"It is certain, in any case, that ignorance, allied with power,
is the most ferocious enemy justice can have."

- James Baldwin, American Novelist, playwright, essayist, poet, and activist
This week our team recognizes and remembers the significance of Juneteenth as the House and Senate unanimously approved a bill on Tuesday to make it a federal holiday. And while this step is an important one, the debate over Critical Race Theory rages on within the k-12, university, workforce, and political environments. In the midst of misinformation, it’s imperative for us all to think critically to effect real change - not only for our children, but also for the health and sustainability of our teams, schools, universities, and organizations.
Truths
Critical Race Theory (CRT) challenges the institutions, policies, pedagogy, mores, and laws that uphold white supremacy. The theory is under attack in state legislatures throughout the country. Why? Those who oppose teaching CRT believe it unfairly categorizes white people and fear that it would create opportunities to rewrite history from a pointedly racist, divisive perspective. Proponents know it’s not about changing history; rather, teaching CRT enables understanding and critical thinking around events like Juneteenth - a day when 250,000 enslaved people in Texas were freed - and allows students to learn about the policies and politics that shaped the way our country treated its own human beings and how those policies and political rhetoric helped create a socioeconomic gap that affects every one of us to this day.

So what’s the truth?

Teachers are already warning that laws banning CRT are leading to self-censorship. According to a recent NPR article, “Educators say the newly adopted and proposed laws are already forcing teachers to second-guess whether they can lead students in conversations about race and structural racism that many feel are critical at a time the nation is navigating an important reckoning on those issues.” Instead of having crucial conversations, engaging in critical thinking, and/or asking questions within the very environment where they are intended to learn, unlearn, and relearn as Toffler suggests, students’ questions go unanswered as teachers grow increasingly more skittish about engaging - fearing it could lead to a lawsuit against them or the district.

What can you do to help? Educate yourself on the states where CRT laws are being challenged and question leaders as to what they’ve studied, the purpose behind their vote, and why any type of critical thinking should be legislated.

Learn more on these state maps here.
Tools
Setser Group has benefited from tools and practices that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Take a look at the three tools below, and decide if your organization can move from awareness to allyship by answering today's challenges with a mindset for improvement and innovation. 
Epoch Education offers an online micro-course on CRT. An extension of the program’s Let’s Talk About Race course, CRT: From Theory to Practice helps learners understand how CRT can change the way they view systems, events, and people.
Talent solution firm Diverse Force helps organizations recruit, retain, and develop top diverse talent in the Philadelphia area.
Catalyst Ed’s DEI Expert Hub connects leaders with experts in assessing, designing, and implementing DEI initiatives.
 
CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion is a CEO-driven business commitment to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace. 

Their site has a lot of helpful tools to repair and close the gaps.
Triumphs
Congrats to Setser Group teammates Bryan Setser, Laura Noonan, and Margina Cohen for completing their DEI in the workplace certificates from the University of South Florida.

“Participants learn how building and growing a workforce that includes different races, religions, ages, genders and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities can not only improve broad societal issues but can also help companies develop novel business practices, increase revenue, and improve performance.”
Want to share Setser Group on social media? Use the sample post below!

Happy Juneteenth! Senate and House OK Juneteenth as Federal Holiday. See how Setser Group is thinking about CRT and how to move the conversation forward here!
 
#Juneteenth #CriticalRaceTheory #CRT #SetserGroup #FutureOfLearning #FutureOfWork #DEIinEducation #DEIinWorkforce #DEI #Diversity #Equity #Inclusion #k12 #HigherEd
Mark your calendars for July 7th at 2:00 PM EST as we continue our Summer Conversations in Barriers for Breakfast!