The Pulitzer Center is starting an education network around the 1619 Project, Teaching Tolerance changed its name, Sonja Cherry-Paul created an educator's guide to Unspeakable and more in this edition of News Bites.

1619 Project Education Network 

The Pulitzer Center is launching The 1619 Project Education Network. Educators, administrators, content specialists, and curriculum supervisors at K-12 schools, and educators and administrators who work with adults and youth in jails, prisons, or youth detention facilities, can apply for the inaugural 40-person cohort.

This paid, virtual program will give each educator $5,000 for exploration of questions about racial justice and other issues, as well as access to professional development workshops led by journalists, scholars, and Pulitzer Center staff, and the ability to use to a virtual portal to shares curriculum, showcases student work, and provides methods for participants to network and collaborate.

Throughout the year, network members will:

• Develop standards-aligned units to engage students in The 1619 Project, and other journalism and historical sources, to strengthen connections to existing curricula, practice media literacy skills, and build empathy.

• Manage the implementation and evaluation of units by at least two educators in multiple classes.
• Share their projects publicly through the Pulitzer Center’s online lesson library and virtual professional development programs.
• Devise plans for revising and expanding use of their units in 2022.
• Actively participate in quarterly network meetings to share progress, evaluate lessons learned, and provide support and feedback for other members.

Applications are due March 15.

Teaching Tolerance is now Learning for Justice

Teaching Tolerance, an organization dedicated to working with educators, schools, students and communities to be a catalyst for racial justice, has changed its name to Learning for Justice.

When the organization began discussing a name change two years ago, then director Maureen Costello wrote, "Names matter, though. They signal what’s inside. The name Teaching Tolerance has an impact on many people, especially people from marginalized communities and groups who don’t feel respected by this name. As social justice educators, we preach that impact is more important than intent. And we’re taking that message to heart."

In a post announcing its new name this week, director Liles Dunn wrote, “The fact is, tolerance is not justice. It isn’t a sufficient description of the work we do or of the world we want.

"But when we were choosing our new name, we weren’t only thinking of the changes we want to see in schools. We were also thinking of how to best make those changes. That’s why we’re shifting from “teaching” to “learning.”

"Because we want to recognize that we don’t have all the answers. We want to name that we are learning alongside you as you work for the changes that students, families, educators and districts need to ensure that our schools are places where all students can thrive. Because we understand that this work will outlast us. And we want you to know that we promise to be in this work together with you. Because we want to honor this truth: that learning from—and with—one another is the first step to making justice real."

Curricular Guide for Carole Boston Weatherford’s Unspeakable

Lerner created a teaching guide for Unspeakable, Carole Boston Weatherford’s book about the Tulsa Race Massacre. The discussion guide was created by Sonja Cherry-Paul, who wrote the educator's guide for Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You. A pdf of the guide is available free to download.

“There are several ways to prepare for reading and teaching Unspeakable in the classroom that affirm racial and cultural identities, raise awareness about inequities, and help students have productive conversations about race and racism,” the guide says.

It includes discussion notes, author and illustrator notes, and learning explorations for seventh and eighth grade. There is also a page of resources to teach the Insurrection at the Capitol on January 6 with a focus on whiteness, white supremacy, and white privilege, and how that fueled the insurrection and what parallels can be drawn between the Tulsa Race Massacre and the Capitol attack.

The 29th Annual African American Children's Book Fair 

The African American Children's Book Fair goes virtual on Saturday February 6, bringing Black book creators together with each other and young readers. 

Normally held in Philadelphia, the online program will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and offers a schedule full of the biggest names in kid lit, including Tami Charles, Carole Boston Weatherford, Jerry Craft, Dhonielle Clayton, Bryan Collier, Ibi Zoboi, Derrick Barnes, Cozbi A. Cabrera, and Renée Watson.  In one very special panel, three generations of Pinkneys will appear together on screen. Jerry and Gloria Jean Pinkney will be joined by Brian Pinkney, Andrea Davis Pinkney, and Charnelle Pinkney Barlow.

Registration is free, and there is an online bookstore.

"The whole goal of the program is not only to get them reading, but to have them get on the road to be lifelong readers," says Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati, founder of the African American Children's Book Project, which hosts the event each year. 

Free Units Studying Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and Curtis Mayfield

Kids Discover has partnered with Rhino Records, the catalog division of Warner Music Group, to celebrate Black History Month by releasing three free units honoring Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and Curtis Mayfield. The free lessons for grades 3–8 use music to raise awareness of Black contributions to the arts and society. Each unit, which features music, original album art, and more, will be available on the Kids Discover website through Febraury.