Matt Damon's Backpack Full of Cash Premiered in Boston with YOB/BSAC in attendance

Narrated by celebrated actor and son of a public school educator Matt Damon, 
Backpack Full of Cash  explores the growing privatization of public 
schools and the resulting impact on  America's most vulnerable children.

BSAC and YOB were part of the momentous victory over forces of privatization during t he 2016 election as we fought against moneyed interests seeking to raise the cap on charter schools.

After the film, the panel discussed threats to public education, including Betsy DeVos, lack of resources, and all the young people being shortchanged by the current system. 

Thank you to the Schott Foundation, Citizens for Public Schools, and Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood for sponsoring this wonderful event and ensuring YOB/BSAC could be in attendance.  
If you are interested in hosting a screening, visit the Backpack Full of Cash website. 

Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation for Empowering Young People Meets with BSAC

BSAC members and representatives of the Born This Way Foundation met before Lady Gaga's concert in Boston to discuss the alignment between our work. Like BSAC, Born This Way is committed to empowering young people to make their communities better and their school environments positive, compassionate places to be. We shared our field guide on social emotional learning (SEL) Preparing Youth to Thrive and promised to keep in touch. BSAC put together a little care package for Lady Gaga herself!
 
Left: BSAC members with Rachel and Maya from Born this Way. Right: Lady Gaga
Testifying at City Councilor Ayanna Pressley's Hearing on Project Focus: Girls of Color 

BSAC members have been contributing to Councilor Pressley's initiative on Girls of Color since the summer, participating in planning calls and focus groups. This week, three BSAC members testified about their experiences as girls of color in Boston Public Schools and the challenges they face around inequitable dress codes, sexual harassment, and being discouraged from leadership positions on the basis of their gender. Kimberly, Bergeline, and Evelyn walked away  with copies of Monique W. Morris' book  Pushout: The
Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools, and a deepened commitment to making Boston better for girls and women of color.

We  look forward to working with Councilors Pressley and Essabi-George in issues related to school discipline and girls of color and ensuring that all young women in BPS know how to use the Boston Student Rights app to report improper disciplinary actions under the Code of Conduct and incidences of harassment and discrimination.

Stay tuned for more information about our 6th Annual Listening Project on October 24th, 2017!
Join us in making the WORLD'S LARGEST HUMAN PEACE SIGN! 

On  Saturday, September 23rd join BSAC and thousands from across the Commonwealth in support of  Children's Services of Roxbury as we look to establish a  GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title with the "Peace of Mind" campaign. CSR believes that peace begins and ends with building strong and nurturing family environments, and BSAC agrees. To reinforce this message, we are assembling over 6,000 people to form the  WORLD'S LARGEST HUMAN PEACE SIGN on the Boston Common!

Join us amidst a celebratory atmosphere of music, entertainment and food! A Guinness World Records Representative will be on site to officially proclaim the establishment of the record for the world's largest human peace sign. Find the  schedule and register online here.

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