Public schools need a Green New Deal, and educators are ready to win it. From April 16th-22nd (the week of Earth Day), educators across the country are taking action for green, healthy, fully-resourced schools.
Are you an educator who is passionate about climate justice?
Pledge to take action
Right now, new congressional funding is available that can be harnessed by school districts for this green, pro-worker, community-centered transformation. Educators, alongside their unions, are mobilizing to pressure their districts into seizing this opportunity– and turn schools into a vehicle for climate action.
In Chicago, educators will be demonstrating for green, healthy schools. Minneapolis educators will be fighting against the local Hennepin Energy Recovery Center, which burns garbage and pollutes a low-income community of color. Some educators, such as one ECAN member who belongs to the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, will be teaching her students about climate justice. In Oakland, educators will be participating in community cleanup with the Alameda Labor Council.
These are just some of the educators and unions involved in the week of action. You can see ECAN member Jessica Garraway break it down for folks in this brief video. If you are an educator wanting to join in the action, pledge to take action here. By signing the pledge, you’ll receive a free toolkit and an organizer will contact you to provide any support you may need.