Join Learning for Justice for Season 2 of our Summer Read-Along series. This season we focus on The Power of Place, the theme from the Spring 2023 issue of Learning for Justice magazine, as we highlight authors from the issue and other special guests who are committed to and work daily in spaces and places advocating for a just society.
Register today for one or all three!
Season 2, Summer 2023
Power of Place: Art as a Tool for Social Justice
This episode featured Coshandra Dillard, author of “The Power of Place: Art As A Tool For Social Justice,” the cover story from the latest issue of Learning for Justice magazine. Coshandra was joined by three special guests: Montgomery, Alabama artists Kalonji Gilchrist, Milton Madison and Sunny Paulk. They shared insights into the power of art in storytelling and suggest ways educators can use art to raise awareness to issues of social justice.
Power and Justice in the South and Beyond
This episode featured Amber N. Mitchell, the director of education at Whitney Plantation, Lolita Bolden, project manager at the Southern Poverty Law Center Mississippi State Office, and Jalaya Liles Dunn, director of Learning for Justice, all of whom are contributors in the latest issue of Learning for Justice magazine. This discussion highlighted the power of place and the importance of honest history by centering the resistance and resilience of Black people enslaved on forced labor camps and the vital aspect and richness of community, particularly in the South, where, as Jalaya Liles Dunn explains, “justice must be fought [for] … with allies from other parts of the nation.”
The Power of Space: Where Young People Are Valued
This episode features activist and writer Dorothee Benz, Ph.D., and Equality Florida activists Nikole Parker and Brandon Wolfe, all contributors to the latest issue of Learning for Justice magazine. Along with special guest Ian Siljestrom, also from Equality Florida, these experts offer information about the rights of LGBTQ+ young people and ways to create safe school environments for LGBTQ+ students and educators.
Season 1, Summer 2022
Rural Schools and Hard History
The September 2022 Read-Along focused on the feature article "Rural Schools and Hard History." Watch to hear from article author Cory Collins, Mississippi's Teach Plus Executive Director Sanford Johnson, and LFJ's Associate Director for Learning in Schools Sarah-SoonLing Blackburn as they explore the rich history and diversity of rural schools. The panelists also shared strategies for educators who want to uplift honest histories and reflections for others who want to help advocate for rural students and communities.
Going Beyond the Textbook
The August 2022 Read-Along focused on the feature article “Going Beyond the Textbook.” Watch to hear from article author Dorothee Benz, educator and activist Christopher Rogers and LFJ facilitator Courtney Wai as they explored the importance of teaching history beyond what is typically included in textbooks. The panelists also shared strategies for educators and reflections for others who want to help advocate for more honest history instruction.
Teaching Local History in Tulsa
The July 2022 Read-Along focused on the feature article “Teaching Local History in Tulsa.” Watch to hear from article author Coshandra Dillard, Tulsa educator Akela Leach and LFJ facilitator Jaci Jones as they explored the importance of teaching local histories in schools. The panelists also shared suggestions for people who want to advocate for elevating local histories and for educators looking to incorporate these histories into their teaching practice.
Illustration by Kim Salt