Racial justice and other forms of social justice are central to our approach. We believe that if practices, procedures, and policies are not racially just, they are not trauma-informed.
Racism, sexism, homophobia, ableism and other forms of societal oppression can be trauma-inducing and push communities of people out of schools, systems of care, and other organizations.
When we are open to reckoning with the trauma and adversity caused by historical and present-day structural oppressions and hold ourselves accountable to counteracting these forces as individuals and institutions, we can work together to mitigate these harms and to foster equity and belonging for all of us.
For information about cultural humility, click here.
For resources around promoting equity and racial justice, see below.
Web Resources for Promoting Equity and Racial Justice:
- Compilation of well-curated resources around cultural responsiveness and equity put together by the National Center for School Mental Health that is tailored for people who work in schools
- Summary of Dr. Kenneth V. Hardy's recommendations about how to talk about race and racism (differentiates the tasks of a white person vs. tasks of a person of color)
- Black Lives Matter website
- Abolitionist Teaching Network
- How to Be an Antiracist Educator
- Embrace Race website with focus on raising a generation of children who are thoughtful, informed, and brave about race
- Resources for people with white skin privilege who seek to combat racism:
- Robin DeAngelo's 6-minute talk: Why "I'm Not a Racist" Is Only Half the Story (Robin DeAngelo is the author "White Fragility")
- Allyship information and resources from the Dismantle Collective
- Time article on responsibilities of white people around combatting racism
- List of 75 things white people can do for racial justice that contains actionable tips that can be implemented immediately
Books on Promoting Equity and Racial Justice for Educators and Other School Staff:
- Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain: Promoting Authentic Engagement and Rigor Among Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students (Zaretta Hammond)
- For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood...and the Rest of Y'all Too: Reality Pedagogy and Urban Education (Christopher Emdin)
- The Little Book of Race and Restorative Justice: Black Lives, Healing, and US Social Transformation (Fania Davis)
- Courageous Conversations About Race: A Field Guide for Achieving Equity in Schools (Glenn Singleton)
- Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice that Shapes What We Think, Feel, and Do (Jennifer Eberhardt)
- How to Be an Anti-Racist (Ibram X. Kendi)