Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action Open House

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On December 19, 2018, D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice hosted an Open House to prepare for Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action (Feb. 4 - 8, 2019) at the Teaching for Change office.

Attendees browsed and discussed lessons and books related to the Black Lives Matter 13 guiding principles. Everyone received a free book.

The Teaching for Change conference room featured resources for middle and high school teachers, coordinated by Nqobile Mthethwa. Upstairs there were tables with resources for early childhood and elementary teachers, organized by Rosalie Reyes. The local nonprofit organization, Shout Mouse Press had a table of children's picture books written and published by D.C. students.

Representatives from the national planning committee for Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action (Denisha Jones) and Black Lives Matter DMV (Makia Green) spoke to the attendees and responded to questions.

 
Denisha Jones and Cynthia Greer

Denisha Jones and Cynthia Greer

Makia Green of Black Lives Matter, DMV

Makia Green of Black Lives Matter, DMV

 

Educators shared their inspiration and ideas for bringing the Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action to their schools and teaching communities.

Children’s books were displayed, primarily sourced from the Social Justice Books lists on Black History, Racial Identity, Africa, and Afro-Latinx. Young adult titles were selected from Zinn Education Project recommendations.

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Book Distribution

These titles were offered to participants to select from.

Recommended Lessons

Resource binders included these recommended lessons by grade level.

Early Childhood & Elementary

Restorative Justice, Empathy and Loving Engagements

Diversity and Globalism, Ethnic Studies

Queer Affirming, Trans Affirming, Collective Value

Inter-generational, Black families and Black villages

Centering Black Women and Femmes

Middle School and High School

This week of action will build on the momentum of last year’s successful week of action campaign, taking place in cities across the U.S. to promote a set of national demands based in the Black Lives Matter guiding principles that focus on improving the school experience for students of color.

Sign up to participate and join the Black Lives Matter at School movement!

Below are more photos from the Open House.

Black Lives Matter Week of Action Open House