Fall | Issue 15 | Date: October 27, 2021 |
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Funding Great Schools. Rooted in Community. |
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Power in Our Voices: The Know Justice, Know Peace Story |
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After the film, a panel of DMLK students, educators, and district curriculum staff sat down with moderator, Dr. Brenda Allen, RootED Denver Board Chair and Professor Emerita, to discuss the film’s themes, the students’ journey and next steps in revising the manner in which DPS teaches Black history. The event was livestreamed on the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Early College Facebook and YouTube pages.
The film showcases the remarkable story of four young women finding their voices and becoming empowered to envision and effect change at their school and across the city. The film relates the emotional and inspirational journey that led to Denver Public Schools’ adoption of the Know Justice, Know Peace Resolution.
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The film presents a powerful example of what’s possible when student perspectives are lifted up, and when educators are responsive to feedback and have the autonomy to implement changes. DMLK Principal Kimberly Grayson said, “Our vision at MLK is to create great leaders, great communicators and great thinkers. And a part of that is to ensure that we are listening and valuing our students and their voices.”
Student Kaliah Yizar added, “It’s so important that we don’t let the students coming up today not feel important. Especially with things like mental illness affecting teenagers already. Be willing to give students a foundation to value themselves and know that they can do something because the future is really in our hands.”
The students created a podcast, Know Justice Know Peace: The Take, to address the inequities in education today. They hope to keep their resolution alive by having conversations with key people in the implementation, sustainability and overall success of their efforts to transform the DPS curriculum.
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At the conclusion of the panel, Dr. Walter Milton and Dr. Joel Freeman, the creators of Black History 365, presented college scholarship checks to all students from the original podcast, Dahni Austin, Alana Mitchell, Jenelle Nangah and Kaliah Yizar.
View the facilitator’s guide on the RootED website as a way to deepen your understanding of the film and how to organize conversations about it with others.
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Election Day is right around the corner and while it may be too late to mail your ballot in, you can still drop it off at any of the 24-hour drop-off boxes located throughout the city. Ballots must be received by the Denver Elections Division by 7:00 p.m. on November 2, 2021. Vote centers are also located throughout Denver for those who wish to cast their ballot in person. You must be in line by 7:00 p.m. on November 2 to vote.
This year, twelve candidates are running for Denver Public Schools Board of Education. Five at-large candidates, two candidates in District 2 (Southwest), two candidates in District 3 (Central Denver), and three candidates in District 4 (Northeast Denver). We’ve gathered some additional resources to help inform your decisions.
Make sure you’re registered to vote!
Helpful resources:
This election helps decide the outcomes for the over 90,000 students in Denver Public Schools, and it is up to the community to make our voices heard.
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Indigenous People's Day
With American Indian Academy of Denver
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On October 11, President Biden issued a proclamation to “honor America’s first inhabitants and the Tribal Nations that continue to thrive today” by recognizing the day as Indigenous Peoples’ Day - the first time a U.S. president has officially done so.
Locally, American Indian Academy of Denver (AIAD) is “on a mission to help our children reclaim the genius of our ancestors,” says Terri Bissonette, American Indian Academy Founder and Principal.
At AIAD, Indigenous principles and knowledge are centered in a student-driven STEAM curriculum to prepare all students to be college, career, and life ready.
“Our people have been scientists, builders, artists, and mathematicians since time immemorial. This cultural legacy was given to us by our forebears and we work to bring that cultural legacy to our kids every day of the school year—in a 21st century format—so that they can carry it into their future. Metropolitan Denver is home to some 40,000 Native Americans representing 200 tribes. Because we live across the Front Range—scattered to the winds—most people don’t know we’re here.”
Read more of Terri Bissonette’s commentary in Boardhawk.
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Working Together to Make Change |
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The Denver Journal of Education and Community (DJEC) released its fall issue with a focus on all things public education. Titled “Working Together to Make Change” the journal shares first-hand stories from students, educators, community members, and scholars alike highlighting their experiences in education during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“At the heart of this issue, and of the Denver Journal of Education and Community at large, is the question of public school’s purpose in the face of rapid city expansion or decline, economic growth and income stagnation, opportunity disparities and de facto segregation. The writers in this issue address such questions, with a more specific focus on examining whose goals and interests should inform public schooling in the region,” says Antwan Jefferson the editor for the DJEC.
“With a goal of doing education with families and no longer to families. Our families want the best for their children, and their voices and opinions matter. The changes needed in our school buildings will undoubtedly continue to be uncovered and illuminated by our families,” explains Michael Atkins, school principal at Stedman Elementary.
When we are allowed to share our experiences, emphasizes the DJEC, we can work together to solve complex problems and build a better sense of community because those solutions directly impact those closest to the problems.
Read the fall issue of the Denver Journal of Education and Community and keep an eye out for future issues.
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Denver, CO 80204
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