October 14, George Floyd’s birthday, is the kickoff of the 2021-2022 Black Lives Matter at School Year of Purpose. Join National Educators United, Ethnic Studies educators, and educators from the national Black Lives Matter at School for a Town Hall to discuss the national day of action on October 14, sponsored by the Zinn Education Project and Black Lives Matter at School, to “#TeachTruth about structural racism and oppression”.

The Zinn Education Project is one of the organizations that has led the national organizing against the attacks on critical race theory where “lawmakers in at least 27 states are attempting to pass legislation that would require teachers to lie to students about the role of racism, sexism, heterosexism, and oppression throughout U.S. history”. Collectively and in solidarity with educators, students, families, and our communities, we can build a national movement to stop these racist attacks.

Speakers:

Tamara Anderson is one of the #TeachTruth campaign organizers with Zinn Education Project (a collaboration between Rethinking Schools and Teaching for Change). She is one of the founding steering committee members of the National Black Lives Matter Week of Action at Schools, a member of the Racial Justice Organizing Committee, a core member of Melanated Educators Collective, a core organizer of Philly-Black Lives Matter Week at Schools, Opt-Out Philly, and a diversity consultant for the American Association of Physics Teachers.

Lupe Carrasco Cardona (confirmed) has been an educator for 21 years, currently teaching at Edward Roybal in LA and CSU Long Beach. She serves as the chair of the Association of Raza Educators (Los Angeles chapter), co-founder of XOCHITL Los Angeles, a member of LAUSD’s Ethnic Studies Curriculum Committee, a member of Ethnic Studies Now Coalition’s Coordinating Committee and a founding member of the Liberated Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum Coalition.

Barbara Spencer Dunn (confirmed) is an executive council member for the Association for The Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). This is an association founded by Dr. Carter G. Woodson who is also the founder of Black History week that evolved into Black History Month. Barbara is a professional developer of a new k-12 textbook entitled Black History 365 (https://asalh.org/history-untold/). She is also the author of Before and Beyond the Niagra Movement, As the Youth See It (www.kiamshayouth.org).

Podcast interview: https://blacknificentlife.com/dunn-asalh-prt2-ep-5/

Melissa Tomlinson, National Educators United, NJ21UNITED, and Badass Teachers Association. Melissa is a teacher of special education students in a rural district in South Jersey. She is a strong union activist, serving at the state and county level to push the union towards advocating within the intersection of racial, social, and economic justice.

Mia Dabney is the Washington NAACP Youth Council President. She’s a high school student from Seattle, WA.