The Moment Archive

Dialogue creates opportunities to reach across differences and to engage with and understand one another, without losing the integrity of our work for equity and justice. In the new Fall 2024 Issue of Learning for Justice magazine, the first two features, “Dialogue Across Difference” by Brandon Haas and “The Promise of Building Bridges” by Maia Ferdman and Felicia Graham, examine how dialogue is foundational for civic engagement and democratic collective action and offer a model to foster a culture of meaningful exchange, empathy and critical thinking.

In our new fall 2024 magazine, Learning for Justice Director Jalaya Liles Dunn emphasizes the importance of coming together around a shared vision in the practice of democracy. Dunn explains that “We increase our power to foster change when we are in community with one another – deliberating, deciding and taking action.” Our democracy’s strength rests on our ability to commit to one another for a shared purpose that centers our humanity.

Being discerning about the information around us is important, especially during elections. As our access to information from a variety of media sources has increased, the benefits of wider exposure are being undermined by a media landscape filled with polarized messaging, manipulated content, disinformation and propaganda. Rhetoric and catchphrases – especially about complex and divisive issues – are abundant and often attempt to reduce complex concerns to simplified and biased explanations.

Through learning that teaches honest history, introduces servant leadership (an approach that focuses on leadership in service of the community) and eases entry into the movement for justice, Youth Learning for Justice aims to help young people realize their power to shape the future.

October is Youth Justice Action Month. Commit with us to work toward transforming harmful systems and creating more supportive communities in which all young people can thrive. An important step in creating change together is participating in our election process. Our votes matter.

Banned Books Week is Sept. 22 to 28, 2024.

Learning can help us to resist hate and bias and counter limited narratives that have traditionally excluded diverse perspectives.