Civics 1/9

Tuesday, January 9, 2023

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News and information about politics, government, civic participation and engagement from the URL Media network.

JJ Legacy School, a Montessori charter school in north Minneapolis, will close its doors this week. The news was announced at an emergency board meeting last Friday. Credit: David Pierini North News via Sahan Journal

Undisclosed financial crisis shutters JJ Legacy School, leaves Minn. parents with less than one week to find new schools for kids: JJ Legacy School, a north Minneapolis elementary school, will close in just three days, leaving parents scrambling to find another school after an emergency meeting last Friday. Parents were only given a day’s notice of the meeting. “It’s not just that it’s not a pretty financial picture, it’s that I don’t see a path for this school to continue,” said Erin Anderson, the director of charter school authorizing at Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center. Sahan Journal reports that the Montessori charter school has been mired in financial and maintenance issues with its current landlord, and inflated its enrollment to the Minnesota Department of Education by more than three times. Read more here.

The importance of the youth vote for 2024: How can we engage and empower young people to vote? This is the very question Nile Blass, DMV regional organizer for the League of Women Voters of the U.S., tackles with Andrea Lawful-Sanders host of WURD Radio's The Source. Blass recommends officials know their audience and interact with younger constituents throughout the year. "Cultivating young voters is a [365-day effort]. The relationship has to be a mutual, engaging and sustaining relationship because young people have to believe that you care about them," says Blass.🎧 Hear their discussion on mobilizing younger voters and what officials can do to meet audiences where they are.

Claudine Gay faced the same racism I did as the first Haitian American college president: A Haitian immigrant and the oldest of five children, Dr. Carole Berotte Joseph became the first Haitian-born person to serve as president of a college in the U.S. almost two decades ago, serving twice at MassBay Community College and CUNY's Bronx Community College. In this sobering first-person account, Dr. Joseph recalls the severe criticism and unfair treatment she endured from people outside of her support group twenty years ago. "Some simply wanted me out," she writes. 

She rejects the notion that people of color in leadership positions are under qualified beneficiaries of affirmative action, and argues that she and other faculty leaders of color, including recent Harvard president, Claudine Gay, have consistently been overqualified, underpaid, undersupported and held to higher standards and scrutiny. Read her full essay published in the Haitian Times (paywalled). 

More: Gay’s resignation as Harvard president is an inspiration to leave toxic rolesPlus: Join a community conversation about the Black experience in academia with Dr. Carole Berotte Joseph and the Haitian Times tonight at 8 p.m. ET. No sign up required.

Calif. gas prices still high as gas thefts continue: Last year, gas prices in California peaked at $6.08 per gallon, right around the time Gov. Gavin Newsom filed a lawsuit against oil companies for their detrimental impact on public health and the environment. Black Voice News reports that despite a recent drop in gas prices, costs remain higher than last year, correlating to an increase in gas theft. As part of its recommendations, the outlet suggests parking in well-lit areas and locking gasoline caps to prevent theft. Read more here.

Our Body Politic recently released a six-part audio documentary series that delves into the untold story of investigators of color who led the nation's January 6th committee. The series brings an exclusive behind-the-scenes look about what is needed to save democracy, starting with episode one "Legal Eagles." 🎧 Our Body Politic >

Which of these issues are front of mind for you heading into the presidential elections this year — and are we missing anything? 

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