Your weekly newsletter from LFJ, with resources for responding to the Chauvin verdict, self-care and more. 

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April 20, 2021
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** Responding to the Chauvin Verdict
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Today, Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all charges. But our legal system is still far from just, and many students may still be feeling a lack of closure. In critical moments like these, we know students look to educators for guidance. We hope that you’ll reaffirm the value of Black lives. We hope you’ll create a space for students to process—not debate. And we hope you’ll get the support you need. These resources ([link removed]) can help you hold space for critical conversations today and in the days to come.
Black Male Educators Create Space for Joy // Coshandra Dillard ([link removed])

What White Colleagues Need to Understand // Clarice Brazas and Charlie McGeehan ([link removed])

What It Means to Be an Anti-racist Teacher // Lorena Germ ([link removed]) á ([link removed]) n with Val Brown ([link removed])
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For White Allies in Search of a Solution to Racism
In the wake of the Chauvin trial, we know many—including BIPOC educators and students—are managing additional exhaustion and stress on top of the ever-present challenges created by white supremacy. In this article ([link removed]) , Dr. Neal Lester calls on white folks to take action and act as allies. Read on to learn how white educators can take responsibility for educating other white people about racism and white supremacy.
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** Practicing Self-care Can Be Social Justice
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Self-care is critical for all educators. But for BIPOC educators, it can be a first step toward self-sustaining, anti-racist practices in schools. In this article ([link removed]) , Jamilah Pitts writes that educators—particularly Black women educators and other educators of color—can practice self-care and preservation as acts of resistance.
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** Youth—United! Gun Violence Is a Permanent Issue
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Again this week, we grieve with those in our community who have been touched by gun violence—and we share our gratitude for those working against it. In this 2018 interview ([link removed]) , activists Jenna Bowker, Mary Cox and Alex King explain their work for a more just, safer world. Check out their conversation to learn more about how youth activists around the country can help lift one another up—and how educators can support them.
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** Celebrating Arab American Heritage Month
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During April, we uplift Arab American Heritage Month. These resources ([link removed]) will help educators celebrate Arab identity, counter negative stereotypes, teach about Arab history and cultures, and ensure an inclusive environment that supports Arab American students this month and throughout the year.


** Check Out What We’re Reading
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“‘You shouldn't always be on your tippy toes, scared to say something wrong,’ said high school senior Evans-Williams when asked what her advice for teachers would be. ‘I want it to be clear to teachers that the issues we talk about when it comes to racial justice and these fatal police shootings are human rights issues. This is not something you're taking a political stance on — it's not something we have to argue about.’” — USA Today ([link removed])

“Teaching is one of the most stressful occupations in the U.S., tied only with nurses, a 2013 Gallup poll found. Jennifer Greif Green, an education professor at Boston University, says the additional stress that teachers are reporting during the pandemic is worrying because it doesn't affect only educators — it also affects students.” — NPR ([link removed])

“For starters, it is important to understand what it means to be of Arab descent. Simply put, Arab Americans have roots in 22 countries located in the Middle East and North African regions: Algeria, Bahrain, the Comoros Islands, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. And within all those countries, there are various languages, religions, traditions that are now part of our American story.” — PBS ([link removed])
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Have a comment, question or idea for Learning for Justice? Drop us a line at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .

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