In memory of civil rights leader, and congressman, John Lewis. RIP.
Friday, July 17, 2020
On the day that Breakthrough Leadership goes to press, we honor the passing of one of the great leaders of this century. As recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, John Lewis inspired these powerful words from President Barack Obama who bestowed the nation’s highest civilian honor:
Generations from now, when parents teach their children what is meant by courage, the story of John Lewis will come to mind—an American who knew that change could not wait for some other person or some other time; whose life is a lesson in the fierce urgency of now.
Mr. Lewis, an American icon of civil rights, viewed our current struggles for equity and racial justice in hopeful terms as he shared with CBS This Morning: “People now understand what the struggle was all about. It’s another step down a very, very long road toward freedom, justice for all humankind.”
On Twitter in 2018, Mr. Lewis encouraged others to follow his persistent and active engagement in the struggle:
Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.
John Lewis’s courageous life sacrifices and dedication will not be forgotten. May we collectively advance this work and his vision for the betterment of our children and humankind. We honor the life of John Lewis and mourn his passing.
Breakthrough Leadership
Six Principles Guiding Schools Where INEQUITY Is Not an Option
Alan M. Blankstein
Marcus J. Newsome
with Lauren B. Mahan
Foreword by
Pedro A. Noguera
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Foreword
Pedro A. Noguera, PhD Dean, Rossier School of Education University of Southern California
Inequality in wealth and income is increasing throughout the world, and as it does, our ability to address many of our most pressing problems—poverty, global migration, and climate change—worsens and solutions remain beyond our reach.
As inequality grows, so do resentment and frustration. More and more Americans realize that their children may not have access to the same kinds of opportunities that were once available to them: stable jobs with good health benefits, a home that they own, or paying for a college education without becoming saddled with years of debt. The so-called American Dream has become a faint and distant memory, and as it fades, desperation increases.
Additionally, at the time of this book’s publication, we find ourselves grappling with two crises: a pandemic that has infected a greater percentage of the United States population than in any other nation on earth, and a social movement for racial justice that has swept the country even more quickly than the pandemic, aimed at undoing years of deeply embedded structural racism that is manifest in every aspect of life.
For many years, research has shown that education can serve as a resource for addressing many of the problems facing modern societies. This includes economic and social inequality, as well as racism, bigotry, and ignorance. However, more often than not, individuals and communities that need education to improve their lives are the least likely to receive the kind of education that makes progress possible. That is, rather than advancing equality and opportunity, too often education has been implicated in the reproduction of inequality.
The critical variable that determines whether or not our schools can respond adequately to the numerous challenges that they and their children face is leadership. Particularly given our lack of leadership at the national level, educational leaders must step forward to provide the vision and strategies needed to promote equity in educational opportunities and outcomes.
This book is about the work of such leaders. In big cities, small towns, and rural areas, a small number of principals and superintendents are showing that progress can be made when leaders have the resourcefulness and courage to address equity challenges directly.