Blackprint 20 & Sign up for An ItAG

[Tag Philly]

Good afternoon.  Don't forget to sign up for an Inquiry to Action Group, and join us for Happy Hour at Renata's on Thursday -- more info below!

But first, at a time of terrible violence and repression, celebrating Black History Month brings a renewed call for struggle, resistance and action.  Check out four connection points, including Blackprint 20's awards banquet and summit marking 20 years since Philadelphia became the first city in the nation to require teaching Black history. 

An old poem:  For My People by Margaret Walker, 1942

A new book:  My City Needs Something: Portraits and Prose for Black Existence by Chris R. Rogers and karim brown, February, 2026

A Cultural Event:  For Love To Thrive Black Cultural Heritage Celebration, Feb. 21

An Awards Banquet and A Summit:  Blackprint 20 (Tickets for Awards, Summit), Feb. 6 and Feb. 7

Blackprint 20 is...

• a gathering grounded in the belief that education is not neutral but is a deliberate practice of freedom, responsibility, and collective imagination. 
• created to bring educators, scholars, artists, organizers, and students into shared space to examine how history, culture, and pedagogy can be mobilized in service of truth, liberation, and community well-being.
• a space that will feature over 40 presenters representing a wide range of disciplines and practices, alongside keynote addresses from Dr. Greg Carr and Dr. LaGarrett King. Their scholarship continues to shape how Black history is studied, taught, and understood.
• not simply a conference but a collective pause, a recommitment, and a call to practice education with clarity, courage, and care.

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Connect with Philly Educators: Sign Up for an ItAG Now! (Register here)

What's an ItAG? ItAGs bring together educators and allies to learn and take action.  Over 4 - 6 weeks, ItAGs create a space for us to explore, imagine, and work towards creating the schools our students deserve.  Each ItAG will culminate in an action such as: creating a curriculum, organizing an action, sharing a resource toolkit, leading a workshop, and more, as determined by the participants.

Who runs ItAGs? These ItAGs are supported by TAG Philly, but each will be led by independent facilitators, who are educators in the TAG community.  We have an incredible slate of facilitators who are educators, advocates, and organizers ready to bring you in to this project. 

Who are ItAGs for? ItAGs are open to all Philly educators and allies who are aligned with TAG's vision: TAG Philly believes every child has the right to a high-quality, equitably-funded, public education based on: participatory democratic principles; community empowerment and self-determination; a challenging, comprehensive, and critical curriculum; respect for cultural diversity and a commitment to anti-racism; and the idea that students can understand the roots of oppression and develop the skills to change the world. 

What ItAGs are being offered this winter?

Calendar & more happenings:

February 6th: TAG Philly Happy Hour & ItAG launch at Renata’s Kitchen. 4:30pm!

February 6th & 7th: Don't miss Blackprint, a national convening advancing educator practices for Black history educator-leaders, policymakers, community activists & more!   Register here.

Week of February 9th: ItAGs begin meeting!  Sign up for your ItAG to hear from facilitators about your exact meeting dates and locations.

April 18th: Save the Date for TAG’s 2026 Education for Liberation Conference this Spring!

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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.