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Social justice and human rights, while not the same, are closely linked. Social justice is advocating for the basic human rights as outlined in Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In my opinion,  this refers to all people having access to the same rights and opportunities regardless of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, etc. Model citizens and those of privilege have a moral obligation to advocate for those who do not have the capacity to do so for themselves.

Social Justice should not be confused with charity. While both benefit others, social justice has long-term effects which impact the future. Whereas charity has short-term, temporary effects which only solve an immediate problem or emergency.

"Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime."

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This video clip demonstrates how celebrities can use their voice to advocate for those who cannot do so for themselves.

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Ashton Kutcher Speech on Human Trafficking Before Congress  | ABC News

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U2 "Pride"(In the Name of Love)

The song is a celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.'s non-violent struggle for equal rights and the dream of brotherhood among all people. He is an example of how  the courage of one person can change the future.

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This video clip demonstrates the problem with educational disparities.

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Stepping Up: The Social Justice Activist

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1. FOCUS ON STUDENTS
Take the focus off yourself and focus on the well-being of the student.

2. WORK TOGETHER
Working together with others can help start the movement for change.

3. BE YOURSELF AND FOLLOW YOUR PASSIONS
"It’s important that educators not focus on imitating other movements, people and voices...Doing what feels right for you maintains authenticity, which is critical when doing social justice and equity work" (Alrubail, 2016).

4. SPEAK OUT
We cannot be neutral or bystanders to issues of inequity and social justice...otherwise, we become part of the problem (Alrubail, 2016).

5. BE A VOICE OF ENCOURAGEMENT
"We need to amplify, support and cultivate a culture of encouragement. The more we do that, the more we build toward lasting positive change" (Alrubail, 2016).

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"Integrating an inclusive, culturally responsive, and collaborative  approach to building  school-family partnerships is a challenge for educators not only because their professional preparation does not train them to do so, but because collaborations that are grounded in democratic and social justice ideals counter  the culture of U.S. schooling" (Cooper, 2010,  p. 191).

"If schools are to serve the common good and promote social justice, school leaders need the knowledge , skills, and dispositions to create schools that eliminate marginalization across multiple dimensions of diversity" (Scanlan & Theoharis, 2015,  p. 1).

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This video clip explains the important role that education plays in the advancement toward social justice.

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Education for social change | Artika R. Tyner | TEDxUniversityofStThomas

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Alrubail, R. (2016, August 11). Five ways to advocate for justice in education. Retrieved from https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/five-ways-to-advocate-for-justice-in-education

Cooper, Camille Wilson (2010a). Educational leaders as cultural workers: Engaging families and
school communities through transformative leadership. In S.D.
Horsford (Ed.) New
perspectives in educational leadership: Exploring social, political, and community contexts
and meaning (pp. 173-195). New York: Peter Lang.

Lea, S. (2017, February 19). Five ways human rights help the fight for social justice. Retrieved from https://rightsinfo.org/5-ways-human-rights-help-social-justice/

Scanlan, M., & Theoharis, G. (2015). Leadership for Increasingly Diverse Schools. New York, NY: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781315767574

Shields, C. (2010). Transformative Leadership: Working for Equity in Diverse Contexts. Education Administration Quarterly,46(4), 558-589.
doi:10.1177/0013161X10375609

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TRANSFORMATIVE  EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP = SOCIAL CHANGE

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TRANSFORMATIVE  EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP = SOCIAL CHANGE

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"Transformative educational leadership not only works  for the good of every individual in the school system; at its heart, it has the potential to work for the common good of society as well" (Shields, 2010, p. 583).

A Principal Helping His "Babies"
Click on the picture to play video

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"The big room" at West Side High School in Newark, New Jersey, is where principal Akbar Cook stores hundreds of donated bottles of laundry detergent, fabric softener and dryer sheets. The big room was a solution to a big problem.

"My kids weren't coming to school,'" he said.

Some of the students weren't showing up because they were wearing dirty clothes and getting bullied.

"I think we really put the microscope on basic needs of kids. Everyone wants the high test scores, everyone wants them to perform well. But if the kid doesn't feel confidence in just coming to school, being that person we know they can be, then what are we doing," Cook said.

Today, West Side High School has five commercial grade washing machines and dryers. Deshon Denny and Briana Singleton use them all the time.

"When we got it, I ain't gonna lie, I was kind of scared to bring my clothes over. But I just shrugged it off and when I went to Cook I asked him, 'Can I use the laundromat?' He was like, 'No, you good, we are nothing but family,'" Singleton said.

Cook, who grew up in Newark, also started a program called "Lights On." He opens his school from 6:00 to 11 p.m. on Fridays during the school year and three nights a week in the summer.

"My babies are taking care care of their younger siblings. Their parents are either working hard and just taking these odd jobs, or the parents are not there at all," Cook said.

The kids use the gym, dance, and are fed warm meals. It's a long way from what West Side was just a few years ago.

"School was fighting every day, getting kicked out," Singleton said.

"People were getting killed," Denny said.

"Cook made a big impact on West Side," Singleton added.

It might seem hard to believe that one person could clean up a school and a whole neighborhood. But in Newark, the proof is in the principal.

"This is selfless work that we do. No one goes into education thinking they are going to get rich," Cook said.

But that doesn't mean he's not satisfied with what he's doing.

"I have a gold medal around my heart from the love that the kids give back to me and just the families in the community are taking it one step further," he said.
More on how to help the West Side High School laundromat.

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How a laundry room revolutionized a New Jersey high school

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"The big room" at West Side High School in Newark, New Jersey, is where principal Akbar Cook stores hundreds of donated bottles of laundry detergent, fabric softener and dryer sheets. The big room was a solution to a big problem. "My kids weren't coming to school,'" he said.

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This video clip provides compelling insight concerning the rights of those with disabilities. We are all human, and all lives matter.

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1. PROMOTION OF EQUALITY
"Social justice and human rights have a shared goal: human dignity, equally for all" ( Lea, 2017).

2. ANTI-DISCRIMINATION
"No one may be discriminated against because of their sex, race, religion, political opinion, sexual orientation or nationality in exercising their rights" (Lea, 2017).

3. WELFARE SYSTEMS
When citizens are unable to meet their basic needs, there are programs in place to help support them, such as: food, shelter, medical, etc.

4. EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS
Laws are in place for "health and safety standards, equal pay, working hour limitations, and the freedom to form and join trade unions" (Lea, 2017).

5. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY

"Human rights provide a legal framework that allows individuals to hold government [accountable] and requires the state to create conditions necessary for the achievement of social justice" (Lea, 2017).