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Today we celebrate the lives and work of Rep. John Lewis and the Rev. C.T. Vivian. We’re eternally grateful for their lifelong, courageous activism. As we remember these leaders’ relentless pursuit of equality, we hope educators will join us in continuing to work for justice and liberation for all. And we hope young people will join us in holding Representative Lewis, the Rev. Vivian and other change makers as models for who we can be when we decide to make “good trouble.”

During a season of protests and pandemic, our Fall 2020 magazine is here. Dive in to discover how students and educators are fighting for our rights, and how they’ve always done so. Here, we’ve highlighted an illuminating interview with This Book Is Anti-Racist author Tiffany Jewell, about engaging children and young people in anti-racism, and a Story Corner for young readers, about speaking up against Coronavirus racism. We hope you find value in these stories—and in every story in our new issue.

Young people have always met challenges head-on, and contemporary youth activists have an ever-increasing set of issues to address—ongoing systemic racism, economic inequality, gun violence, reproductive and human rights, an accelerating climate crisis and more. The unwavering support of committed adults can help young people in their endeavors to realize their power and promote justice.
 
To today’s youth activists: We see you, we celebrate you and we encourage your work. You are the agents of change for the future.     

The second anniversary of the assault on the U.S. Capitol approaches with the new year, reminding us that it’s critical to help young people understand, contextualize and counter manipulative and harmful disinformation. And because online hate continues to function as a crisis-level threat to democracy, digital literacy and models to prevent and build resilience against extremism must be among contemporary solutions.

Polarization is toxic to democracy and limits us — as individuals, organizations and nations — in our ability to respond to the critical needs of today. A culture of dialogue creates opportunities to reach across our differences and to engage one another, which is crucial for strengthening democracy, especially in the face of growing authoritarianism. Embracing a national identity built on democratic values can help us recognize our shared humanity. These Learning for Justice resources can help build understanding to address the questions: What is dialogue across difference?

States are primarily responsible for education, but the U.S. Department of Education is the federal agency that plays a vital role in establishing policies, ensuring accountability and promoting equal access to education. The establishment of the department as a Cabinet-level agency in 1980 emphasized the federal government’s commitment to, and our national prioritization of, education.

What does social justice education really mean? The current climate of censorship and disinformation along with attacks on inclusive education makes it crucial for us all to understand the role of education in building a just society that benefits us all.

The anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol reminds us of the importance of strengthening democracy and countering hate. Our resource series Resisting Hate in Education offers strategies for prevention, intervention and response to hate and bias. Explore recent resources on understanding and addressing antisemitism and Islamophobia in schools along with recommendations for supporting young people during tragedies and crisis events. Together, we can engage as a broader community across our differences, build networks to foster resilience and take action to resist hate.

“The reality of racism must be honestly confronted for our society to build a more equitable future for all children.” —Ivory A. Toldson, Ph.D.