With so many bills filed in the 2023 Missouri Legislative Session attacking Education Equity in Missouri, as well as school board races across the state this spring, it is easy to get overwhelmed and hard to know how to advocate for justice and peace and the dignity of every human being.
There will be a virtual organizational meeting to discuss developing a Diocesan Education Equity Ministry on Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m.
All members of the Diocese are invited to learn about current ministries and opportunities for advocating for our schools, urban and rural. The Rev. Dr. Teresa Danieley, Diocesan Missioner for Public Advocacy, will discuss all the work being done in Missouri to bring about equity and how we can participate. Contact Mary Ann Cook if you wish to join the meeting and a link will be sent to you.
In the meantime, you can follow bills in the state legislature by visiting this website:
- Let Them Learn Coalition Education Bill Tracker: https://www.govwatch.net/
report/27111
And here are two organizations Teresa recommends if you would like to get involved in Education Equity work in Missouri:
1. The Missouri Equity Education Partnership, or MOEEP
The Missouri Equity Education Partnership has a significant Facebook presence - both a Main Page and a large private Group. MOEEP holds regular Zoom meetings (general meetings and smaller meetings), as well as in-person events. MOEEP has many different projects and levels of involvement. Right now, MOEEP volunteers are in as many Missouri school districts as possible, learning about school board candidates and rating them based on criteria that MOEEP has developed. The group is creating voters' guides for school board elections this April 4, 2023.
MOEEP is also organizing a Lobby Day in Jefferson City on Thursday, Feb. 9, which would be a great opportunity to try out speaking with your elected representatives, if you have never done that in Jeff City before.
MOEEP is one of the main organizational partners in a weekly 30-minute Zoom call on Thursdays from 4 - 4:30 p.m., in partnership with PROMO (the primary LGBTQIA+ Advocacy group in Missouri) and other organizations in Missouri.
2. Let Them Learn/Y'All Means All Coalition Call
The Let them Learn/Y'all Means All Coalition Call describes itself as a quick update for organizations and individuals who are advocating against:
- Bans on curriculum
- Bans on trans and nonbinary youth health care
- Parents bill of rights with exclusionary language
- Bans on trans girls and nonbinary students playing sports
- And other discriminatory education legislation
If you would like to be added to the Calendar Invitation for the Let Them Learn/Y'All Means All Coalition Calls, please email Teresa or text her at 314-503-7415 and she can add you to the invitation list. Attend when you are able. (Teresa attends once or twice a month.)