The March 2025 meeting of the Equity Lab was a powerful and reflective gathering centered around themes of celebration, reparations, and advocacy in education. The meeting opened with heartfelt words from the group’s facilitator, who announced their departure from the role to pursue other local organizing efforts, and invited others to imagine and lead the next chapter of Equity Lab. This moment of transition set the stage for a reflective conversation about how equity work continues and evolves. If you would like to take up facilitation of Equity Lab or even invent a future iteration of this group, please reach out to [email protected].
The group’s book club discussion focused on Chapters 11 and 12 of We Want to Do More Than Survive by Bettina Love, exploring the need to actively celebrate Black life and culture as a fundamental part of justice-oriented education. Participants highlighted the importance of balancing narratives of oppression with stories of joy, resilience, and cultural strength—citing historical examples like hush harbors and ongoing struggles for voting rights as vital teaching moments. Educators were encouraged to reflect on how much celebration is currently present in their own curricula, and to consider steps for expanding these affirming moments in their classrooms.
The meeting’s Topic of Practice—“Don’t Ask for Permission, Seek Forgiveness”—offered encouragement to educators navigating the constraints of risk-averse school environments. Participants discussed how institutional barriers often discourage bold, equity-focused action, and how educators can instead lead change by experimenting, reflecting, and acting with integrity. This conversation was complemented by a resource share featuring Dr. Denisha Jones’ work on teacher action research through play. Her tools, such as the Planning for Play and Play Story Reflection forms, offered practical ways for teachers to center student agency and joy in the classroom.
In addition, the group examined recent stories featured in “Equity in STEM in the News,” which included powerful headlines such as a selection of the shared articles included In Memoriam: Remembering 41 Indigenous Defenders who were murdered in 2024 in Latin America; A Museum’s Confession: Why We Have Looted Objects; Brooklyn’s Ties to Slavery Explored in New Exhibition; and American Education Hurt Black Students. We Deserve Reparations. These articles sparked discussion around the intersections of environmental justice, historical reckoning, and systemic inequities in education. Participants reflected on how staying informed and bringing current events into the classroom can deepen students’ critical thinking and awareness of justice issues.
As the meeting came to a close, the group looked ahead with curiosity and commitment, knowing that the work of equity in STEM education is a collective and evolving journey. Educators left with new questions, resources, and reflections to guide their practice—and a reminder that celebration, courage, and community remain central to transformative teaching.
Note: summaries are written with the aid of AI software