The Social Justice Committee was formed by parents and teachers in early 2015 and has received guidance in structure and goals, as well as facilitation training, from SFCESS since the fall of 2015. Our working mission statement is as follows:
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The Golden Bridges SJC aims to create an inclusive, safe space at Golden Bridges School for all. It is a priority for us to give a voice and leadership to, hold dialogue around, and take action on issues of social justice, including, but not limited to: People of Color (in particular those with Black and brown skin), members of the LGBTQ+ community, differently abled persons, persons of lower socioeconomic status, non-Americans, and people who hold religious beliefs that are non-Christian.

Our goals include:

• To assist Golden Bridges School in becoming an authentically anti-racist school, committed to social justice, internally and externally
• To create a culture where open conversation about social justice (or the lack thereof: racism, white privilege, white supremacy, heteronormativity, christocentrism, etc.) is welcome, honest, safe and non-judgmental
• To educate parents, teachers and children (taking into consideration developmental appropriateness) through school curriculum, school-led community events, discussion, literature or film, and extra-curricular activities such as presentations, field-trips, and visitors, so that exposure to and celebration of difference is an ongoing, integral part of the education at our school.

Committee & Governance

It is a priority to the Golden Bridges Social Justice Committee that our decision-making reflects our values, norms, and goals. We strive not to replicate systemic oppressive patterns that give white, cisgendered, heteronormative, and/or Judeo-Christian people more authority and power than people of color or other marginalized peoples.

We practice full transparency about decision-making and hold accountable the people who make decisions that impact the committee or the school community at large, as it relates to issues of social justice. Committee members or school community members who believe a decision made by the Social Justice Committee is harmful should bring their concern to one of the two group facilitators/moderators, as listed in the subcommittee and roles spreadsheet.

Read our Governance Document

Attending meetings

Any member of our community (a parent of a child currently enrolled at Golden Bridges School or faculty or staff member) is welcome to attend a Social Justice meeting at any time, without any expectation that they will continue to attend meetings. If you plan to attend, we ask that you first read this article, "Changing the Discourse in Schools," so that you will understand our approach to communication. Thank you!

This group meets monthly, on Tuesdays from 7:00pm-9:00pm with parents and teachers.

2018/19 Meetings:
Tuesdays,  7-9pm at 65 Ocean Ave
11/27
12/18
1/15
2/26
3/19
4/30
5/21

Committee Norms

For the Individual

• Stay Engaged
• Speak Your Truth
• Experience Discomfort
• Expect and Accept Non-Closure

​For the Collective

• Pay Attention to Patterns of Participation
• Contextual Confidentiality
• Go to the Source (at and within a reasonable amount of time or let it go)
• Recognize that we are all on our own path of inner and outer work* (*GBS norm)

"One of the reasons I feel so passionate about our school is not just the amazing teachers, staff and children, but the parents. As I have seen over the four years I have been a part of this community, our parents are capable of almost anything."
—GBS Parent

Contact

Please contact Allyson Ritger or Anna Ghosh for questions related to the Social Justice Committee.

Events

RAD GIRLS CAN free community event: a family and community conversation with author Kate Schatz and illustrator Miriam Klein Stahl of "Rad Women Worldwide" and "Rad Women A-Z"

ART
STORYTELLING
BOOK SIGNING
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Saturday November 3rd, 2018
10am-12pm
Golden Bridges Farm, 203 Cotter St. 

Partnerships

Golden Bridges School has partnered with SF-CESS for the past three years in order to train and facilitate faculty and parent conversations, and guide us in creating an equitable, inclusive and culturally competent school that challenges the hegemony and discourse found in schools. 

Articles for Adults

• What White Children Need to Know about Race by Ali Michaels
• Understanding White Privilege by Francis E. Kendall, Ph.D.
• White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh
• Why "Human" is not an appropriate answer to the question, “What is your race?” by Dr. Gregory Peters
• Racial Micro-aggressions in Everyday Life (from Columbia University Teachers College)
• Teaching White Students about Racism: The Search for White Allies and the Restoration of Hope by Beverly Daniel Tatum
• White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
• Detour-Spotting for White Anti-Racists by Jona Olsson​
• Combatting Stereotypes: How to talk to your children
• Can Racism be Stopped in the Third Grade? by Lisa Miller
• White Guilt is Actually White Narcissism by Emma Lindsay
• White Supremacy Culture from "Dismantling Racism: A Workbook for Social Change Groups", by Kenneth Jones and Tema Okun, ChangeWork
• How Well Intentioned White Families Can Perpetuate Racism (The Atlantic) 
• White Progressive Parents and the Conundrum of Privilege, LA Times 

Children's Literature

• The Conscious Kid
• Do I need to buy different books for boys and girls?
• How Do I Include Diversity In The Literature My Child Is Exposed To?
• Raising Race Conscious Children 

"It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept and celebrate those differences." 

- Audre Lorde