CRSJ News – May 2025

News

CRSJ News – May 2025

manderson

May 09, 2025

SEA Racial & Social Justice Newsletter – May 2025

Hello Seattle Educators,

How are you all feeling? Do you know that your Mental Health is important to your union?

Well, as your Director of CRSJ, I know this time is about assessment for students, getting in grades, graduations, field trips and all things in preparation for ending the school year. Well, let me remind you that you all have been doing an amazing job despite the challenges this year from talks about school closures to the need for a new superintendent. If you are feeling anxious, know that your students are also likely to see it and feel it as well. I say this as I reflect on what a fellow trainer shared with me. We as educators, are human beings. Sometimes even we are not able to regulate our own challenges and emotions so how can we expect a student to understand how to regulate theirs? Therefore, it is important for us to be healthy role models and set an example for our scholars. When we pour love and appreciation into others it has a way of bouncing back! Lighting up our world.

Let’s not forget human connections are grassroot organizing.

“Social connection is such a basic feature of human experience that when we are deprived of it, we suffer.” – Leonard Mlodinow

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

Nominate Your Coworker for the Human and Civil Rights Award

Local Community & Labor Engagements

CRSJ Team: Director Elizabeth Ward-Robertson, Nisha Daniel, Matt Legacki, Toni O’Neal, Davina Diaz, Jennifer Matter, Charjit Dhoot, and Uni-Serve Director Uti Hawkins

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month – 9:29 minutes:

“Social connection is such a basic feature of human experience that when we are deprived of it, we suffer.” – Leonard Mlodinow

We are calling all who represent as BIPOC to come to the mic, introduce yourself, worksite and share an example of a basic human experience that you had or shared with another person that you believe built new or returning social connections.

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.

Resources for Educators:

The Four Pivots: Reimagining Justice, Reimagining Ourselves

This book was highlighted at the NEA leadership conference

Twenty Lessons, read by John Lithgow – by Timothy Snyder

Racism in the Classroom: A Four Part Workshop | Eventbrite

29 Thoughtful Ideas For Mental Health Awareness Month

22 Ideas To Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month

NEA celebrates AAPI Heritage month

Find booklists and classroom resources highlighting AANHPI heritage from NEA’s partners at WETA.   

WEA AAPI resources for AAPI Heritage month

May is also Jewish heritage month! Check out more information here.

NEA celebrates Jewish Heritage Month

WELCOME: Washington State Jewish Historical Society

Professional Development Opportunities

4–6-hour WEA Inclusionary Practices, Multilingual & Multicultural Zoom Courses on WEA Win: https://wea-win.org/events/637

(FATE) Family and Advocates Transforming Education (Disability in Public Schools) Family Advisory Mission – Special Education Support Center

How to Strengthen Your Engagement with Families and the Community · NEA ESP Quality Virtual training May 14, 2025, Time:4-5pm

Public education should be bi-partisan: A Virtual Town Hall for GOP Public Education Allies · May Day Strong Virtual training May 14, 2025, Time: 5-6pm

It’s Not Red v Blue; It’s Rich v You · NEA ESP Quality Virtual training May 15, 2025, Time: 4-5pm

Nominate your coworker for the WA Human and Civil Rights Award

Do you know of an individual or group making a difference in the world? Nominate them for a WEA Human and Civil Rights Award. Nominate an individual or group involved in exceptional work in the areas of community service, cultural awareness, international peace and understanding, and student involvement in Washington state. 

Multiple categories are available. Anyone can nominate a person or group for these awards. 

Nominations are due by 5 p.m. Monday, June 30. Learn more and submit a nomination.

Local Community & Labor Engagements:

APALA 18th Biennial Convention: Solidarity. Resistance. Unity.

📅 Date: Thursday, June 26th to Sunday, June 29th 
📍 Location: JW Marriot Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
📎 More information: http://www.apalaconvention.org/ or see the attached call letter

If you are interested in attending, contact Amy Leong - apa…@gmail.com
This year’s theme reflects the urgency of the moment. “Solidarity. Resistance. Unity.” means we must stand together to fight for our vision of the world. It means we must be strategic, vocal, and engaged as we push back against the attacks on workers, immigrants and democracy, while we also build a strong and diverse coalition to win.  
At the 18th Biennial Convention, we will hear firsthand the stories of how the Project 2025 agenda is upending the rights and lives of workers and communities across the country. We will learn the skills to advocate for one another and move others to action. We will celebrate APALA’s many achievements since our founding in 1992. We will also continue our long tradition of strengthening global solidarity by building on our deepening relationships with pro-democracy labor coalitions in the Philippines.    

Bearing Witness: AANHPI Advocacy for Immigrant Communities
📅 Date: Wednesday, May 21st
🕘 Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm 
📍 Location: Zoom – Register by clicking on the link
Our focus will be on building solidarity and cross-cultural support for current immigrant and refugee communities, increasing awareness of AANHPI (Asian American-Native Hawaiian-Pacific Islander) communities in the North Sound region, and strengthening knowledge of AANHPI history and anti-Asian exclusion. By connecting history with present-day experiences of immigrant and refugee communities, we can help protect the most vulnerable through informed action.
Our panelists include Van Kuno, Executive Director of Refugee and Immigrant Services NW, Stan Shikuma, activist and organizer for Tsuru for Solidarity, and Brian Niiya, public historian and content director for Densho.

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