Cohort 24: A Collective Vision
As democratic, social justice leaders, we believe solutions should be entrusted to those directly affected.
We believe in empowering the marginalized to take charge of their narratives and destinies.
We believe transparency is key to fostering trust through open communication.
We believe that, with diligent work on everybody’s part, we can dismantle distrust.
We believe in the betterment of not only our students but also our community.
We strive for a world where equity and justice are not just ideals but lived realities.
As democratic and social justice leaders, we plan to learn about, understand, and address intergenerational trauma in order to heal and build a supportive community.
We plan to work together to develop empathy, invoke voice, and foster the skills to advocate for ourselves and others.
We plan to empower and build leadership among our communities by creating the conditions that invite participation.
We plan to build spaces for school staff to listen and learn from one another.
We plan to challenge all stakeholders to use their influence and resources to address broader social justice issues impacting the school community.
We plan to be advocates for the students and parents that we serve.
As democratic and social justice leaders we need you to join us in building trust, understanding, and respect of one another and our differences.
We need allies, friends, and third spaces to brainstorm alternative possibilities, embedded with the assets, experiences, and values of community members.
We need autonomy in decision making at the school, because we know that our community knows what is best for our students.
We need help in meeting our students’ well-being, including partnerships for mental health services, housing vouchers, medical services, transportation, and other basic needs.
We need you to hold us accountable, participate in dialogue around difficult issues, be open minded to other perspectives, share your opinions and beliefs, and bring a commitment to taking action alongside us to work towards a more just and equitable environment.
We need you to know that we need you.
We need you to be our spirit and guide us.
We need to remember the joys and strengths we each hold to reimagine a better world.