by the fact that all Black lives, regardless of sex assigned at birth, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, economic status, ability, disability, education, location, age, immigration status, religious beliefs or disbeliefs, matter. None of us are free until we are all free.
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9. Intergenerational
We cultivate a communal network free from ageism and adultism because of our belief in the leadership and learning potential of all people, regardless of age. We recognize and celebrate the intergenerational relationships that have always been and must continue to be when working for justice.

10. Black Families
We make our spaces family-friendly and enable caregivers to fully participate with their children. We oppose the practice that demands double duty, where one is expected to parent in private but engage in public work. We recognize that family includes our chosen families.

11. Black Villages
We disrupt the narrow Western prescribed nuclear family structure expectation. We support each other as extended families and villages that collectively care for one another, especially "our" children. We believe that radical care belongs in the public sphere.

12. Unapologetically Black
We are unapologetically Black in our positioning. In affirming that Black Lives Matter, we need not qualify our position. To love and desire freedom and justice for ourselves is a necessary prerequisite for wanting the same for others.​ We proudly embrace our Blackness.
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13. Black Women
​We build a space that affirms Black women by centering their experiences. We recognize the many ways patriarchy shows up so consistently work to maintain a space free from sexism and misogyny, actively disrupting patriarchal culture.

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National coalition organizing for racial justice in education.

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Kid Friendly Language for BLM Guiding Principles

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Kid Friendly Language for BLM Guiding Principles

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Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.

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Here are curriculum resources that our local association can start taking through the CSRC.

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BLM at School is committed to teaching truthful histories and amassing the powerful practices, creative tools, and key strategies by which past, present, and future generations can advance the struggle of Black liberation. This summer, we renewed our curriculum work to create a more process-oriented, dialogic, secure, and empowering space for curriculum and community-building. This all-volunteer effort to map, index, and ensure continued wide access to identity-affirming, justice-oriented educational materials across the lifespan is more necessary than ever.

DONATE TO SUPPORT OUR MOVEMENT TO RECLAIM OUR CLASSROOMS AS INCUBATORS FOR INCLUSIVITY, EQUITY, & JUSTICE.

We are grateful for all of the contributions from educators and organizers from around the country who worked collaboratively to curate a variety of classroom resources for every age group. These resources are all free of charge and meant to be shared and used. The goal of these lessons and activities is to challenge racism and oppression and providing students with the vocabulary and tools needed to take action. If you are interested in joining the team please click here and email Chris Rogers.

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National coalition organizing for racial justice in education.