First, we have to acknowledge racism, and the differences and experience each student brings into a classroom, says Becki Cohn-Vargas, the author, educator and former director of Not In Our School. Becki and her co-authors recently completed a new book entitled Identity Safe Classrooms 6-12 Places for Belonging and Learning and she sat down with us to talk about identity safety. 

Human understanding comes through dialogue. When people can meet honestly in a small group, insight, empathy and understanding can follow. The incredibly active and amazing NIOT group in Bloomington-Normal, Ill. hosted a virtual NIOT screening and community discussion via Zoom earlier this summer. Not In Our Town member Mike Matejka shares this story of local action. 

Watch our conversation with family members Pardeep Kaleka, son of Satwant Kaleka the president of the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin; Susan Bro, mother of Heather Heyer of Charlottesville; Rick and Dawn Collins (pictured), whose son Richard was killed in a hate attack in Maryland; and Victoria and Rami Jabara, siblings of Khalid Jabara, who was killed in a hate crime attack by a neighbor in Tulsa.

Gwendolyn VanSant is the leader of Multicultural BRIDGE in Lee, MA and, nearly three years ago, her team helped launch the Not In Our Town movement in the Berkshires to unify communities throughout the county to stop hate, address bullying, and build safe, inclusive communities for all. In this post, she talks about what can be done to create change and how to take care of our communities right now.