Human and Civil Rights - VEA Website-凤凰体育买球

VEA Hosting 'Banned' Equity Resources Online

Over the past year, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) created a series of equity education training materials for the use of local school divisions in training their educators. However, following Gov. Youngkin’s Executive Order 1, Superintendent Jillian Balow ordered these links to be removed from the VDOE website on the grounds they “promote discriminatory and divisive concepts.” The Virginia Education Association thinks it is important for local school divisions and individual educators to have access to quality equity training materials, so we are making them available as a public service.

Access EdEquity Resources

Updates from VEA's HCR Department

Educators of Color Summit Confronts Injustice

VEA members aim to empower and support new educators of color at VEA’s Educators of Color Summit!

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VEA Toolkit for Promoting Inclusion for LGBTQ+ Students & School Employees

VEA is proud to produce this Toolkit for Promoting Inclusion for LGBTQ+ Students & School Employees because we know our LGBTQ+ students often face unique challenges in our schools.

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VEA Releases New ‘Black Lives Matter at School’ Toolkit

VEA has created an exciting new resource guide to help raise awareness of racial and social justice issues in our schools. It’s the Black Lives Matter at School Toolkit, and VEA’s Human and Civil Rights department encourages educators, students, parents, unions, and community organizations to make it a part of BLM at School’s annual week of action during the first week of February.

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Support Transgender Youth in Schools By Opposing New Discriminatory Guidelines Proposed by Gov. Youngkin

No matter their race, genders, or where they come from, all students deserve the freedom to fully express their authentic selves free from harassment. Yet, Governor Youngkin’s new proposed guidelines target and stigmatize LGBTQ+ students, threatening their safety and well-being in schools.

Read More Here

Advocate for Equity and Justice

Volunteer to mobilize around racial and social justice issues!

Stand Up For LGBTQ Students

Urge school boards and localities to adopt anti-discrimination policies inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) students and school employees.

Complete the Questionnaire

Resources for Educators

Access resources from NEA and VEA on teaching racial and social justice issues in the classroom.

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Courageous Conversations

In the fight for racial and social justice, which is a foundational principle of our organization, we need to have authentic, important conversations with colleagues, students, and our communities. Courageous Conversations is a resource for helping all of us do exactly that. With help from Elijah Armstrong of the National Education Association, Richmond writer and researcher Samantha Willis, and Naila Holmes, VEA’s Director of Human and Civil Rights, this tool can foster interaction on the essential topics of bias, racism, and equity. You can go through the videos and exercises on your own or in a group, at a time and pace that’s convenient for you.

Get Started Here

Fitz Turner Commission Awards

The Fitz Turner Commission honors individuals or groups who have fostered positive relationships in your education community and helped to encourage leadership development. There are three categories for recognition: the Fitz Turner Award for Outstanding Contributions in Intergroup Relations, the Mary Hatwood Futrell Award for Distinguished Leadership in Education and the Barbara Johns Youth Award for Human Relations & Civil Rights.

Submit Your Nominations Here

Mission on Racial Justice Work in VEA

In VEA, we work on Racial Justice because we are committed to the mission, values and promises we made to the members of (VTA) Virginia Teachers Association in 1967 to advocate for educational equity in Virginia. We are committed to improving our students’ and members’ lives as well as improving our communities. We will develop and implement a racial justice plan that will engage a diversity of member and student voices through courageous conversations, We will bring awareness about and advocate to destroy institutional racism in our public schools in Virginia. We will work hard to advocate for policy change at the school, local and state level; and we will remain committed to holding our politicians accountable on the issue in order to give every student a just public education.