CRSJ News – February 2025
Happy Black History Month, SEA! I hope you are finding joy where you can this month as we get closer to mid-winter break.
At our last Representative Assembly (RA), during our “9 minutes and 29 seconds” section where we honor George Floyd, we talked about the role of co-conspirators. We heard this powerful statement from a member: “If you are going to be a co-conspirator, be it all the time, not just when you see fit. All of us can be a Co-Conspirator.”
The following week on a green day at Madison Middle School, Crystal Dominguez, a Racial Equity Team (RET) member, hosted Jeb Binns and Shawna Moore of Highline through the Center for Racial and Social Justice (CRSJ). The team came in to teach about 55 educators how to build equitable Racial Equity Teams. They shared the importance of knowing who is on your team and who are the Allies, Accomplices and Co-Conspirators (AAC) members in the group. This training happened while school leadership was also present and participating. If you are seeking an event for your green day, consider connecting with the CRSJ for team support. This is just one you can be a co-conspirator.
As we know, the state of America has reached really challenging times. We honor co-conspirators like Jimmy Carter, Abraham Joshya Heschel, and Ralph Abernathy as well as many other BIPOC civil rights leaders who fought for the rights for all humankind. Will we walk back all these rights as a nation in this month of Black History? We must band together no matter how we identify. We, the educators of a generation, should not bow down or be shaken by bigotry or prejudice. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.” We must not see each other as enemies, but as friends!
This month’s issue has resources about:
- A Call Out to Help Uplifting Educators Voice with the 9:29
- SEA CRSJ Len Hill Educator Grants
- Resources for Educators
- Professional Development
- Local Community & Labor Engagements
- Upcoming calendar events
CRSJ team: Director Elizabeth Ward-Robertson, Nisha Daniel, Matt Legacki, Toni O’Neal, Davina Diaz, Jennifer Matter, Charjit Dhoot & Uni-Serve Director Uti Hawkins
Let’s help our union siblings raise money for LA fire relief:
9 minutes and 29 seconds at RA
In light of the new federal administration that was sworn in January 20th, we have been getting questions from many members, and we have many questions ourselves. We have collected some resources for members, but we are always looking for more. What words of wisdom or practical resources do you have that can help support our members and community at this time?
SEA CRSJ Len Hill Leader & Advocacy Grants
Len Hill Leader and Advocacy Grant Program. Do you know your Racial Equity Team can apply for $500, $750, or $1500 to fund your site’s racial equity work on a Green Day. Please reach out to the director of CRSJ for more information and support. Learn more!
Educator Resources:
- “Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer” By Carole Weatherford | NAAM Interactive Story Time
- Book recommendation “Until I Am Free” by Fannie Lou Hamer
- WEA professional development program: ESP Professional Development (washingtonea.org)
Learn about educators making an impact:
Other Resources:
- The Community Network Council is a group of community organizations and volunteers working cooperatively to connect youth to resources that will help them become successful. The goal of the Community Network Council is to increase trust, safety, cooperation, and positive parenting in the community for both children and parents.
- Happy Lunar New Year! It is the Year of the Snake. Learn about the myth behind the Chinese Zodiac
Local Community & Labor Engagements:
- (RARE) Roosevelt Alumni for Racial Equity Seeks the involvement of the community! Learn more: https://rhs4racialequity.org
- From our AAPI: Foundations and Futures invites 7-12th grade and college educators to participate in Spring Beta Testing. From March 24th through May 2nd, teachers will have the opportunity to bring textbook chapters into their classrooms and provide important, compensated feedback on site functionality.
Upcoming Events:
February 4 – Rosa Parks’ Birthday
February 7 – National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Good HIV/AIDS News | Good Good
February 13 – Black Love Day
February 14 – Frederick Douglass Day
February 23 – W.E.B Du Bois Day
February 23 – 4th Annual Black History Month Market – Mount Tahoma HS
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