By SEED Staff Member Christine Saxman. 

After seeing multiple requests from Asian folks and other folks of color to interrupt the fear, ignorance, and racism in the time of COVID-19, I feel called to reach out to my White community and ask us to do more. My humble offering comes from my perspective as a White woman working to end racism. I invite accountability from those targeted by racism to help us all reach a new, critical perspective in order to eliminate the pain and trauma racism causes and change our system for the better.

Post by SEED summer staff member Dan Cohen, English teacher and department head at Oak Park and River Forest High School in Illinois.

Learning of the lack of indictments of White police officers in the killing of unarmed Black men and women, my anger and frustration erupted at the racist systems and institutions. I was ready to act. Yet I quickly stopped and reminded myself that I, as a White male, am part of those structures. I am not immune. Therefore if I want justice and I want to dismantle those systems, I need to start with myself and do my own work and interrupt the racist default patterns that live inside me. With loving accountability I invite and challenge my White brothers and sisters to join me. This is our work.

How can out-of-school-time (OST) professionals actively value and respect the multiple identities of the young people they serve?