Boston Teachers Union 2019 Unafraid Educators Week of Action is April 29-May 3
Join us in our annual Week of Action to show your support for immigrant and undocumented students and families across Boston and beyond! RSVP on Facebook and fill out our commitment form to register your support and join our listserv.
Actions in the past have included lesson plans, art-making, movie nights, marches, assemblies, Know Your Rights teach-ins and more! Access our digital toolkit for lesson plans and event ideas to bring to your school.
Daily actions:
TUESDAY, APRIL 30: Unafraid Educator Photo Day
Organize staff at your school to take photos with “I am an Unafraid Educator” signs and post them to social media. Leave the signs up in your classrooms and hallways year-round.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 1: Join a May Day march
May 1 is International Workers’ Day, a day of support for immigrant rights and the rights of all workers. Rally at 2:30 on the Boston Common and march from Everett to East Boston throughout the afternoon and evening.
THURSDAY, MAY 2: Take action for in-state tuition for undocumented students
Bills S.740 and H.1239, currently before the state legislature, would extend in-state tuition to ALL Massachusetts high school graduates, regardless of immigration status. Call your legislators to tell them to support! Fact sheet here.
FRIDAY, MAY 3: Unafraid Scholarship Day
Donate to the Unafraid Scholarship and help raise money for undocumented Boston high school graduates to attend college. This year, our goal is $100,000.
News Flash!
Apply for the Unafraid Scholarship
The Unafraid Scholarship for BPS grads is back! Help us get the word out by sharing this with BPS students who qualify.
In order to qualify for the Unafraid Scholarship students must:
- Be undocumented
- Be a BPS graduate
There is no GPA requirement. Students must submit all materials by June 1st to Unafraidscholarship@gmail.com
Start your application here (bit.ly/unafraidscholarship)
The Unafraid Scholarship was founded by the BTU’s Unafraid Educators in order to provide financial support for students who are not eligible to receive financial aid from the federal government due to their immigration status. It is a one-time grant made payable to the student. The amount of the scholarship will depend on the particular financial need of the student, the number of qualified applicants, and the funds raised in a given year.
Support The Unafraid Scholarship
MIRA has teamed up with BTU Unafraid Educators for a scholarship for undocumented students! Can you support?
Please donate today!
Unafraid Educators
Part of the Immigrant Rights Organizing Committee of the Boston Teachers Union
Our Top 10 Wins of 2017
When students feel safe in a school environment they are focused and actively engaged in the curriculum, despite the challenges they face on a daily basis. As a group, we are committed to creating resources and leading district-wide events that stand in solidarity with undocumented and immigrant students and families.
The Unafraid Educators seek to build Sanctuary Schools from the ground up.
A Sanctuary School is a place where immigrant and undocumented students and families are welcomed, respected, cherished and protected. All immigrant and undocumented students are entitled to all educational opportunities and health services, regardless of immigration status, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, socio-economic background, abilities and racial and ethnic identity.
Resources to Use Now
Unafraid Educators created this poster to help educators inform students of their rights and provide safe spaces for conversations after the rescinding of DACA, adapted from United We Dream resources. You can make a copy of this doc and personalize for your school. Find it here: bit.ly/dacaposter
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are there places where raids are prohibited?
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Yes, with exceptions. According to a policy memorandum released by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency in 2011, commonly referred to as the “sensitive locations memo,” ICE officers and agents are to refrain from enforcement actions at least at the following locations and events:
- Schools (including preschools, primary schools, secondary schools, colleges and universities, and other institutions of learning, such as vocational and trade schools)
- Hospitals
- Churches, synagogues, mosques and other institutions of worship, such as buildings rented for the purpose of religious services
- Funerals, weddings and other public religious ceremonies; and
- Public demonstrations, such as a march, rally or parade.
Note: The sensitive locations policy memorandum may be reversed. School leaders should stay informed about possible changes.
- Are children and youth impacted by raids?
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Yes. Research consistently shows that immigration enforcement actions have a harmful impact on the health, safety, academic performance and overall well-being of children, including U.S. citizen children living in mixed-status families. According to a 2010 report by the Urban Institute, children who witnessed parents or family members apprehended in a home raid were much more likely to experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder than children whose parents were arrested in other settings, including greater changes in sleeping and eating patterns and much higher degrees of fear and anxiety. Several teachers in North Carolina also reported significant behavioral changes and increased absenteeism among students following a local community raid, including among U.S. citizen students.
Show that You’re an #UnafraidEducator!
Questions? Please contact Jonathan Rodrigues (BTU organizer) or Claudia Martinez (Unafraid Educators Chair) at unafraideducators@btu.org // 857-271-6063