SEA Racial Equity Newsletter - April 2021
This month and this year have been incredibly difficult in so many ways. One thing that is clear, and has been clear, is the need for racial equity work to continue and grow in our union and profession. We are working to create SEA Racial Equity Newsletters occasionally to inform SEA membership of Racial Equity Opportunities and provide more resources so this work can continue in each of our spaces. Please let me know if you have any questions or have something you would like to share in a future newsletter. 
 
Mahalo nui loa (thank you very much)!
Kaitlin Kamalei Brandon, SEA Racial Equity Organizer
Educators of Color Affinity Groups
 
SEA and the SEA Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee (EMAC) are hosting Educators of Color Affinity Groups for SEA members who identify as educators of color. We need a space where we can simply be and find support as BIPOC educators. Come join us as we gather as a community! The first one is Wednesday, April 7th. 
 
Every Other Wednesday from 5:00-6:00 PM
Dates: April 7, April 21, May 5, May 19, June 2, June 16
Time: 5:00-6:00 PM
SEA CRE Racial Equity Team Mini-Grant Program
 
Racial Equity Teams led by SEA members can apply for a $500 grant in order to fund racial equity work they want to do in the 2021-2022 School Year. We will be awarding 20 mini-grants. Racial Equity Teams do NOT have to be recognized by the district to apply for the Mini-Grant program -- you just have to be doing racial equity work in your school, be led by SEA members, and have a rocking plan for next year!
 
Applications DUE on April 16, 2021 @ 11:59 PM PST
Resources for Addressing the Anti-AAPI Racist Attacks & Supporting the AAPI Community
 
To say the last few weeks have been hard would be an understatement. On March 16th, a gunman killed six Asian women and two others in attacks on spas across Atlanta, Georgia. We must call this for what it was: a hate crime and one of the worst forms of racism - murder. I have been horrified and thrown into a perpetual state of processing since I found out. As a member of our Asian American Pacific Islander Community and an AAPI advocate, I was scared and frustrated. 
 
Remember we have future adults in our schools. We can have an impact on them and help them challenge anti-AAPI racism. Together, by centering AAPI voices and experiences, we can heal our community!⁣ 
 
Please check out the following resources to help address the Anti-AAPI racist attacks and support our community in your school and beyond:
 
·        NEA Asian Pacific Islander Caucus (APIC) Resources: https://nea-apic.com/aapi-resources/ 
·        “After Atlanta: Teaching About Asian American Identity and History” (Learning for Justice): https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/after-atlanta-teaching-about-asian-american-identity-and-history 
·        “Diverse Books to Address Anti-AAPI Racist Attacks & Empower Our AAPI Community” (Colorful Pages): https://colorfulpages.org/2021/03/20/diverse-books-to-address-anti-aapi-racism-empower-our-aapi-community/ 
 
To my fellow AAPI Educators, there are the following resources to support you:
 
·        NEA Asian Pacific Islander Caucus: https://nea-apic.com 
·        WEA APIM Caucus (recently formed): https://sites.google.com/view/wea-apim-caucus/ 
Come join our SEA Educators of Color Affinity Groups: https://washingtonea.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwodeCgqD4qGdNFnuDG5LDiqITsZwaGTvyc
Resources for Justice for George Floyd & Black Lives Matter
 
This week, we watch as the police officer that murdered George Floyd goes on trial. We need to make sure to support our Black students, families, fellow educators, and community members. Let’s center our Black community members through this time and beyond. Black Lives Matter now and always! 
 
Please check out the following resources to help support Black Lives Matter, address the trial for the murder of George Floyd, and center the Black community in your school and beyond:
 
·        “Black Lives Matter This Week and Always” (Learning for Justice): https://www.learningforjustice.org/the-moment/march-29-2021-black-lives-matter-this-week-and-always 
·        “Teaching About Race, Racism, and Police Violence” (Learning for Justice): https://www.learningforjustice.org/moment/racism-and-police-violence 
·        Black Lives Matter at School Resources: https://www.blacklivesmatteratschool.com 
·        Black Lives Matter at School Book List (Social Justice Books): https://socialjusticebooks.org/booklists/black-lives-matter-school/ 
 
To our Black Educators, there are the following resources to support you:
 
·        NEA Black Caucus: https://www.neablackcaucus.org 
Come join our SEA Educators of Color Affinity Groups: https://washingtonea.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwodeCgqD4qGdNFnuDG5LDiqITsZwaGTvyc
Resources for Supporting Students, Families, & Community Members During Ramadan
 
Ramadan is coming up soon! Ramadan is observed from April 13, 2021 to May 13, 2021 (however, the dates may vary by one day depending on a family’s religious school of thought).
 
Please make sure to be mindful, empowering, and supportive of your students and their families during this time. Check out this amazing resource from Sobia Sheikh, NEA Director and educator at Mariner High School:
How to Stay Connected:
The 2019-2022 Contracts are posted on the SEA Website!