Teaching for Change

We may have a new look, but the mission and vision remain the same! Allow us to reintroduce ourselves! Teaching for Change provides teachers and parents with the tools to create schools where students learn to read, write, and change the world. By drawing direct connections to real world issues, Teaching for Change encourages teachers and students to question and re-think the world inside and outside their classrooms; build a more equitable, multicultural society; and become active global citizens. Our professional development, publications, and parent organizing resources serve teachers, other school staff, and parents. #TeachingforChange #SocialJusticeintheClassroom #SocialJustice #SocialJusticeTeaching #teachers #educators #education?

The joy and wisdom from children’s and young adult book authors on January 22 made for a magical evening in advance of Black History Month and?Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action. The event was hosted by Teaching for Change, with co-sponsors?An Open Book Foundation,?Africa Access, and?SHOUT MOUSE PRESS, at Busboys and Poets as part of the monthly?Beyond Heroes and Holidays series. Black Lives Matter in Books for Young Readers introduced educators and families to authors whose lens reflected the Washington, D.C. metro area and centered affirmation of Black lives.?#BlackLivesMatter #BlackLivesMatteratSchool #TeachingFORChange https://lnkd.in/dwZzTyWK

"We will draw on the lessons and approaches we’ve developed over the past 35 years.?We have learned to place community, story sharing, and truth telling at the center. And that is just what we’ll need to counter the divide and conquer politics, dis-information, and human rights violations of this administration. " Deborah Menkart, executive director Read more of Menkart's reflections on our 35 year history. https://lnkd.in/dHtNWTYn

Join us in celebrating our deputy director, Nakeesha "Keesha" J. Ceran (She/Hers), as she marks four years with Teaching for Change. Since joining the organization in January 2021, she has profoundly improved its internal operations and program delivery. From advancing our technological and system infrastructures, to fostering partnerships for D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice and Teach the Beat, and much more, Keesha continues to bring her?incredible expertise and enthusiasm to our work. As Keesha begins her chapter five at Teaching for Change, she reflects on what she has learned and looks forward to: "This year I have learned that network/community is so important — it will keep you dreaming and grounded at the same time. I’m so blessed to have colleagues across the nonprofit space whom I have gotten to glean wisdom from and pour into. In the coming year, I am looking forward to more creativity: the implementation of big dreams and continued celebration of Teaching for Change’s more than?35 years of doing this good, hard, heart work." Happy workiversary, Keesha! We are grateful for all that you do for our team and community.

In 2024, our 35th anniversary year,?we redoubled our commitment to help educators create classrooms where students are encouraged to think for themselves?and to respect the humanity of their fellow classmates, educators, and community. In the face of attacks on democracy, human rights, the climate, and the right to read —?your support provides educators and parents with free, anti-racist, social justice resources. #TeachingFORChange

Educators & community members are invited to virtually connect and collaborate THIS SATURDAY Jan. 25, 2025, during the annual #BLMatSchool Curriculum Fair, hosted by D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice. The event will prepare educators for the 2025 Week of Action happening from Feb 3-7! Ariel's Session: Global Histories, Local Classrooms: Teaching Radical Black Movements in the U.K. 1:00PM – 1:50 PM EST https://lnkd.in/ekASqAjk #DCAESJCurriculumFair #DCAESJ #EducatorsforBlackLives #YearofPurpose #PanAfricanism #BlackRadicalTradition

As we prepare to close the chapter that is 2024, our 35th anniversary year was bookended with?two major honors. In January, we received a generous donation from renowned scholar?Patricia Hill Collins as part of her Berggruen Prize (https://lnkd.in/efcj3zmb). In December,?Teaching for Change received the Community Human Rights Award?from the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area. Read more about our acceptance of the 2024 Community Human Rights Award below. #BuildingSocialJusticeStartingInTheClassroom

Our 2024 Teach Central America Week included a rich array of preparatory workshops, authors events, classroom lessons, and schoolwide activities. Check out highlights below -- all done with part time staff. Imagine what we could do if our program specialist was full time. Please donate to make that a reality in 2025.

?? Mark your calendars for 2025! ?? If you are in the D.C. metro area, join us for our FREE Beyond Heroes & Holidays Series hosted with Busboys and Poets, held once a month (generally on Wednesdays) from 6:30PM – 8:30PM at one of the Busboys and Poets locations. This series is designed for everyone who loves to learn. It offers the opportunity to engage with authors, scholars, people’s historians, films, and peers on social justice education and fugitive pedagogy. https://lnkd.in/esgiFwec

?? Each year hundreds of teachers participate in our annual #TeachCentralAmericaWeek (held the first full week of October) to encourage and support teaching about Central America during Latinx Heritage Month. With more than seven million Central Americans residing in the United States and migration from the region in headline news, our collection of lessons, booklists, biographies, and other FREE resources inform classroom engagement during the week and throughout the year. Is there a teacher in your life? Be sure they are signed up for next year's Teach Central America Week. ??