Summer Books Groups + Other Upcoming Events....

[Tag Philly]

Good afternoon.  As the school year winds down, there are a number of ways to connect to work for education justice.  Starting with TAG's summer book group series!  Thank you to organizations who have asked TAG to share the opportunities that follow.  These include:  free PD, a Teach Truth Day of Healing is Liberation Event, the Our City Our Schools Quarterly meeting, a virtual Diversity Summit and an invitation to be a mentor for student teachers next year. 

TAG 2025 Summer Reading Series

The Teacher Action Group Summer Reading Series is back! The series offers an opportunity to build community while reading about issues you care about in small groups. Groups meet on average 2-4 times over the course of the summer. Everyone is invited to join -- not just educators!  Express interest here. 

Register for a free Justice at Work Professional Development Course by Saturday, June 7

In honor and celebration of Zinn Education Projects #TeachTruth Day of Action, we are giving away 100 enrollments to our virtual course, Justice At Work, to classroom and community educators. Justice at Work is a free, asynchronous professional development course with a $255 value. It takes participants on a historically-grounded journey through power, oppression, resistance and solidarity. The course was created by Mia Henry, who was previously a history teacher in Chicago Public Schools and led civil rights tours to the South for youth and schools for many years. We are offering this free resource to educators to demonstrate our solidarity and support for the amazing work you do. 

Register here by Saturday, June 7th at 7pm ET / 6pm CT / 5pm MT / 4pm PT. Or share this email with an educator you want to support!

Teach Truth Day of Healing is Liberation, Saturday, June 7, 12:30 @ People's Plaza

Our City Our Schools Coalition, Final Quarterly Meeting, June 11, 5:00 @1727 Snyder Ave.

OCOS is working on a campaign against school closures.  In this meeting, they will break out into parent track and youth track groups, share updates and requests, and look ahead to the next year. 

Pennsylvania Education Diversity Consortium's Educator Diversity Virtual Summit, June 24 - 26

The 2025 Pennsylvania Educator Diversity Consortium (PEDC) Summit is a free, live, virtual event. This year’s theme is: The Power of Solidarity: Diversifying the Educator Workforce. Across 3-days, educators, parents, advocates and administrators across Pennsylvania will come together to explore ~ 40 Concurrent Sessions with strategies aligned with state priorities and Act 48 requirements, including:  Culturally Relevant and Sustaining Education (CRSE), Inclusive practices for diverse learners, Ethical leadership and educator retention.  Act 48 credit available to attendees

Invitation:  be a Classroom Mentor for Student Teachers next year

Penn's Urban Teaching Apprenticeship Program (UTAP) is seeking to grow their pool of prospective secondary classroom mentors and coaches! Each year they work to match incoming students with mentors and coaches who are excited to support the next generation of transformative educators.  Consider playing one of these important roles.

 

About the program: Apprentices spend a year student teaching, starting with 3 days/week in the Fall and moving to 5 days/week in the Spring. Classroom mentors serve as models, coaches, and collaborators from August-May and receive regular program support. Coaches serve as wrap-around support and also receive regular program support. Here is a link to the mentor job description and the coaching job description for more details.

 

If you are interested in serving as a mentor, please complete this form, and if you would like to learn more before expressing interest, please reach out. If you are not currently in the classroom and have flexibility in your schedule, you may be interested in serving as a coach! Application instructions for coaching can be found on the job description.  Please reach out to Melissa Donner at mdo...@upenn.edu if you have any questions.

 

In solidarity,

TAG

(If you don't want to receive these emails, write back and we'll remove you from our list.)

Check out a video of TAG's Education for Liberation 2025 Mini Conferece here.

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TAG Philadelphia works to strengthen the influence of educators within schools and over policy decisions.

While partnering with parent, student, and community groups, TAG is committed to fostering positive school transformation, environments where students and teachers can thrive, and community ownership and influence within education.

[Tag Philly]

Good afternoon.  As TAG educators rest and recharge this summer, we also stand in solidarity with DC 33 workers and their demands.  

See below for three ways you can join us in showing our support.

Action #1:  Join us tomorrow, Wednesday, July 9th, 3pm @ City Hall for a mass rally and picket.

The entire labor movement is united behind DC 33. Tomorrow, the AFL-CIO has called for a mass rally & picket. Use today to make your plans and arrangements to be there. Talk to your friends, union siblings, coworkers and neighbors! 

If you want to meet up with other TAG members in a collective show of educator solidarity, text Kelley @ 215-868-3089.  We'd love to connect with you there!

Action #2:  Contribute to the strike fund using this online donation form released by DC 33:  https://afscme33.betterworld.org/campaigns/33-strike.

As the strike finishes a full week and extends into another, strikers are beginning to not only feel the physical effects on their bodies from being out in the heat everyday for eight hours or more, but also they can see the financial effects coming on the horizon. Donations are key to helping strikers stand strong. 

Additionally, the family of Tyree Ford, the DC 33 sanitation worker hit by a car and critically injured while picketing, has created this GoFundMe. If you have the means, please donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/tyree-ford-philadelphias-dc33 

Action #3:  Visibly show your support by printing a sign or joining a picket.

Print one of these “Hate the smell? Blame Cherelle!” signs. Use them to continue to spread community support in your neighborhood. Find the signs and a handy guide for canvassing your block here: bit.ly/StrikeSolidaritySign

OR 

Join one of these pickets:

Libraries:  The pickets usually operate around the same time the libraries are supposed to open and close. 

Parkway Central Library; Joseph E. Coleman Library; Blackwell Library; Northeast Regional Library; Katharine Drexel Library; Cecil B Moore Library; Donatucci Library; Kensington Library; Nicetown-Tioga Library; Kingsessing Library; Haverford Library; Widener Library; Rodriguez Library; Roxborough Library; Frankford Library; Queen Memorial Library 

Here are some non library picket sites (not necessarily an exhaustive list):

• PHL Airport: Terminal A West Departing
• MEO: 400 N Broad St (Police HQ) PWD Baxter: 9001 State Rd
• PWD Belmont: 4300 W Ford Rd
• PWD Field Office: 2800 W Cambria St
• PWD Northeast: 3001 Castor Ave
• PWD Queen Lane: 3565 Fox St
• PWD: 3015 S. 61st St
• Sanitation: 3901 Delaware Ave
• Sanitation: 320 Domino Lane
• Sanitation: 5100 Grays Ave
• Sanitation: 3033 S 63rd St
• Sanitation: E Allen St & Schiller St
• Streets: 4806 Parkside (1st District Highway Yard)
• Streets: 8401 State Rd (6th District Highway)

Thank you for taking action!  

Also, it's not too late to join in on a summer book group -- info below if you're interested.

TAG 2025 Summer Reading Series

The Teacher Action Group Summer Reading Series is back! The series offers an opportunity to build community while reading about issues you care about in small groups. Groups meet on average 2-4 times over the course of the summer. Everyone is invited to join -- not just educators!  Express interest here.