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Parenting 4 social justice, The book

Looking for support in talking with kids about issues like

immigration, racism, homelessness, and gender identity?

 

This heart-centered book provides tips and tools, including conversation starters, to use with children ages 0–10. Stories from diverse parents across the U.S. are woven into chapters on race, class, gender, disability, and collective liberation. Whether in your family or your wider community, the time has never been better to introduce kids to the knowledge, attitudes, and skills they need to show up for social justice.

In 2015, social justice educator and activist Angela Berkfield held her first Parenting 4 Social Justice workshop series in Brattleboro, Vermont. Dozens of parents, grandparents, and other caregivers came together to learn how to talk with their kids about the above topics and more. Three years and many co-facilitated workshop series later, Berkfield realized it was time to share the tools and inspiration generated by those workshops—and a few years after that, Parenting 4 Social Justice: Tips, Tools, and Inspiration for Conversations and Action with Kids was born. The overarching goal with the book is to equip caregivers to raise kids who are compelled to show up for social justice.

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In the book, Berkfield along with Chrissy Colón Bradt, Leila Raven, Jaimie Lynn Kessell, Rowan Parker, and Abigail Healey write about social justice issues through the lens of their personal experiences both growing up and as parents. The honest stories and ideas prepare caregivers to initiate age-appropriate and engaging conversations with kids about social justice issues. Brittney Washington has illustrated potential dialogues through eye-catching comic strips. There are varied ideas for taking action as a family: from making protest signs and attending a local march, to trying healing meditations and consciously connecting with people from different backgrounds.

 

Woven throughout the book are stories from diverse parents across the U.S. who’ve brought social justice into conversations and action with their kids. Each chapter highlights resources for further learning and step-by-step activities that readers can engage in on their own or as part of a group.

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Wherever you're at on your journey to understanding and living out social justice, this book will help you support the kids in your life with the tools to be whole human beings and become a new generation of change-makers.

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Click on the circles below to order the book, see book appendices, and sign up for upcoming book talks.

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Explore race, class, gender, disability, and collective liberation—and get support for initiating age-appropriate and engaging conversations with kids about social justice.

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Read ideas for taking action as a family—for example making protest signs, attending local marches, trying healing meditations, and consciously connecting with people from different backgrounds—and for step-by-step activities to engage in.

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Get support in talking with kids ages 0–10 years old on topics like immigration, racism, homelessness, and gender identity, including through plain-language conversation starters and stories from diverse parents across the U.S.

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