TFAmily,
June marks the historic U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark 6-3 upholding employment protections for our LGBTQ+ community. This decision helps to ensure we will not lose great teachers because of employment discrimination, and that all children can dream of becoming a teacher, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. We are in solidarity with our LGBTQ+ family as this marks a monumental progress for our community during Pride Month.
We also want to celebrate that the Supreme Court of the United States issued an important ruling that prevents the Administration from ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. This ruling affirms that all children deserve the right to access an excellent, equitable education and to pursue higher education and careers without the threat of deportation. We are grateful that DACA recipients can continue to have an impact in the effort to end educational inequity, and we look forward to the day when they have a clear pathway to citizenship.
Both of these decisions are critical steps forward for our community at a moment when our nation is reckoning with its legacy of ongoing racial injustice. In our efforts to continue to support our alumni with their work towards racial justice, in addition to updating our website with additional anti-racism resources, we held an open space for our black alumni, initiated a recurring white affinity space and hosted a Corps Member and Alumni Actions Space to reflect and discuss action-focused antiracist next steps. Additionally, our regional board of directors has redoubled efforts to promote and preserve the learning, wellbeing, and advancement of our Black staff, alumni and corps members. Learn more here.
June also marks the celebration of Juneteenth. While the holiday commemorates the arrival of the message of freedom, it should also be understood as the recognition of our Black communities' fight for freedom. On Saturday, June 20th we hosted a virtual celebration for our black corps members, alumni, and staff where we connected with Black-led nonprofits in Nashville and Chattanooga like TECA and Urban League Young Professionals and how our community can get involved. Finally, we are excited to welcome our incoming corps members to the Nashville-Chattanooga region. Their virtual summer teacher training started with a livestream kickoff event featuring a conversation with Jesse Williams (Actor, Activist, and Former Teacher) on Friday, June 12th.
As always, thank you for your continued work towards educational equity and your unyielding commitment to kids and families in Nashville and Chattanooga.
In Community,
The Alumni Team (Rachel, Colby & Juan Pablo)
RESOURCES FOR PRIDE MONTH
JUNETEENTH RESOURCES Happy Juneteenth! This Is Why Juneteenth Is Important for America Teaching about Race, Racism, and Police Violence.
In this section, we feature alumni-specific events and engagement activities.
JOIN THE TEACH FOR AMERICA NASHVILLE-CHATTANOOGA ALUMNI BOARD
Alumni Boards across TFA have formed so that alumni can create their own vision for their work in the community, to build connections across their network, and to identify ways of working toward One Day. Applications are now being accepted for our Alumni Leadership Board. Learn more and apply here by July 15, 2020.
THE COLLECTIVE: NASHVILLE-CHATTANOOGA
The mission of the Collective is to connect and develop alumni of color and Native and indigenous alumni educators and cross-sector advocates who drive local and national efforts to advance educational equity and unleash opportunities for the most impacted by outcome disparities. Let’s make that happen in Nashville-Chattanooga.
Volunteer to set the foundation that will launch our regional Collective! Learn more here
COLLECTIVE ACTION MICROGRANT
Do you have an idea for a networking or professional development event for your TFA or education community? Have you been wishing you had funding to start a book club? Have you always wanted to meet other alumni working in business? Learn more about theCollective Action Micrograntand how it can kickstart your opportunity.
YOUR NEXT STEP
TFA Nashville-Chattanooga June Board: Find our most recent education openings
Talent Matching Questionnaire:Share which opportunities you're seeking and be the first to know about new roles
TFA Connect: Find employers throughout the world looking to hire TFA alumni
Wishing your open role was included in this alumni newsletter?
Post your role to TFA Connect or submit the role here to make sure it's included next month.
In this section, we highlight resources related to our mission and community. Click here to submit your community event for the next alumni newsletter
ACT TO CHANGE: PRIDE CONVOS
Our friends at Act to Change are hosting a conversation about Pride, BLM, and solidarity tomorrow afternoon at 12 pm CST with Maulik Pancholy, Angelica Ross, Esera Tuaolo, and Margaret Cho. Join @acttochange on 6/23 in #PrideConvos. For more information click here.
TEENS 4 EQUALITY
SPREAD THE WORD ❤️🖤💙 July fourth looks different this year, it’s filled with red, BLACK, and blue. Teens 4 Equality is organizing a Black Lives Matter protest this 4th of July at the Bicentennial Capitol Mall Park Bells at 4 PM. More information here.
ALUMNI RISING: CHANGE IS POSSIBLE
Join Teach For America for a virtual event to honor you, our 2018 corps, and inspire your next steps as alumni.
The past two years were hard. The moment we’re in is particularly challenging. We know this work can’t be done alone. You’re invited to come together and extend the invitation to a person who supported you during the corps.
We’ll celebrate all you’ve accomplished and talk about how to continue to create change in the face of challenge. Because change is possible.
To join the event, and for more information, click here.
Take a peek at what we've been reading, watching, listening to, and talking about around the water cooler.
NATIONAL NEWS
STATE NEWS
