The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday recognizes one of our country's most inspiring heroes, a man who crusaded for social justice and humanity. To commemorate Dr. King, Not In Our School is launching an Extraordinary Upstander series this month that offers four examples of extraordinary leaders from African-American, Latino, Southeast Asian, and Asian Pacific Islander backgrounds. Make your celebration of MLK Day one that celebrates diverse leaders and upstanders.

[1]

Extraordinary Upstander: Dr. Joseph Marshall

Dr. Joseph Marshall Jr., founder of the anti-violence movement Alive & Free, draws audiences from across the country to his weekly radio program, Street Soldiers, a name he uses to describe people working to eliminate violence in their communities. To help keep his own community safe, Dr. Marshall co-founded the Omega Boys Club after years of working as a middle school teacher and seeing too many of his students lost to drugs and violence. Click here to find the video and lesson plan. [1]

[2]

Extraordinary Upstander: Laurence Tan

The son of Filipino immigrants, Laurence Tan was studying to be a doctor when the vision of becoming a teacher presented itself in a dream. Now a fifth-grade teacher in Watts, California, Laurence uses the tool of TEACH to inspire and educate students in an area where opportunities are slim. Laurence has also helped establish the Watts Youth Collective with former students, an organization that promotes social change through media. Click here to find the video and lesson plan. [2]

[3]

Extraordinary Upstander: Erica Hernandez

Beginning in Oxnard, CA, Erica Fernandez used the power of PROTEST to rally against a large energy corporation that planned to erect a liquefied natural gas (LNG) pipeline around affluent California coastal communities and through Oxnard, primarily occupied by monolingual Spanish-speaking immigrants. Click here to find the video and lesson plan. [3]

[4]

Extraordinary Upstander: Chukou Thao

Thao immigrated to Fresno, CA with his family at age 8, after Laotian citizens were granted asylum in the US after the Vietnam war. When he noticed that many Hmong farmers suffered from discrimination, Thao organized the National Hmong American Farmers to fight against injustice. Using the experiences of community members, Thao has grown NHAF to promote economic development, training and assistance to create positive social change in his community. Click here to find the video and lesson plan. [4]