About this event

Join Rethinking Schools, Defending the Early Years, and Black Lives Matter at School for a conversation on Centering Collective Value in the Early Years. This webinar event celebrates the Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action.

This year’s Week of Action theme is “Centering and Celebrating Collective Value.” The Black Lives Matter at School guiding principle of Collective Values states, “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.”

Defending the Early Years Executive Director Denisha Jones and Rethinking Schools Executive Director Cierra Kaler-Jones will be in conversation with Makai Kellogg, an early childhood educator and Equity and Diversity Coordinator at School for Friends in Washington, DC; Akiea “Ki” Gross, an early childhood educator, creator, former classroom teacher, instructional coach, and cultural organizer; and Laleña Garcia, a Brooklyn kindergarten teacher and member of the NYC Black Lives Matter at School steering committee.

Panelists will discuss how we teach and organize for racial justice, especially in the early years. They’ll offer stories, examples, and concrete strategies for anti-racist pedagogy and abolitionist practice. They will discuss how to lift Black joy, confront anti-Blackness, and build authentic partnerships to fight for more equitable and just schools.

Participants will need access to Zoom. Register for the Zoom link and get a Rethinking Schools book and magazine discount code!

ASL Interpretation will be available

The event is free. To make events like this available to more educators and activists, we would greatly appreciate your solidarity donation.