This issue of our newsletter will be the last of 2023. As we prepare for the end of the year and the last stretch of this holiday season, we want to take space to acknowledge all of the heaviness in our world and how it might impact us as individuals and communities. Stress often accompanies holidays. In times of year that are […]
AmazeWorks Elementary Curriculum provides picture books and lessons to schools so those stories are heard. Throughout November for Give to the Max season, AmazeWorks staff shared our favorite books from our anti-bias elementary curriculum. This was for our #BooksForBelonging campaign, raising money to bring more identity-affirming books like these into classrooms across Minnesota and the […]
Banned Books Week was October 1-7, a week that brings attention to the harm of book censorship and uplifts community efforts to keep stories accessible. We’re not done celebrating books that bring belonging to life. This month’s newsletter is all about highlighting the ways that books, including banned books, can help create the conditions of belonging for […]
An Interview with Sydney Carlson written by Sophie Herrington Sydney Carlson knows the power of regular, intentional conversations about racial identity and difference. In 2016, Sydney worked at J.J. Hill Montessori Magnet School in St. Paul, Minnesota. When Philando Castile, the school’s nutrition services supervisor, was a victim of police brutality, she mourned his life […]
October 9 is Indigenous People’s Day, a day dedicated to honoring and uplifting Indigenous cultures, people, and contributions. Indigenous People’s Day provides an opportunity to engage in truth seeking by shedding light on Indigenous stories that have often been manipulated or omitted. It serves as a reminder to reject white supremacy culture, acknowledging its role […]
As we gear up for back-to-school season, we encourage you to reflect on WHY you are a part of our anti-bias community that works to bring belonging to life. Whether you’re approaching back-to-school from the perspective of an educator, a caregiver, or simply a human facing a season of transition, being able to revisit the reason we care about belonging for […]
July was Disability Pride Month, a month to honor and celebrate the achievements, history, and experiences of disability experiences. Even though July is over, it’s important to center stories about disability throughout the year. That’s why we’re sharing two lessons from the Ability and Neurodiversity module of our Middle School Curriculum: Confident Teens with Disabilities […]
Dear AmazeWorks community, We are so excited to welcome the month of June and with it, Pride Month and Juneteenth. June’s holidays embrace JOY and encourage us to take pride in our identities. Black and queer people continue to fight for their right to exist freely and authentically in our society. Pride Month and Juneteenth […]
Click here for black joy lessons Dear Caregivers and Educators, This collection of lessons about Black joy serves as a resource to promote the healthy identity development of Black and Brown children by uplifting Black joy and positive experiences. In a society that does not often prioritize the health, wellbeing, and wholeness of those in […]
Click here to access the full newsletter. How do we invite peace into suffering? How do we welcome joy and celebration into grief and loss? “Looking on the bright side” or “focusing on the positive” can dismiss or minimize heavier feelings worthy of attention and care. But when we invite positive thoughts of gratitude and comfort […]
