Three weeks into our Distance Learning Program and we have already grown so much. And although the start of this academic year looks different by taking place virtually, we continue the school year as one KIPP SoCal Team & Family, and starting strong, together as a region.
In this moment we are engaging in thoughtful and intentional conversation on how we can create liberatory spaces for our students to thrive within, and how our purpose to educate for liberation can be achieved. We know that driving towards literacy means driving towards liberation.
So as we kick off the school year, our team participated in a day of professional development in preparation for the start of classes and keeping in mind our whole child approach to learning. Dr. Howard, a UCLA professor at the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies and former Associate Dean for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, shared with our team some of his research that examines culture, race, teaching and learning, including the importance of de-stigmatizing mental health and engaging in actual anti-racist practices.
“There is a necessity of dialogue as a teaching strategy,” shared Dr. Howard. “We need to hold space to see how we are feeling in this moment.” We need to continue to “learn the world that students occupy” and integrate an anti-racism curriculum that celebrates people of color, challenges whiteness, does not punish difference, and seeks restorative approaches.
Aisha Bonner "I take my responsibility as a Black educator very seriously and I look forward to our continued work towards excellence."
Yesenia Castro "By working together, I know we can help create a better world for our students & empower them to create a better world for themselves. We will build upon these conversations. We will begin to unpack race and its role in the work we do. We will continue to build our collective critical consciousness, we will keep sharing, and we will keep learning from each other."
"We [continue] our ongoing journey of nurturing relationships with our students."
Mario Echeverria 
Mairinn Finn "It is that discomfort that builds the capacity for humanity."
Tania Hernandez"I hope that when [our students are] our age they say, ‘When I was in elementary school [...] I was learning to dismantle practices because I saw the adults in the building doing it. They always made me feel like I was good enough.’"
Danielle Johnson"We will spend time understanding our purpose for education and continuously reflecting on our bias and ways that it may impact our student’s liberation and ability to be the strongest and most confident students that they can be."
Colleen Kennedy"We are spending a large portion of our time together engaging in self-work, exploring our identities, unpacking what it means and what it takes to raise our critical consciousness and teach in a way that is anti-racist, action by action, decision by decision."
Libby Gronquist "A Liberatory school is intersectional, interconnected and constantly interrogating its actions. Thank you, all, for [...] rolling up your sleeves, sharing, aligning on our values, and doubling down on the self-work imperative as we work to build the school our KIPPsters deserve."
Melissa Helguera"We cannot work toward liberation without examining our own practices. We are here, as a collective, to support the transformation of our own community. We do this by creating spaces in which our students are loved and challenged."
Monica Madrigal"I know what we need to prioritize: (1) Building trust, so that as a team and family we do anti-racist work and become a true anti-racist school, (2) identifying, sharing and implementing best practices for distance learning, and (3) buildlng relationships with our students and their families."
Dr. LeAnna Majors"So today, I am heading into tomorrow, feeling LOTs of feelings, but what is most powerful to me is that I am heading into tomorrow a little more committed to our community. A little more clear that there is so much work to be done. A little more focused on the importance of founding an anti-racist school. A little more in love with each of our KIPPsters, their families, each of you, and all of our team & family."
Rachelle Minix"We will never stop trying to pursue liberation for our children. We will do that together. [...] We must continue to listen with open minds and hearts. We must be courageous to be uncomfortable as that's where we'll grow most. TOGETHER, we rise."
Tessa Mizokami "At KIPP Pueblo Unido we dismantle inequities in education through an academic and cultural program focused on fairness and opportunity to ensure achievement for ALL students."
Tiffany Moore"It’s been refreshing, the more and more we engage in community circles, to see how much more vulnerable and direct we are becoming with each other. [...] I love every moment of it and I’m so proud to be a member of this team. [Liberation] is not just a one year priority, this is us — forever."
Adriana Rodriguez "We are navigating a new world, spending a large portion of our time together engaging in self work, exploring our identities, and unpacking what it means and what it takes to raise the critical consciousness of ourselves and our KIPPsters."
Amanda Tran "Our team has shown that we are strong, resilient, and we continue to rise. [...] What it will take for us to be anti-racist educators reminded me that it will require us to continue doing the necessary self work, holding up the mirror to examine our own identities and biases, in order to build our own critical consciousness to do this work. It starts with us first."
Chinedu Udeh "I remind you family that we don't need to be perfect; not everything is going to be just right, but as long as we show up with love, zest and effort this year will be magical. We got this."
Melissa Ulloa"We must be Innovators. An Innovator embraces and embodies our values of LOVE, EXCELLENCE, GRIT, and CURIOSITY. Our values drive our actions and now more than ever, every action taken must be in service of our collective healing and growth."
Nisha Vasavada"At KIPP Pueblo Unido we are working hard everyday to lay the groundwork for what a truly liberatory and equitable education can look like for future staff, students, and families to come."
Krystal Vega-Washington"May we continue to build a school that is full of critical consciousness, love, deep connection, second chances, and belief: a school that feels like home. Juntos sí podemos!"
"My optimism remains unwavering that our value of learn[ing] and grow[ing] will enable us to work through our failures and continue to be an organization that always upholds its mission and values for our students, families, communities, and team,” said Aaron. We are so proud of our communities for their resilience, commitment and passion. This work matters! As Mr. Echeverria said, “Our students need to ‘freedom dream.’” And to continue starting strong, “we need to cultivate a place and space where they get to envision what a just world is and feels like."