Do you need some reading to take you through the weekend?
Check out Yesenia Robles in Chalkbeat, discussing Betsy DeVos's partisan rhetoric at a big meeting of conservative lawmakers.
If that's not enough, Education Week is covering every angle on the tension between the federal government and states on education law. On the one hand, as Andrew Ujifusa writes, the states are "bristling" at the feds' feedback on accountability plans. On the other hand, Jackie Zubrzycki watched the same speech that Yesenia Robles saw, and she heard DeVos encouraging states to "take the lead."
Beyond the reading, for my New York City readers, I want to talk about two events that are important to me. Next week, Get Organized BK will be holding a Civic Festival at the Prospect Park bandshell. The Festival will be on Tuesday the 25th from 5:30-8:30PM. There will be community organizations, activists, and performances, including a public art project by Racial Justice BK, which is a group that is important to me.
Speaking of which, Racial Justice BK also will be co-hosting a screening of films about race and identity on Sunday July 30, including black enuf* by filmmaker Carrie Hawks, who was profiled in Colorlines earlier this summer. If you're looking for a way to get out of the heat next Sunday, and engage in some critical conversations about race, you should sign up for the free tickets here.
Have a lovely weekend!