November 29, 2022

Embrace Diversity and Hold Space for Young People 

“We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.”  —Maya Angelou

Confronting Ableism on the Way to Justice

“Listening to the perspectives of those with lived experience is key to understanding that disability is not a problem to solve but part of the total human experience to embrace.”—Keith Jones.

So how can we improve disability inclusion in social justice and overcome ableism? In this article from the Fall 2022 issue of Learning for Justice magazine, disability rights activist Keith Jones contends that “As our movement seeks anti-racist legal reform, access to economic sustainability and employment, quality education, reproductive rights and bodily autonomy, we must include people with disabilities—who cut across all intersecting demographics. And we must be intentional in that inclusion.”


Holding Space for LGBTQ+ Young People 

In the wake of the mass shooting attack at Club Q on Nov. 19, 2022,  in which five people were killed and 18 others injured, many young people—especially LGBTQ+ youth—want to talk about what is happening. Support them by listening to their concerns and being empathetic to their emotions.

Recognize that many LGBTQ+ young people don’t feel safe right now. Acts of violence against a community that has been increasingly targeted by politically motivated disinformation and censorship that attempts erasure are not simply “senseless violence”—they are one more outcome of a campaign of hate. Each one of us, however small or large our sphere of influence, can produce a ripple effect of active support to young people right now.

Resource Spotlight

Check Out What We’re Reading


“‘I would say for anyone who is questioning, or identifies as anything other than straight, this definitely hits home in their soul.’” —The Washington Post

“It is well past time to recognize that a disability-inclusive management strategy needs to become part of the bedrock of future-looking and innovative business practices.” —USA Today

“‘If you believe public education is a public good and builds on a promise of opportunity, then you believe in the need for racial diversity.’” —Education Week
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