Contact: Monica Carazo, 213-247-4087
February 26, 2021
Middle School Students to Explore Issues of Equity and Equality
In New Collaboration with Center for Love and Justice
LOS ANGELES (February 26, 2021) – Six middle schools in Local District Central, in collaboration with the Center for Love and Justice, will launch a program today to help deepen students’ learning and critical-thinking skills as they explore core academic subjects through a social justice lens.
With guidance from the Center for Love and Justice, two English or social teachers from each school
design lessons that address social, economic, and environmental justice in the local communities. Students will then complete projects based on the lessons, and examples of their work will be exhibited in June.
John Adams, Berendo, Eagle Rock, John Liechty and Los Angeles Academy Middle Schools and Washington Irving Math, Music and Engineering Magnet are participating in the program. The goal is to connect students to real-world topics while promoting resilience and the values of equity and equality.
“Thanks to Local District Central Superintendent Frances Baez for her leadership,” Superintendent Austin Beutner said. “Students will learn important lessons which will stay with them throughout their lives.”
The Center for Love and Justice is dedicated to preserving justice, challenge inequity in communities; with the ultimate goal to co-create loving visions of the student experience—prioritizing cultural, economic and environmental justice.
“Schools were selected based on interest and achievement data,” Local District Central Superintendent Frances Baez said. “We’re thrilled to partner with The Center for Love and Justice. We have high hopes that its mission will resonate with our young learners and teach them the importance of equity, social justice based on a foundation of love.”
“This innovative program promises to boost student learning by providing our kids the chance to critically engage with content that resonates with their own lives,” Board President Kelly Gonez said. “The focus on cultural, economic and environmental justice are particularly relevant as we navigate a pandemic that has disproportionately impacted communities of color and the racial justice uprisings that brought an urgent demand for anti-racism to the forefront.”
"This amazing collaboration with the Center for Love and Justice salutes our middle school scholars and their teachers," Board Member Mónica García said. "I am inspired by Superintendent Frances Baez and team for leading the way to deepen student learning by centering race and social justice."
“It is never too early to learn how to recognize injustice and racism, and fight for what’s right,” Board Member Jackie Goldberg said. “This approach is important for our students and our teachers.”
“Thank you to Local District Central and to everyone at these middle schools for embarking on this justice-driven, love-centered pedagogy, working to address historical inequities and elevating our scholars’ experiences,” Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin said. “As a former middle school teacher, I cannot wait to see how this collaboration positively impacts our classrooms and prepares our students to be social justice leaders.”