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October 2025


** RECAP: LFJ at the Morehouse College Human Rights Film Festival
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LFJ Director Jalaya Liles Dunn presents the inaugural Lakou Award to the Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III and family.
In September, Learning for Justice partnered with the 7th Annual Morehouse College Human Rights Film Festival (MCHRFF) for two days of thought-provoking programming ([link removed]) , with the goal to inspire a new blueprint for justice in which education and film are pathways for liberation and democracy.

LFJ introduced the Lakou Award for exceptional leadership in education justice with a special showing of Otis’ Dream ([link removed]) . This powerful story underscores a charge to honor the sacrifices of previous generations and carry that commitment forward. The inaugural Lakou Award was presented to the Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III and family.

This two-day series of dynamic keynote presentations, fireside chats, panel discussions, and film screenings brought together scholars, filmmakers and leaders in the racial justice and democracy movement, including Hasan Kwame Jeffries, David Wall Rice, Bettina Love, Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson, Nina Gilbert, Adria N. Welcher, Greg Carr, Travis Mitchell, Cecilia Marshall, Giona Jefferson, Stephanie Calabrese, and Saba Long. We are grateful for their dialogue and insights. And our special thanks to MCHRFF executive director Kara Walker for this partnership, and to the SPLC’s interim CEO Bryan Fair, chief of staff Lecia Brooks, Georgia state director Yterenickia “YT” Bell, and supervising attorney Michael Tafelski for their participation.

Details and videos of selected sessions will be available soon. Stay tuned!


** All Elections Matter:
Voting Resources
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With state and local election season underway, your voice and vote matter now! Learning for Justice is here to support you with essential resources from our Civics for Democracy series ([link removed]) .

These resources are designed to deepen your understanding of the critical structures that shape our democracy. In this series, you’ll find actionable tools covering fact-checking strategies for political information, guidance for recognizing artificial intelligence and misinformation in media, information about voter suppression today, steps to take before Election Day, and more.

Use and share these resources to ensure your voice is heard and your vote is informed.
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Our Votes Matter: Action Steps in Planning to Vote ([link removed])
On Election Day, millions of people in the United States will use their hard-won right to vote. We, the ordinary citizens, can decide the future of our communities, states and country.

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Media Literacy Is Vital for Informed Decision-Making ([link removed])
Media literacy — being able to access, analyze and evaluate information for accuracy and reliability across a variety of mediums — is crucial for us to make informed decisions.

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Understanding Voter Suppression in Today’s Election Process ([link removed])
Strategies to suppress voting continue to undermine our democracy today and have increased over the past two decades.


** What We’re Watching
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Otis’ Dream ([link removed])
This short docufilm from Unashamed Media Group is based on the true story of Otis Moss Sr.’s determination to vote in Georgia in 1946 amid widespread voter suppression. Moss was turned away from three polling places, and he walked more than 15 miles attempting to exercise his right to vote. Although Moss never officially cast a ballot before his death, he passed his persistence and inherent civic action on to his son, grandson and great-grandson — who all participate in the film.
(14 min.) Available on YouTube


** Teaching Hard History Podcast
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** Explore New Resource Pages for Each Episode
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The relaunched Teaching Hard History podcast series ([link removed]) is back with two episodes exploring how to use films and documentaries to teach critical history.

Host Hasan Kwame Jeffries, Ph.D., is joined by film historian Ron Briley, sharing practical, actionable strategies to use film in learning settings to frame the narrative of complex topics, including American slavery, the Civil War and Reconstruction.

The new resource pages for Season 1: American Slavery: Episode 8: Film and the History of Slavery ([link removed]) and Episode 9 ([link removed]) , featuring 10 additional films, are now available!


** LGBTQ+ People Have Always Existed:
Learn and Teach Honest History
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** Supporting LGBTQ+ Rights and Inclusion
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October is LGBTQ+ History Month. LGBTQ+ people have always existed, but LGBTQ+ history, which is an integral part of the history of the United States, has often been ignored or erased. We offer this updated resource page ([link removed]) for learning and teaching about the contributions of LGBTQ+ people, including articles, guides, posters, webinars and more.

Our 13-episode podcast series, Queer America ([link removed]) , is devoted to this understudied history. Join hosts Leila Rupp and John D’Emilio on a journey that spans from Harlem to the Frontier West, revealing stories of LGBTQ+ life we should have learned in school.


** New Publication Coming Soon
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“Democracy for the 21st Century” is coming in January 2026. Stay tuned for cover art reveal and writers for this first volume of our new Learning for Justice Anthology.

This new publication is an evolution of the Learning for Justice magazine, designed to foster learning, dialogue and action to address current democracy and education justice issues. Volume 1 explores the foundations and future of democracy in the United States, with articles, a civics course and resources.

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© 2025 Learning for Justice. All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
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