Overview
Monday, February 5 - Friday, February 9, 2024
"Celebrating and Centering Collective Value"
"Celebrating and Centering Collective Value"
The Week of Action centers 13 guiding principles and 4 demands of Black Lives Matter at School. From double dutch parties to rallies in front of the department of education, students, educators, families, unions, and community organizations participate both in and outside of the classroom.
This year’s theme is Collective Value. The Black Lives Matter at School guiding principle of Collective Values states, “We are guided by the fact that all Black lives, regardless of sex assigned at birth, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, economic status, ability, disability, education, location, age, immigration status, religious beliefs or disbeliefs, matter. None of us are free until we are all free.”
We encourage all to participate in the Week of Action. Individuals can sign up here. Organizations can sign up here. Learn more about how to get involved in the 2024 Week of Action below. Find our updated starter kit, now guide, What We Do & How We Done It: A Guide for BLM at School, which includes the story of how BLM at School started and grew, teaching and planning resources, Week of action ideas for in and out of the classroom, frequently asked questions, photos, and more!
This year’s theme is Collective Value. The Black Lives Matter at School guiding principle of Collective Values states, “We are guided by the fact that all Black lives, regardless of sex assigned at birth, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, economic status, ability, disability, education, location, age, immigration status, religious beliefs or disbeliefs, matter. None of us are free until we are all free.”
We encourage all to participate in the Week of Action. Individuals can sign up here. Organizations can sign up here. Learn more about how to get involved in the 2024 Week of Action below. Find our updated starter kit, now guide, What We Do & How We Done It: A Guide for BLM at School, which includes the story of how BLM at School started and grew, teaching and planning resources, Week of action ideas for in and out of the classroom, frequently asked questions, photos, and more!
Get on the map!
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If you work with students, please use this as an opportunity for a class lesson and submit their designs for the video showcase. We invite creative responses including but not limited to drawing, painting, collage, poetry, song/rap, or any other type of expression. Submissions are due February 12th. "If Black women were free it would mean that everyone else would have to be free since our freedom would necessitate the destruction of all systems of oppression." ~ Combahee River Collective #BLMatSchoolChallenge #CollectiveCare #YearOfPurpose #TeachTruth |
Congratulations to our 2024 design contest artist Zorah, from Portsmouth, Virginia! Get her logo Brown shirts with white ink. Adult and youth sizes available. Shipping included.
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Group Planning Sessions
- November 16, 2023, Thursday, 7-845pm ET/4-545pm PT
- Topic - Planning Session: Organizing Around Current Events
- December 16, 2023, Saturday, 1-245pm ET/10-1145am PT
- Topic - Planning Session: Outreach and Safety
- January 8, 2024, Tuesday, 7-8pm ET/4-5pm PT
- January 11, 2024, Thursday, 7-845pm ET/4-545pm PT
- Topic - Planning Session: Media
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We would like to support six regions in their Week of Action or Year of Purpose planning. Please fill out this form by Friday, January 19, to be considered for a $100 grant to support your local Black Lives Matter at School organizing. Funds can be used for any process of organizing. Some ideas include: local design contest winner prize, the printing of curriculum materials or posters, books, supplies (markers, masks, hand sanitizer, and water bottles), Zoom webinar upgrades, etc. The National Steering Committee will review and send notice to recipients within a week after applications are due.
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Virtual Curriculum Fair with DC Area Educators For Social Justice
Date: January 20, Saturday, 1130am-230pm ET/830-1130am PT DC Area Educators for Social Justice host an annual, virtual Black Lives Matter at School Curriculum Fair. Connect with others and prepare curriculum ideas for the Week of Action. Invite and partner with teachers in your school to plan and teach lessons. |
2023 Pictures
Logo Design Contest
A CALL FOR STUDENT DESIGNS! National Black Lives Matter at School is seeking student designs for our annual Week of Action. The design will be used around the country to support organizing around our four core demands and 13 guiding principles. The winner of this contest will have their design featured as the 2024 BLM at School logo on programming graphics and apparel such as T-shirts, and be recognized in a newsletter publication, on social media, and will receive a t-shirt with their design on it, as well as a cash prize.
DEADLINE EXTENDED to Friday, December 1 (midnight, your time zone)
DEADLINE EXTENDED to Friday, December 1 (midnight, your time zone)
Previous Week of Action
Image Description: 2023 Week of Action events during February 6-10.
2023 Week of Action
Monday, February 6 - Friday, February 10
MONDAY
Write Night with Free Minds Book Club, 7pm ET/6pm CT/5pm MT/4pm PT
TUESDAY
Celebrating Globalism and Collective Value Panel, 7:30pm ET/6:30pm CT/5:30pm MT/4:30pm PT
WEDNESDAY
HBCU Fair Youth Support, 7:30pm ET/6:30pm CT/5:30pm MT/4:30pm PT
THURSDAY
Imagination Lab Listening Project, 7:30pm ET/6:30pm CT/5:30pm MT/4:30pm PT
FRIDAY
Black Joy Party Connection Space, 7:30pm ET/6:30pm CT/5:30pm MT/4:30pm PT
#BlackLivesMatterAtSchool2023 #BLMAtSchool2023 #BLMAS2023 #BlackLivesMatterAtSchool #BLMAtSchool #BLMASYearOfPurpose #TeachTruth #BlackJoy
Write Night with Free Minds Book Club, 7pm ET/6pm CT/5pm MT/4pm PT
- Writing workshop exploring the poetry of incarcerated youth, as part of our commitment to attend to systems and networks of care to make the domination, erasure, and dehumanization of Black life obsolete. ASL Interpretation.
TUESDAY
Celebrating Globalism and Collective Value Panel, 7:30pm ET/6:30pm CT/5:30pm MT/4:30pm PT
- Speakers from different countries will talk about the importance of valuing Black life and how it relates to us collectively, building authentic partnerships with all who support creating equitable school communities across the nation and around the globe. ASL and Spanish<->English Interpretation.
WEDNESDAY
HBCU Fair Youth Support, 7:30pm ET/6:30pm CT/5:30pm MT/4:30pm PT
- Learn a bit about the unapologetically Black history of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and hear why they were created, ask about people’s experiences and discuss they have to offer. ASL Interpretation.
THURSDAY
Imagination Lab Listening Project, 7:30pm ET/6:30pm CT/5:30pm MT/4:30pm PT
- A collective imagination exercise in which we open-heartedly dream up safe schools, communities, and futures. ASL Interpretation.
- Optional Pre-Reading: A Grassroots-Driven Quality of Life Platform ( Full | 2 pager )
FRIDAY
Black Joy Party Connection Space, 7:30pm ET/6:30pm CT/5:30pm MT/4:30pm PT
- A space to be your authentic self, celebrate, and be in community! To collectively love and care for one another as extended intergenerational families. ASL Interpretation.
#BlackLivesMatterAtSchool2023 #BLMAtSchool2023 #BLMAS2023 #BlackLivesMatterAtSchool #BLMAtSchool #BLMASYearOfPurpose #TeachTruth #BlackJoy
Curriculum Resource Guide 2.0
We re-launched! Use our NEW resource guide to help prepare for the Week of Action.
Student Creative Challenge
How can a school community support you in being unapologetically Black?
Our unapologetically Black principles states, "We are unapologetically Black in our positioning. In affirming that Black Lives Matter, we need not qualify our position. to love and desire freedom and justice for ourselves is a necessary prerequisite for wanting the same for others."
We invite you to submit a creative response including but not limited to drawing, painting, collage, poetry, song/rap, or any other type of expression. Please submit your response by Sunday, February 12th, to bit.ly/BLMAS23Challenge or bit.ly/BLMAS23ChallengeGF.
By submitting your response, you are granting us permission to include your response in a video showcase on February 18th as part of Unapologetically Black Day. Please include any information you want us to share publicly, such as your name, grade, state, and title or description of the work.
We invite you to submit a creative response including but not limited to drawing, painting, collage, poetry, song/rap, or any other type of expression. Please submit your response by Sunday, February 12th, to bit.ly/BLMAS23Challenge or bit.ly/BLMAS23ChallengeGF.
By submitting your response, you are granting us permission to include your response in a video showcase on February 18th as part of Unapologetically Black Day. Please include any information you want us to share publicly, such as your name, grade, state, and title or description of the work.
2023 T-Shirts!
Image Description: Graphic of front and back of 2023 designed T-shirt. Word cloud and art image on front of white T-shirt. Text of artist statement on back of white T-shirt.
Purchase a student-designed T-shirt for the 2023 Week of Action. 100% cotton and includes shipping! Order yours in time (ships in 2-5 days) for the Week of Action from February 6-10. Congratulation to artist Niles!
Profits support National BLM at School activities and goes directly into the hands of persons living with HIV/AIDS in the form of a paycheck, thanks to our partner Nightsweats.
Profits support National BLM at School activities and goes directly into the hands of persons living with HIV/AIDS in the form of a paycheck, thanks to our partner Nightsweats.
Fundraiser: Poster Giveaway
Image Description: Graphic of 2023 student-designed A3 size (11.7 in x 16.5 in) poster hanging on gray wall.
We are giving away 13 posters in celebration of our 13 principles and Week of Action (February 6-10). Folks who donate $13, $130, or $1,300 to our Activity Support Fund during our Week of Action will be in the running for a chance to receive a print of this year's student-designed poster. All funds raised will benefit local BLM at School organizing groups. Congratulations to artist Tasneem!
SUPPORT OUR MOVEMENT TO RECLAIM OUR CLASSROOMS
AS INCUBATORS FOR INCLUSIVITY, EQUITY, & JUSTICE!
AS INCUBATORS FOR INCLUSIVITY, EQUITY, & JUSTICE!