Episode 17: Bringing Black Lives Matter Curriculum into the Schools: A Conversation With Denisha Jones,Laleña Garcia, and Martin Urbach

Today's podcast focuses on The Black Lives Matter Movement and how the it is leading to bringing BLM curriculum to all schools. We talk about the Thirteen Principles of the Movement for Black Lives into child-friendly language, in order to support classroom teachers beginning this work.The conversation is with national and NYC Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action Action steering committee members Denisha Jones, Laleña Garcia and Martin Urback

Denisha Jones is the Director of the Art of Teaching Program at Sarah Lawrence College. She began her career in education as a kindergarten and preschool teacher and a preschool director before spending the last 16 years in teacher education. Currently she serves as co-director for Defending the Early Years, assistant executive director for the Badass Teacher's Association, and is a member of the national and NYC Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action Action steering committees.

Laleña Garcia is a kindergarten teacher living in Brooklyn and teaching in Manhattan. A graduate of Yale University (BA, History)  she just finished her twentieth year of teaching in New York City. In 2018, Laleña helped organize NYC’s first year of participation in the Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action, and created a document translating the Thirteen Principles of the Movement for Black Lives into child-friendly language, in order to support classroom teachers beginning this work.  She’s brought this work to local schools and community organizations, as well as to national conferences.  Laleña also works for the Early Childhood Professional Development Institute as a Gender and Sexuality Trainer, helping early childhood professionals and families to create expansive and supportive understandings of gender, sexuality, and family structure.

Martin Urbach is a Bolivian immigrant, music educator, youth organizer and activist based in Brooklyn, NY. He Teaches music and coordinates the youth led Restorative Justice program  at Harvest Collegiate High School in New York City. He loves boojee coffee, chocolate chip cookies, al kinds of drums and ramen. Martin can be found on soso la media @liberationdrums

Here are some helpful links!

National website: www.blacklivesmatteratschool.com 

National Twitter: @BLMAtSchool

National email: blacklivesmatteratschool2@gmail.com 

New York City BLM At School Link

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