History
Educators for Social Justice is the most recent version of a University of Washington College of Education student organization that has been in existence for over 10 years–first as Students Promoting Diversity and then as Educators Promoting Diversity. Over time the groups momentum decreased until it was almost non-existent. In the fall of 2004, several College of Education graduate students took on the task of revitalizing the group and organizing it in a way that its membership, mission, and goals would be sustained year after year.
Accomplishments
2005-2006
For the 2005-2006 year, we focused on building a sense of community within the College of Education by hosting specific events and creating physical changes within Miller Hall.
College of Education Diversity Social
The Diversity Social was held on November 10th and brought together 40 graduate students for a night of good conversation and food at Araya’s Vegetarian Restaurant.
Diversity Book Talk
In collaboration with other campus units – Vince Schleitwiler, a graduate student from the English department and GO-MAP – we helped to host the Diversity Book Talk with Chinese-American author Peter Kwong on November 17th.
New Student Lounge
ESJ was instrumental in the creation of the new student lounge on the 2nd floor of Miller Hall.
Miller Hall Mural Project
The murals cover opposite ends of the hallway outside the offices of the College of Education. The murals were created by Anne Hayden Stevens, an artist and lecturer in the Department of Architecture and the School of Art, in collaboration with Educators for Social Justice.
2004-2005
Grievance Letter
During the 2004-2005 academic year our work culminated in a series of letters written to the College of Education Dean and faculty as well as to several faculty hiring committees as a means of raising awareness about our concerns. The “grievance” letter, addressed to the Dean and faculty, focused on concerns related to minority student representation, current advising and mentoring structures, and the overall climate and culture of the college and called for the administration and faculty to act in response to these concerns. Whereas the letters to the faculty hiring committees focused entirely on the need to further diversify the College of Education faculty by hiring more faculty of color, these letters have since activated deep discussion around these issues as well as sustained commitment and action from the College administration and faculty.
