SEIU’s Post

Join Quinn Hafen at the Council on Social Work Education conference today and tomorrow to learn about whiteness within schools of social work! You Can’t Handle the Truth: When White "Allies" Lash Out. Performative allyship–whether from individuals claiming to be anti-racist or from institutions espousing racial justice, functions as hollow rhetoric that blocks any meaningful action. The purpose of this panel is to shed light on performative allyship and the harms of white emotionality on Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. KC Convention Center, Room 1501A, Friday, Oct. 25 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM CT. Identifying and Addressing White Supremacy in Schools of Social Work: A Systematic Review. We conducted a systematic literature review of organizational-level interventions to address white supremacy in schools of social work. We synthesize the resulting eight studies by discussing six organizational strategies for dismantling white supremacy, including, advocacy and activism, education on white supremacy, curriculum overhaul, affinity groups, and accountability mechanisms. KC Convention Center, Poster 8A, Saturday, Oct 26, 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM CT. Check out the full schedule here! https://col.st/Otr2E

James H. Johnson Jr.’s perspective is much needed right now. I agree with him that the recent wave of DEI pushback is incredibly short-sighted. Not only does it harm diverse populations, but the attacks from lawmakers do nothing to help the “average white Joe.” A world without DEI is one where we are all worse off. For a quick example of this in practice, let's take a look at college sports. In the coming years, top athletes may elect not to go to schools like Florida State or Ole Miss and instead will find better opportunities at northern schools and their booster systems. By cutting out DEI, these organizations are only hurting themselves. This is a really easy example to illustrate, but it applies to professional contexts outside of sports too. What it comes down to is the more diverse people you have, the more your bottom line is enhanced. #DEI #Justice #HR

Important perspective from Karin Rosemblatt in Inside Higher Education on the nexus between racial justice and union activism. The higher ed labor movement has been a critical force for advancing interdisciplinary curriculum, and providing financial and academic support for underserved, underrepresented, and first-generation college/graduate students. Particularly for minority-serving institutions, union activism has also led to historical breakthroughs for equitable funding, and work protections for non-tenure track faculty. As Black History Month comes to close it’s important for higher ed leaders to acknowledge, as Rosemblatt writes, that institutions should honor Black history “by doing more than offering platitudes about struggles for racial justice,” but by also joining “with academic workers…and supporting public employees…by enabling us to organize, unionize and bargain collectively.” #blackhistorymonth #highereducation #unions #activism https://lnkd.in/ep3K5K6v

Diversity, equity and inclusion programs have come under attack in boardrooms, state legislatures and college campuses across the country https://lnkd.in/d-VgbUq6

While this photo captures smiling faces from the ACEN (African Caribbean Education Network) team alongside students who shared their experiences, in retrospect, the mood was strikingly different when these young people courageously shared their experiences at last year's "Racial Inclusion for Primary Years" conference. Their testimonies served as a sobering reminder of the need to prioritise this work from the earliest stages of education. In facilitating training for thousands of teachers, largely in secondary schools, I've been struck by how universally educators express regret over not receiving this training sooner for themselves, and in addition, they acknowledge dealing with peer-to-peer issues that could have been prevented if inclusion efforts began in primary years. This is not to say that children in primary schools are not facing issues, they are. The student panel attested that their experiences started from as young as 7-8 years old, corroborated by reports from our network of parents. Many teachers, some with tears, wished they had understood these issues earlier. However, the vast majority of primary schools have yet to tackle this problem with the comprehensive, proactive approach required to drive real change and safeguard all students' psychological well-being. As such: Thursday 27th June Francis Holland School - Sloane Square We're culminating the student, parent, teacher, and school experience and platforming what works. This year's event, titled "Exploring Best Practices from Stakeholder Perspectives," will provide a comprehensive examination of effective strategies from diverse viewpoints including: ·        A panel discussion featuring Black and minority ethnic students ·        A panel discussion featuring Black parents ·        Case study presentations by state and independent schools – including non-racially minoritised students sharing the benefits of this work on them and their education. In addition, ACEN will facilitate a session to help attendees formulate actionable strategies to take back to their settings. Note: We are offering state schools a discount on the ticket price. For registration, more information, and the full timetable please visit: https://lnkd.in/eNdc_F5W

We convened a crisis summit today to address the ‘stark’ under-representation of Black people in leadership and teaching positions in London’s further education sector. London’s Deputy Mayor for Business, Howard Dawber, and representatives from FE bodies, the CIPD (Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development) and colleges across the capital joined us at this morning’s online gathering as new Government figures revealed wide discrepancies between the London’s student population and its FE workforce. The meeting heard that in a Black population of nearly 50% in the capital, and an average college Black student population of 64%, just one college principal/CEO (3.12% at that level) in the capital is Black.  At the same time, less than 10% of Chairs of governing bodies in FE in London are Black, with less than a third (29.3%) of governors from Black communities, the Workforce Data figures reveal. We told the meeting that the statistics, published last month, were damning and we called for better HR practices in FE, including an Ethnic Representation Index that measures the performance of FE institutions along ethnic equity lines in London and nationwide. Read more, including comments from BLG's Robin Landman OBE CCMI 👉🏾 https://lnkd.in/e_YJ7SD9 #ethnicequity #FE #furthereducation #London

We convened a crisis summit today to address the ‘stark’ under-representation of Black people in leadership and teaching positions in London’s further education sector. London’s Deputy Mayor for Business, Howard Dawber, and representatives from FE bodies, the CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) and colleges across the capital joined us at this morning’s online gathering as new Government figures revealed wide discrepancies between the London’s student population and its FE workforce. The meeting heard that in a Black population of nearly 50% in the capital, and an average college Black student population of 64%, just one college principal/CEO (3.12% at that level) in the capital is Black.  At the same time, less than 10% of Chairs of governing bodies in FE in London are Black, with less than a third (29.3%) of governors from Black communities, the Workforce Data figures reveal. We told the meeting that the statistics, published last month, were damning and we called for better HR practices in FE, including an Ethnic Representation Index that measures the performance of FE institutions along ethnic equity lines in London and nationwide. Read more, including comments from BLG's Robin Landman OBE CCMI 👉🏾 https://lnkd.in/dQ3yRPB4 #ethnicequity #FE #furthereducation #London

Are you registered? This national event brings together education leaders from across the country, offering a unique opportunity to learn about best governance practices, gain insights into child development, and explore cutting-edge programs and technology to enrich student learning. I will be presenting about the Heritage Program and how we have countered systemic barriers in education within our school and district through the Heritage Program and intentionally targeting educational inequities that have historically affected Black students. Educational Disparities Navigating A-G & College Requirements Access to AP/Dual Enrollment Classes Mentorship and Guidance Counseling -Perception Gap Barriers Benefits of Higher Education Visible Representation in Higher Education and Careers Community Engagement-School-Parent-Community -Economic Barriers Breaking down Costs of Higher Ed/Award Letters Perceptions of Viable Career Paths with Higher Education Comparing Employment Opportunities without a Degree -Fostering a Culture of Educational Achievement Celebrations/Awards for academic achievement -District Initiatives and Systemic Changes Putting District Resources/Funding behind programs that work to improve equity Policy changes that address systemic issues https://lnkd.in/gSj79k-M #nsba2024

As the presidential race heats up, I have yet to hear any candidate prioritize a transformational approach to revitalizing public education—a cornerstone of our democracy that too often gets overlooked. We need bold action to increase funding and other resources in low-performing districts. We need mandatory pre-K programs with adequate funding, as well as fully funded after school programs, particularly in poor communities. We need a hard stance against governors across the country who are stripping ethnic studies programs and removing books from libraries that celebrate diversity and inclusion. These actions are not just attacks on education—they're attacks on our identities, sense of cultural pride, and representation. We need leadership who also voices concerns against school systems who are strategically resegregating, further deepening social and academic gaps between affluent white students and students of color. Public schooling, especially for poor Black children, is key to breaking the cycles of poverty and empowering communities. Those seeking the highest office need to make this a top priority.

🧐Did you know in 1849 Boston, Massachusetts prohibited African Americans from attending public schools with white students. The call for reparations for the American Descendants of Slaves (ADOS) is justified due to historical evidence of education policies that disproportionately impacted this community. Exhibit C: Education The first documented case of this discrimination occurred in 1849 with the Roberts v. City of Boston case, which involved a local ordinance preventing African Americans from attending public schools alongside white students. Following the landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling in 1954, which deemed segregation illegal, many Southern states implemented "massive resistance" strategies to prevent desegregation, further exacerbating educational inequalities for African American students. Discriminatory methods like tracking placed African American students in lower-tier classes, limiting their opportunities. The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 aimed to close the achievement gap and hold schools accountable for student performance but ended up disproportionately impacting low-income and minority students, particularly African Americans, due to the focus on standardized testing and punitive measures. State governments also reinforced school segregation, funding white schools at the expense of Black ones, leading to dilapidated buildings and limited resources for Black students. Evidence of discrimination is also seen in the school-to-prison pipeline that disproportionately affects urban communities, especially African American ones, pushing students out of schools and into the criminal justice system. Black students are 2.5 times more likely to drop out of high school compared to white students, perpetuating poverty and inequality. Zero-tolerance policies implemented in the 1980s targeted black students, increasing suspension and expulsion rates and setting them on a path towards incarceration. The consequences of these policies are clear from statistics showing that black students are more likely to attend underfunded schools with fewer resources and face disproportionate disciplinary actions, starting as early as preschool. Let us remember past injustices and collaborate towards positive changes in policy. #ChangePolicy