Today many of us are enjoying a time to pause and rest. We hold gratitude for that while remembering that for some people, today is another day of work. We also hold it knowing that families across New York are struggling to put food on the table, especially as federal cuts deepen that strain. November is Native American Heritage Month, and we recognize today is a National Day of Mourning, which call us to take an honest look at our history, at the ongoing struggles for land, water, and safety that Indigenous families continue to face through systems such as child welfare and border enforcement, and at the ways our country’s actions beyond its borders deepen harm for communities elsewhere.

This mix of rest and responsibility reminds us why our work together matters and why children and families need strong public systems that support their well-being at every stage of life. We are grateful to each of you for standing with us, imagining with us, and staying engaged in this shared work to build something better and more just. May today offer whatever rest and clarity you are able to find, and may it steady you for the work still ahead.

In solidarity,

Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari and Marina Marcou-O'Malley
Co-Executive Directors, Alliance for Quality Education