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In response to the murder of George Floyd and subsequent #BlackLivesMatter protests around the world, our network schools have organized several opportunities for their communities to share out and respond.

Launch
Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn

7th grade Social Studies students at Launch have been learning about reparations in their current unit. They have discussed many topics including redlining, Black Lives Matter, police brutality and more. As an end-of-unit project, students will sing, rap, write a poem or dance to express their emotions. Joining them on Thursday, June 11 was Dr. Emund Adjapong, an award-winning author and professor at Seton Hall. He discussed Hip Hop and its connection to social justice, activism and what is going on in the world today. 
 

MELS
Forest Hills, Queens

On Thursday, June 4, in lieu of its virtual Town Hall for parents, MELS gave space to staff and students to share out readings in an effort to come together to remember the power of collective voices and re-conform the core values stated when the school first opened its doors, most notably stewardship, respect and advocacy.

 

Kurt Hahn
East Flatbush, Brooklyn

On Friday, June 5, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Kurt Hahn hosted an online symposium for the community, with presentations including:

  • History of Racism: How Did We Get Here?, facilitated by Dane Peters, Professor of Africana Studies, Brooklyn College
  • Growing up in Apartheid: Black Lives Matter from Africa to New York; Driving Change from Protest to Progress, facilitated by Chesray Dolpha, Director of Theater, Harlem School of the Arts
  • Unpacking White Privilege: Should We See Things in Black and White? facilitated by Jill Nawrocki, LCSW, Assistant Director, Field Department, Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College
  • Using Your Anger Constructively: Transforming Pain into Power, facilitated by Maya Azucena, Artist, Activist and Changemaker
  • Caregivers: How can we help and inform our youth who want to participate in the protest? facilitated by Durell Cooper, CEO, Cultural Innovation Group, LLC
  • Self Care: Finding Peace in Unrest, facilitated by Ashley Hawkins, Tilden Campus School Librarian

Read a re-cap of last week’s event.

 

WHEELS
Washington Heights, Manhattan

On Tuesday, June 9, from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., WHEELS, WeAct and Friends of WHEELS hosted its 5th annual Environmental Justice Expo on Zoom, during which the senior class presented on the environmental justice issues facing low-income communities of color, and their vision for the future.

For schools: If you have an event you would like added to our list, please reach out to Julie Benns, Director of Communications & Content, at [email protected].

For media: If you are interested in learning more or attending an event, please reach out to Julie Benns, Director of Communications & Content, at [email protected].

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