Jessica Johnson

“Our Artists In Equity Program is a joint partnership between local BIPOC artists and Lyndale Community School. The Artists in Equity Program will bring in different artists for each grade level that focus on introducing delicate concepts like diversity, identity, and stereotyping through storytelling, music, poetry, dance, photography, and drawing. The artists will work across all grade levels for a period of up to 4 months. In addition, the Artists in Equity Program will provide our students with new outlets for creativity and ways to develop essential critical thinking and collaboration skills while supporting and building on SEL and the CASEL core competencies (Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision Making.) SEL is critically important in our school, neighborhood, and community due to the diverse demographics of our student body (60% students of color, and many children of first generation Somali-Americans). While anti-bias and anti-racism work is a distinct field, we believe it intersects with SEL in a variety of ways. Minneapolis has become a microcosm of the national debate on addressing race and equity in schools and SEL is critical piece of this work.”