We hear a lot about how schools and educators are failing our youth so when a story about a trailblazing teacher enters the picture, there is reason to celebrate.
Annie Delgado teaches a women’s studies class at Buhach Colony High School in Atwater California. She has received a key state award for her groundbreaking efforts to empower students to achieve success.
I stumbled upon Delgado’s class while perusing feminist pages on Facebook. My introduction was a powerful video produced by her class about the Equal Rights Amendment. As an ERA activist, I was THRILLED to see young people taking up the cause and I reached out to Delgado for some more information. In her reply she wrote:
I work with my students and seek to empower them with a stronger understanding of themselves, so that when they make their way beyond the walls of the high school, they have the tools necessary to accomplish anything to which they set their mind. Launched in 2008, our course has slowly evolved through much hard work, determination and grassroots’ efforts. I have sought to bring strong female figures from outside our community into our socioeconomically depressed area. While California budget cuts have already affected our program, we remain committed to its expansion throughout our District. To date, we have been fortunate enough to meet with such phenomenal trailblazers as Dee Dee Myers, Maria Shriver, Natalie Randolph and Ms. founder, Gloria Steinem.
This class has created a petition to accompany the video titled: Equality for All Women – Ratify the Equal Rights Amendment Now.
Ms. Delgado also provided me with a Google doc. PDF that contains a collection Q&As. The students answered questions and explained why they feel it is important for the Equal Rights Amendment to be enshrined into the United States Constitution. You can read what they all had to say HERE.
You can also read more about Delgado and what she is doing in Maria Shriver’s blog Inspirational Stories for Architects of Change: Are You A Trailblazing Woman?
FYI – the font of the text in the beginning of the video is a bit small, so you might wish to enlarge the screen. You will meet the students at the 0.39 second mark.
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Kimberley A. Johnson (BIO) is the author of AMERICAN WOMAN The Poll Dance: Women and Voting & The Virgin Diaries and an activist for women’s rights. Like her on Facebook, Twitter or follow her on FB HERE. |
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