J.E.D.I.

Our JEDI Commitment

Together we affirm that every person has the opportunity to reach their full potential. We are committed to creating and cultivating a safe environment where all individuals feel respected and valued equally. We are committed to a nondiscriminatory and anti-racist approach and are committed to dismantling any inequities within our policies, systems, programs and services.

DID YOU KNOW?

By 8 months old, babies can notice differences between race
By ages 2 to 4, children have an understanding of racial bias
At around age 12, kids may become set in their beliefs about racial bias and cultural understanding
Research shows that black teens may experience racism up to 5 times a day
Racism and discrimination can contribute to health inequities, including mental health symptoms

resources

We believe the best way to combat social injustice is through increasing our knowledge and awareness about it. We have created a list of our favorite resources, including websites, videos, books, and podcasts about social justice to share with you. As new resources become available, we will continue to add to this list. 

We will continue to fight for social justice through our commitment to being #DefendersOfPotential

Educational and Organizational Resources for Everyone

Learning for Justice

This website has free resources for educators who teach children grades K-12. These resources can be used to supplement curriculum in the classroom and cover topics such as race and ethnicity, immigration, and gender and sexuality.

Center for Justice in Education

Their mission is to train and empower educators to dismantle patterns of racism and injustice in our schools and communities.

Sesame Workshop

This website has a variety of resources for parents and children covering topics such as inclusion, diversity, and equity.

National Equity Project

Consulting and coaching for leaders, organizations, foundations, communities, and educators on equity.

Resources for Parents and Mentors

Videos

The Talk

Short video about parents talking to their children about being black.

Articles

Racism and Violence: How to Help Kids Handle the News

Article that talks about how to talk to kids about what they see on the news and why some of the content and images may be scary to them.

The Dos and Don’ts of Talking to Kids of Color About White Supremacy

This article covers how to talk to children about white supremacy and the systems that continue to allow it to happen.​

Talking to White Kids About Race & Racism

Ideas for white parents on talking to their kids about race and racism. Includes conversation starters and topics such as history.

Podcasts

My American Melting Pot: How to Talk to Your Kids About Race

This podcast talks about how and when to discuss race with your children

How to Talk to Your Kids About Race and Justice

A panel of experts discusses how to talk about race and social justice with your children.

Books

Talking to Kids about Racism and Justice – Oakland Library

A comprehensive list of book titles for parents, caregivers, and educators to help them talk to kids about racism and social justice.

Resources for Race, Equity, Anti-Racism, and Inclusion

A list of lists! These lists include organizations, book recommendations, black-owned bookstores, and other educational resources for everyone.

Resources for The Youth

Videos

Common Reads “Let’s Talk About Race”

Common reads the story “Let’s Talk About Race” by Julius Lester. This book explores the concept of racism and how people view and treat each other.

Coming Together: Standing up to Racism Town Hall part 1

This video talks about how to combat racism and shares a message with kids about how they can help make a change.

Coming Together: Standing up to Racism Town Hall part 2

Abby Cadabby shares a story about the time Big Bird was a victim of prejudice, and a college professor defines white privilege.

Coming Together: Standing up to Racism Town Hall part 3

Two children from a viral video are reunited, and a former police chief shares a message to children of color.

Jotham White “Student Six”

Jotham White discussing how he worked with his educators on racism and how he helped create a safe learning environment for himself and other students.

Systemic Racism Explained

Systemic racism affects every area of life in the US. From incarceration rates to predatory loans, and trying to solve these problems requires changes in major parts of our system. Here’s a closer look at what systemic racism is, and how we can solve it.

Explaining What is Race #Coming Together

Wes and his dad, Elijah, explain to Elmo about what causes the differences in our skin color and how it’s an important part of who we are.

PBS Kids Talk About Race & Racism

Hosted by inaugural National Youth Poet Laureate, Amanda Gorman, this half-hour program features authentic conversations between real children and their parents.

Websites

Sesame Street in Communities

Website contains activities, printables, and videos for children covering a wide variety of topics including racial justice, resilience, and traumatic experiences.

Books

Anti-Racist Books for Middle and High School Students

This website contains a comprehensive list of books for children of all ages that include topics such as a social justice diversity.

Anti-Racist Middle Grade Books To Help Young Readers Challenge White Supremacy

A list of anti-racism books for middle-school children.