Action Alerts

October 20th, 2020

Why are CEJ and IntegrateNYC Creating Liberation School?

IntegrateNYC is a youth-led organization that stands for equity and justice in our schools.

Liberation School: the Mobilization of Back and Brown Parents, Healers and Educators

While many principals, teachers and school staff are putting their hearts and souls into supporting NYC children during this global pandemic, it is clear that families can not solely rely on City Hall and the NYC Department of Education (DOE) to deliver a safe, quality education to children this year. Mayor de Blasio and the NYC DOE are drastically unprepared to provide NYC’s 1.1 million students with high-quality learning this school year. They are not providing the necessary resources and support for families to navigate remote and blended learning. Many of the resources that have been provided are not accessible to non-English monolingual families.

Our students are suffering the consequences.

Over these past months we have seen the previous inequities in the school system reveal themselves and worsen for Black and Brown students. We cannot allow students and families to return to the ‘normal’ of inequality. Black and brown students and families in New York City have faced the harshest, most devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and systemic racism. 

CEJ and youth organizing group IntegrateNYC are creating Liberation School as a response to the failings of the Department of Education to adequately provide the resources and support needed for marginalized students. While many white affluent families are hiring teachers to create learning pods, CEJ is designing Liberation School for Black, Brown, Immigrant, and low-income families, who don’t have the financial resources to hire personal teachers or tutors.

We also know the support for each other is strong. We help us. We protect us. We lead us.

Register today for any of the following workshops to learn how to…

  • Support your child’s learning
  • Promote your child’s social and emotional health
  • Influence education decision makers

July 15th, 2020

Hope and Healing Town Hall for Healing-Centered Schools in the Bronx

“Healing centered engagement is a process that aligns institutions with a perspective, an approach & a strategy that addresses harm & restores well-being.” – Shawn Ginwright, scholar in ethnic studies, urban ed + healing centered schools. Students who have experienced trauma are more likely to be punished for trauma-related behavior, have their needs neglected, or are criminalized when schools aren’t prepared to support them. On June 23rd  CEJ  was a part of the Hope and Healing Town Hall where speakers discussed why #DefundNYPD is necessary for students’ healing & how to promote equity & healing in schools going forward. Students, parents, educators and community members came together and gained skills to better advocate for schools that support ALL students. 

Watch the record here: www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=829627657565761&ref=watch_permalink

Read the full roadmap here: bit.ly/HealingCenteredSchools

July 15th, 2020

Parent Town Hall: NYC DOE’s COVID-19 Response

https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=242294267139388&external_log_id=3bea4e0992d4fe6798e8fa2b125a1d23

Responding to the NYC Department of Education’s COVID-19 response, the NYC Coalition for Educational Justice held a virtual town hall (date) to hear from and discuss with parents across NYC how the shutdown of schools has affected them and their children. CEJ centered parent voices and concerns as we not only asked about children’s access to technology and resources that would help them succeed in online learning, but also questions of whether or not parents were communicated with effectively and clearly in their primary spoken languages about online learning. CEJ uplifts Black and brown parents impacted during the pandemic and encourages all parents of NYC schoolchildren to demand their voices be heard during this crisis!

July 15th, 2020

We Call On the DOE to Fully Fund Culturally Responsive Curriculum

The time is now! Parents, students, educators and community members must come together to demand that the NYC Department of Education invest in culturally responsive education for all students! 85% of NYC students are of color yet most students go to schools where the curriculum they are taught does not reflect their cultures, histories or experiences. We demand the DOE purchase new ELA curriculum that is truly culturally responsive and adequately and deeply represents the lived experiences of the NYC student population. Research shows that Culturally Responsive Education decreases dropout rates & suspensions, and increases grade point averages, student participation, self-image, critical thinking and graduation rates. It’s time for CHANGE and we need it NOW. #Education4Liberation #CRESustainsMe

June 7th, 2017

Career Opportunity!

The Coalition for Educational Justice and the Urban Youth Collaborative are seeking an Education Justice Director. Click below to see the job description.

NYC Director of Ed Organizing Posting