We're feeling joy this week because on June 15, the Supreme Court ruled that employers can't fire people based on their gender identity or sexual orientation.

Below, we share lessons on Juneteenth, using music to fuel the struggle, and more. Also, get a glimpse of what's happening in our PAZ after-school programs in our June newsletter right here, in English or Spanish.

Students watch and discuss a short video about the history of Juneteenth and research their questions about the holiday.

This activity invites students to listen to and share music that can inspire and sustain them as they explore ways to battle oppression and push to survive and thrive during these challenging times.

The NFL has taken a new stance toward Black Lives Matter, after years of organizing and protests. Students consider videos by NFL players and by the NFL Commissioner - and the history of activism by Colin Kaepernick and other athletes.

Also, some resource collections that you might find helpful in this moment:

"While it may take time to change workplace cultures in some parts of the country, this ruling should make LGBTQ people feel more comfortable living and working openly. Hopefully, educators will no longer feel the need to remain closeted to their students and co-workers for fear of losing their jobs..." By Cory Collins at Teaching Tolerance

"Alliyah Logan just wanted to feel safe at school. Every morning, her older brother, Matthew, was herded through metal detectors and into his public high school in the Bronx. The school was a hostile environment, Alliyah told Teen Vogue, where students were excessively and unnecessarily exposed to the 'prison industrial complex.' Students at the school, like her brother, felt as though they were being treated like criminals." By Zach Schermele at Teen Vogue

“Schools should support the whole child and invest in trauma-informed teaching, school counselors and social workers, with attention to affinity-based mental health support...” By Linda Jacobson at Education Dive

"This article is for teachers who understand that racism is real, anti-Blackness is real, and state-sanctioned violence, which allows police to kill Black people with impunity, is real. It is for teachers who know change is necessary and want to understand exactly what kind of change we need as a country." By Bettina L. Love at Education Week