Elevate and Celebrate this Black History Month

Black History Month reminds us of the importance of elevating the stories and achievements of Black Americans. We must be intentional with telling these stories not just in February, but every month. How do we as out-of-school educators ensure the narrative of our American past is both honest, despite the often painful truths, and celebratory of all its people? Current events prove history is unfolding now and we must be cognizant of our impact on future history.

One of the great strengths of out-of-school time programs is the freedom to go beyond the traditional classroom curriculum. The opportunity to elevate and celebrate Black voices and history is everywhere. For example, this Girls Who Code, Code at Home Activity, uses creative coding to create digital art while highlighting the work of Black women in tech, art, and social activism. Trusting relationships and safe emotional spaces are another cornerstone of our field. Alayah Dunlap, a 14-year-old afterschool student from New Jersey shares how her writing club gave her the space to be free of judgment when developing poetry like her beautiful piece "Black girl be you". How are you using your out-of-school time program to elevate and celebrate Black History Month?