Hi friends,
It’s March 4th, a date that sounds like an instruction. This week feels long and hard to me, so I appreciate the marching orders (lest I turn around and go back to bed). Of course, this instruction may sound different to the followers of QAnon, who believe that today’s the day that the former president gets inaugurated for his second term. The Capitol Police are gearing up for another attack, and the House is not in session. The Department of Homeland Security is not treating the January 6 insurrection as an isolated incident. So, there’s some 2020-level anxiety to keep us from falling back to sleep.
In my own spin on Throwback Thursdays, I’m going to direct your attention back to some actions that I mentioned previously.
We have a neighbor baby who cries a lot and I occasionally wonder what’s up with him. When they’re really little, the list of possibilities is not that long. Apparently, many millions of American families can not afford enough diapers to keep their babies comfortable. That information should make us all uncomfortable.
Donate to Help a Mother Out, an organization that distributes diapers to families and advocates for a social safety net that addresses diaper need.
Contact Senator Chuck Schumer and urge him to bring the bill to provide diaper assistance to the floor as soon as possible. Here’s a ready-made message.
Housing advocates in New York are supporting legislation to enable the state to purchase commercial properties in order to convert them to affordable housing. The bill, S5257, amends the private housing finance law in order to provide homes for low-income households and people experiencing homelessness.
Urge your State Senator to support the Housing Our Neighbors with Dignity Act.
Last week, a high school teacher was captured on video using her fingers to make slant eyes as she was discussing Chinese and Japanese people. This unconscionable behavior is the other kind of throwback; it has no place anywhere, certainly not in a classroom.
Report and describe incidents of Anti-Asian harassment at Stand Against Hatred.
Once again, I want to encourage you to look at a resource from the Center for Urban Pedagogy and Hollaback, which offers a very detailed discussion of what to do if we witness harassment of any kind.
Read and share SHOW UP: Your guide to bystander intervention.
There’s still time to sign up for tonight’s Youth Mayoral Forum, hosted by Teens Take Charge. I’m expecting a conversation about educational equity shaped by the most important stakeholders.
Register here to attend the Youth Mayoral Forum at 5 PM.
Just sixteen days until Spring.
Take advantage of outdoor educational opportunities in the NYC Parks!
march forth with love,
L