January + February 2020: Hope-filled
Being conscious of
the ills of the world can be
depleting. I’ve hope.
- T. Williams
My word for 2020 is HOPE. I share about that in more detail in my #GladAboutIt2020 announcement. Essentially, I’ll be training my brain to notice more moments of healing and empowerment around me, inspiring me into action, challenging my feelings of apathy.
A couple of resources that sparked HOPE in me this month and called me to action:
This Book is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on how to wake up, take action, and do the work by Tiffany Jewell
Status: I’m in the middle of reading it
What I like: written to be accessible for youth AND a good read for folks of all ages, the illustrations draw you in and complement the affirming and anti-racist content (yes to BIPOC* illustrations!), activity check-points throughout the book give you a moment of pause and reflection (or chunk + chew as Zaretta Hammond would say), the bibliography and select further reading sections have me ready to open up my wallet!
Cool tidbit: Posters are available to print from the Quarto Publishing website, linked above!
*BIPOC = Black, Indigenous, and People of Color
Unnatural Causes: Is inequality making us sick? produced by California Newsreel
Status: I’ve watched the full 4 hours of the documentary
What I like: this was a tough and infuriating watch at some points because of the systemic inequalities that are laid out, I’m grateful for the content and research shared, powerful look at the impact of inequality on health + zooming in on different communities each episode, it discusses the healing nature of hope + empowerment (autonomy over your life), it’s an excellent resource if you’re looking for good examples of systemic oppression.
Cool tidbit: Discussion guides, transcripts, action toolkits, and policy guides available on the website linked above.
What resources have sparked hope for you lately? Share them with me. I’m always working to expand my toolkit.
Featured Downloadable:
Above and Beyond Black History Month Calendar | Created by Tamisha Williams and Cheleah Googe to honor the history, celebrate the contributions, uplift the resistance and increase awareness of the Black existence. Each day, explore a new theme, person or concept that can be amplified in your classroom and beyond. Each week, through a reflection question, unpack your identity and how you’ve come to understand the Black experience.
Upcoming Workshops:
NAIS Annual Conference | Tea Time: Real Talk with Women Administrators (co-facilitating with Lori Cohen, Shoba Farrell, and Juna McDaid)
NAIS Annual Conference | The Evolution of an Institution’s Engagement with Racism (co-facilitating with Eric Temple and Dr. Nikkia Young)
CATDC | Do You See What I Mean? Facilitating Courageous Conversations Visually, March 3 from 9a-3p | (co-facilitating with Kawai Lai and Rosetta Lee)
Sofia Center | Wild Leadership Retreat, April 23-25 | (co-facilitating with Sheryl Chard and Elsa Menéndez)
Take care (of yourself and others around you),
Tamisha