HISTORY

The Journey for Justice Alliance was launched in 2012, in response to the growing problem of school privatization (starving of neighborhood schools, school closings, charter and contract school expansion, turnarounds) impacting cities across the United States. Initially starting with Chicago, Detroit, Newark, New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington DC, Oakland, Euphora MS and Minneapolis J4J started with monthly conference calls to build connections. From there, in 2013 we organized a 5000-person march from the U.S. Department of Labor to the U.S. Department of Education to advocate for summer jobs and ending the harmful practice of school closings. After this action, the group adopted the name Journey for Justice Alliance and in 2014, first made national news with a 1000-person rally and “Community Hearing” at the U.S. Department of Education where we released our first report “Death by a Thousand Cuts” and made our first national demand for the option of School Improvement Grant resources to be used for sustainable community schools.


Now J4J has member organizations in over 30 cities across the country. The work continues…

J4J has an Education Platform rooted in racial justice and education equity.

1. A Moratorium on School Privatizatiom

2. 25,000 Sustainable Community Schools by 2025

3. End Zero Tolerance Policies in Public Education NOW;

4. Equity Mandates for Public Education at the Local & State Level;

5. Stop the Attack on Black Teachers;

6. End State Takeovers, Appointed School Boards & Mayoral Control;

7. Eliminate the Over-Reliance on Standardized Tests in Public Schools.

Why J4J

Only by organizing locally and coming together nationally will we build the power necessary/vital to change local, state, and federal policy and win back our public schools. We are a national intergenerational alliance elevating the struggle and solutions for our public schools.

VISION

The Journey for Justice Alliance envisions an America where every child, regardless of their race or economic status has access to a world-class school public school within safe walking distance of their homes. We will work for an education system that confronts historic racism and in our time, makes racial equity a reality in America’s public education system.

MISSION

The Journey for Justice Alliance is a national network of black and brown led, grassroots community-based organizations committed to utilizing grassroots organizing to win community-driven school improvement, in order to achieve equity in public education.

Who We Are

Journey for Justice (J4J) is an alliance of grassroots community, youth, and parent-led organizations in over 30 cities and growing across the country organizing to win Community-Driven alternatives to the privatization of and dismantling of public school systems. We are an Organization led by Black and Brown parents, students and families centered in racial, social, and education justice. One of our key goals is to support and grow Black and Brown Organizers and organizations.

We are organizing in our neighborhoods, cities, states and across the country for an equitable and just education system. We envision a public educational system that respects the potential of all children and the rights of parents, youth, and communities to participate in all aspects of planning and decision-making. We believe in a world-class education for all children regardless of their race, social class, gender, nationality, sexual orientation, language, ability and immigration status.

OUR PLATFORM

A Moratorium on School Privatization


The evidence is clear and aligns with the lived experience of parents, students and community residents in America’s cities:

More Details

25,000 Community Schools by 2025


We know what works. America ranks 19th in the world in education, but 2nd when poverty is not a factor.

More Details

End Zero Tolerance Policies in Public Education NOW


Zero tolerance is an education policy rooted in racism and the criminalization of Black and Brown youth.

More Details

Equity Mandates for Public Education at the Local & State Level


We call for a National Equity Assessment for public schools in the United States. Inequity goes far beyond the funding of public schools.

More Details

Stop the Attack on Black Teachers


J4J is deeply concerned that across the United States, the number of Black teachers is in sharp decline.

More Details

End State Takeovers, Appointed School Boards & Mayoral Control


We have a crisis in school governance. The overwhelming majority of state takeovers, mayoral control and appointed school boards exists in cities that serve primarily Black and Brown families.

More Details

Eliminate the Over-Reliance on Standardized Tests in Public Schools


J4J wants an end to punitive, high stakes standardized tests. Require districts to use tests for assessment only, with multiple assessment tools utilized to evaluate student growth and needs.

More Details

STAFF

RONSHA A. DICKERSON

National Organizer

Coordinating Committee

Alliance for Education Justice - Washington, DC (National)

Contact Person: Jonathan Stith (Founding Member)

Read More