The Social Justice Academy of San Leandro High School



The Social Justice Academy (SJA) is a small learning community within San Leandro High School that serves over one hundred scholars and families each year. It is a rigorous three-year program that utilizes a pedagogy grounded in critical, intersectional, and transformative education, community, and solidarity.   
Click on this link "About SJA" to learn more. 

SJA Spotlight...
To see what we've been up to, follow us on Instagram:
@socialjusticeacademyofsl
https://www.instagram.com/socialjusticeacademyofsl/
2020-21

A Celebration of Life: Honoring Steven Taylor
Justice for Steven Taylor!
Justice for Miles Hall!
Justice for Sean Monterrosa!
Justice for Angelo Quinto!
Justice for Trevor Seever!
Oscar Grant, we will never forget you!

Stop AAPI Hate!

SJA March Out for Mental Health: Remembering Steven Taylor on March 18, 2021
The video below is the recorded live stream of the March Out for Mental Health: Remembering Steven Taylor event. It was a virtual action organized by the students of SJA, where they encouraged students and teacher allies to virtually walk out of their Zoom classes and walk into a virtual town hall on Zoom that was live-streamed on the SJA Youtube channel. Community members and supporters also joined the virtual town hall. This was in coordination with and in support of Justice 4 Steven Taylor.

March Out Livestream Full Video.mp4


SJA Student Demands
OUR DEMANDS TO THE CITY OF SAN LEANDRO AND SAN LEANDRO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
1. ADVOCATE FOR THE CONVICTION OF OFFICER FLETCHER.
2. FIRE OFFICER OVERTON.
3. DIVEST FROM SLPD, 
REINVEST IN PROGRAMS, POLICIES, AND SERVICES FOR THE PEOPLE.
4. INVEST IN MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITY AND IN SL SCHOOLS.
5. ESTABLISH A POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION. 
6. COMMIT TO AND FOLLOW THROUGH WITH ANTI RACIST CURRICULUM, POLICIES, AND PROCEDURES 
IN SL SCHOOLS. 
7. LISTEN TO BIPOC YOUTH, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. 
8. REIMAGINE SAN LEANDRO AND SAN LEANDRO SCHOOLS. CHALLENGE AND DISRUPT CAPITALISM, 
WHITE SUPREMACY, CISHETEROPATRIARCHY, ABLEISM, AND XENOPHOBIA.
9. FIGHT FOR JUSTICE.
10. STAND WITH THE COMMUNITY.

SJA and Justice 4 Steven Taylor
Campaign 
Watch the video below to see how SJA has worked in transformative solidarity with Addie Kitchen (Steven Taylor's Grandmother) and community members in the Justice 4 Steven Taylor organizing group, from vigils to city council meetings to letter-writing campaigns to marches to car caravans, there have been victories and disappointments along the way, but the fight for justice continues! 

Justice for Steven Taylor Campaign




2019-20
SJA Class of 2020 Virtual Graduation

SJA Virtual Grad 2020.mp4

SJA Grad Lawn Sign Drop Off

Justice for Steven Taylor Campaign and Black Lives Matter Actions

SJA Zooms during the Covid-19 Pandemic

International Womxn's Day Celebration 
(Day the Schools Closed due to the Coronavirus Pandemic)

SJA Workshops at SLUSD Elementary Schools

SJA Senior Campaign: Think Outside the Bombs


SJA Supports Yes on Measure N Campaign for SLUSD Schools

Black Hxstory Month Celebration

SJA Winter Celebration and Gift Exchange

SJA Juniors' Decolonizing Our Future Project

SJA Sophomores' yOurstory Project

SJA's One Love, One Mic 
SJA had over 500 people in the audience, 30 student performances, and 3 solid social justice projects and class performances. One Love, One Mic was edutainment at its finest featuring SJA sophomores' yOurstory Project, the juniors' Decolonizing Our Future project, and the seniors' farewell performance.  

Indigenous People's Celebration

Transgender Day of Remembrance

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Field Trip to the Oakland Museum

Latinx Heritage Month Celebration

SJA Family Days 

2018-19
SJA Class of 2019 Graduation

SJA Grad Video Class of 2019.mp4



SJA Class of 2019 Quest Final Presentations

SJA Class of 2020 Campaign Proposals

SJA Family Day at Cull Canyon 

Solidarity Night at the Barbara Lee Center
The sophomores and juniors shared their year in SJA with their families and friends by hosting tables and sharing performances. 

Class of 2019 Campaign
#NoMore, Rest in Power Mariah Davis
Campaign Addressing Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Rape Culture, and Toxic Masculinity
The SJA class of 2019, seniors ran a campaign in memory of Mariah Davis and Mryna Umanzor, and all victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, rape culture, and toxic masculinity. 


SJA Projects for 
Season of Service, Period of Peace 

Since 2011, the Social Justice Academy has been hosting Solidarity Fest.  It is part of their Season of Service, Period of Peace projects.   In addition to Solidarity Fest, the SJA students facilitated close to 100 workshops using restorative circles at Bancroft and John Muir Middle Schools, restorative theatre at our high school, and workshops surrounding the #NoMore Campaign that discussed consent, domestic violence, healthy relationships, toxic masculinity, and gender roles at the high school.  

At this year’s Solidarity Fest,  our sophomores will be hosting different tables focusing on the power of self expression and representation such as social justice stenciling, land is life, art for mental health, a Rest in Power memorial, and so forth.  Our juniors will host tables tackling different social justice topics such as the importance of clean water, the seven generations principle, LGBT+ rights, the school to prison pipeline, and so forth.  They seek to engage our school community on these topics and hope to inspire action by doing things such as taking pledges, collecting petitions, various symbolic acts, and so forth.  Our seniors will be hosting tables that educate, survey, and engage our school community on the issues they are focusing their senior independent, inquiry based projects on.  As an academy, we hope to inspire, decolonize, and spark discussion and action.  


Womxn's Hxrstory Month
SJA’s panel for Womxn’s Hxstory Month was powerful and inspiring. It was an honor having Ericka Huggins, Rocky Rivera, and Kanyon Sayers-Roods. 
                                                    
                                                    SJA Class of 2019 Quest Projects
#RedforEd, SJA Stands in Solidarity with Oakland and LA Schools

One Love, One Mic
SJA had over 500 people in the audience, 36 student performances, and 3 solid social justice projects and class performances. One Love, One Mic was edutainment at its finest featuring SJA sophomores' yOurstory Project, the juniors' Decolonizing Our Future project, and the seniors' farewell performance.  

One Love, One Mic 2018


Erica Viray Santos, Teacher and Coordinator, Represents SJA on KPFA's Education Today, NEA Today, and at the Skyline College Equity Summit

Emory Douglas, Minister of Culture for the Black Panther Party, Inspires SJA

The Hate U Give Movie Screening
 
SJA Supports Measure I

Students in SJA went precinct walking in support of Measure I, a bond measure that will bring much needed funding into SLUSD schools.

 

Field Trip to the Capitol

Students in SJA visited the California Museum and their exhibit, the "Unity Center", California State University, Sacramento, and the State Capitol.  They were able to visit Assembly Member Rob Bonta's office and speak to representatives in his office to discuss important bills making their way through the assembly. 

Memorial for Mariah Davis and Caleb Poole

Mariah Davis, a beloved SJA alumna, was murdered in a brutal act of domestic violence. The Social Justice Academy mourned and celebrated her life at a memorial and candlelight vigil on October 3rd, 2018.  Caleb Poole, a former SLHS student died in a tragic accident a couple days before. SJA hosted a memorial for both Mariah and Caleb.  


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2017-18
Solidarity Fest

Since 2011, the Social Justice Academy has been hosting Solidarity Fest.  It is part of their Season of Service, Period of Peace projects.   In addition to Solidarity Fest, the SJA students facilitated close to 100 workshops focusing on restorative justice using restorative circles at Bancroft and John Muir Middle Schools and restorative theatre at our high school.  These workshops support this year’s campaign, “Restorative Revamp: Restoring the Humanity in Education,” which advocates for the building of restorative practices in our district.

At this year’s Solidarity Fest,  our sophomores will be hosting different tables focusing on the power of self expression and representation such as social justice stenciling, celebrating sheroes and heroes, highlighting students’ struggles and triumphs, and so forth.  Our juniors will host tables tackling different social justice topics.  They seek to engage our school community on these topics and hope to inspire action by doing things such as taking pledges, collecting petitions, various symbolic acts, and so forth.  Our seniors will be hosting tables that educate, survey, and engage our school community on the issues they are focusing their senior independent, inquiry based projects on.  As an academy, we hope to inspire, decolonize, and spark discussion and action.  


Class of 2018 Campaign
Restorative Revamp: Restoring the Humanity in Education
 
#ENOUGH Walk Out for Gun Control, Mental Health Support, and 
Restorative Justice!

Restorative Circles Workshops at Bancroft and John Muir Middle Schools

Stop the ICE Raids!  Know your rights!

Black Panther Viewing Party

Womxn's March

 Clean Dream Act Now!
SJA students held an action encouraging staff and students to call Congress to pass a Clean Dream Act.  

Winter Celebration SJA Family Picture

Davis Street Toy and Food Drive
Every year students and families in the academy help out at the Davis Street Family Resource Center's Holiday Toy and Food Drive. 

10th Annual One Love, One Mic
SJA had over 500 people in the audience, 39 student performances, and 3 solid social justice projects and class performances. One Love, One Mic was edutainment at its finest featuring SJA sophomores' yOurstory Project, the juniors' Power of Dissent websites, and the seniors' launch of their Restorative Revamp campaign.  The event also raised over $2400 for the North Bay and Puerto Rico!

SJA One Love, One Mic 2017



Get Woke, Stay Woke Conference
Seniors attended and facilitated workshops at the Get Woke, Stay Woke: Social Justice Conference at Chabot College.  

#DefendDACA #HeretoStay #UndocumentedandUnafraid
Students in the Social Justice Academy led a march/rally in support of "dreamers" who are directly affected by the Trump administration's decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) that protects undocumented youth by granting them Temporary Protective Status, as well as a number of other rights and protections. 

SJA Fall Retreat

2016-17
SJA Graduation
Congratulations Class of 2017!  

SJA Class of 2017 Grad Video


2016 Senior Quest Projects
In their 3rd year of the program, SJA students engage in a year long independent project called Quest.  Essentially, it is a mini campaign where they seek to answer their proposed essential question by engaging in research, inquiry, cultural work, outreach, direct experience, networking, and so forth.  Feel free to see their projects by clicking on the following links to their websites that documented their projects. 

2017 Quest Projects


SJA 10 Year Anniversary Celebration, June 3, 2017: SJA's celebration brought together current students, families, alumni, community partners, and allies on a warm Saturday afternoon filled with games, food, and fun. The academy's 10th anniversary was celebrated SJA style, like a family! Many said it felt like a family reunion!

From Sundown to Safe Town Campaign: Make San Leandro a Sanctuary City! 
Make San Leandro Unified School District a Sanctuary District!
The scholars of the Social Justice Academy participated in a successful campaign alongside community members and organizations and allies that made all schools in the San Leandro Unified School District "safe havens" and San Leandro a sanctuary city.  

Educate to Liberate, Know Your Vote Campaign by the Senior Class of 2017:  The seniors led the academy in educating the campus and wider community about the election.  They focused most of their attention on getting Measure J1 and Proposition 55 passed.  They were a big part of the passage of Measure J1 in San Leandro that would fund much needed repairs in our school district, most especially, the elementary schools, where some of the facilities are over 100 years old with basic structural and electrical problems.  The youth tabled, phone banked, went precinct walking, and held rallies on a near daily basis for this campaign!  Their efforts were not in vain!

2015-16
SJA Graduation
Congratulations Class of 2016!  

SJA Class of 2016


SJA Year End Celebration


2016 Senior Quest Projects
In their 3rd year of the program, SJA students engage in a year long independent project called Quest.  Essentially, it is a mini campaign where they seek to answer their proposed essential question by engaging in research, inquiry, cultural work, outreach, direct experience, networking, and so forth.  Feel free to see their projects by clicking on the following links to their websites that documented their projects.  

Senior Quest Projects



SJA "Solidarity" Projects for Season of Service, March 2016
"Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean."
For Season of Service, the sophomores, juniors, and seniors in the Social Justice Academy worked tirelessly on projects focusing on solidarity.  Solidarity is putting the “unity” in community.  Because as SJA’s Season of Service logo states, “Individually, we are one drop.  Together, we are an ocean.”  The sophomores visited Bancroft and John Muir Middle School and ran close to fifty workshops on using restorative circles in a classroom to build community and resolve conflict.  SJA advocates for the use of restorative justice in schools, which focuses on prevention, reconciliation, and rehabilitation.  The sophomores also ran the stencils, temporary tattoo, and “Solidarity Hands” tables at SJA’s three day lunchtime festival in the quad titled “Solidarity Fest”.  The juniors focused on social justice issues that they chose in groups and put together informational material, games, buttons, or stencils for tables at Solidarity Fest.  They chose issues such as: the school to prison pipeline, police brutality, the importance of knowing your rights, access to college, gender equity, food justice, and underfunded communities.  They also facilitated workshops for freshmen on community and restorative justice.  The seniors went public with their Senior Quest Projects and taught students about their various topics at Solidarity Fest and Save Our Society (SOS) night.  The seniors organized that event as well, which was well attended and had over 20 performances. Some of the topics include: Chicanisma, white privilege, domestic violence, food justice, mentoring young men of color, in addition to a number of other topics. 

SLAM Documentary on SJA Season of Service Projects

SJA SOS Photo Slideshow


Save Ethnic Studies!, March 2016
SJA stands in solidarity with the College of Ethnic Studies at San Francisco State University! 
#defendandadvanceethnicstudies

#talkaboutrace   #blacklivesmatter, March 2016
SJA pushed for the community to talk about race in response to a hate crime that occurred at a district office located at James Madison Elementary School by holding demonstrations before school and during lunch. 


Featured SJA Sheroes and Heroes


I am Social Justice Poem

I am social justice because it saved my life.

I was a freshmen ignorantly swimming into the school to prison pipeline.

I had a 1.9, but two people saw the potential I had when no one else did.

I am social justice because it saved me from a cycle.

I’ll be first to walk the stage in my household.

I am social justice because I grew tired of running a rat race blind.

It gave me the cheat sheet to a happy life.

And it taught that life isn't a race it’s a marathon.

As long as you finish, you win.

And for that, I owe social justice my life.

I am social justice because social justice taught me how to organize and mobilize.

It taught me how to save someone’s life.

How to invoke my personal rights.

I am social justice because it taught me there’s more than one way one to be a superhero.  

I am social justice because it made me appreciate the struggle.

It gave me a voice when I struggled to find mine.

It made me strong mentally.

And even though I don’t do it, social justice taught that it’s ok for men to cry.

I am social justice because it enlightened a mind lost in the darkness.

So I owe social justice my life.

It saved me from myself.

And Imma dedicate my life to social justice.

I just wanna say thank you, Dolid and Viray.

I am eternally grateful.

Peace

Hassani Bell, Class of 2015

Excerpt from Senior Term Paper

“A moral and just society does not deny people the right to live freely under their own pretenses. It does not deny people access to basic fundamental rights. It does not shoot and kill 12 year old children playing with toy guns, or college bound young men with their hands up. It does not deny people who live just $1 above the poverty line access to government assistance, but give multi-billion dollar corporations tax breaks.  It does not allocate trillions of dollars to the inhumane removal of a people from their own land when there are millions of people without homes on American soil. A moral and just society is a society that prioritizes people as a whole, not just one group and certainly not money.”

Nikayla Johnson, Class of 2015

Excerpt from Author's Chair Piece

“Family, a group of people that has helped me get through tough times, laugh through those times, and made me look back at those times.  A group of people that make me remember where I come from. Surely this family ain’t perfect, nope, not one bit, but they are just perfect enough to call family.  I am talking about the students and teachers of the Social Justice Academy.”

Tyler Stevenson, Class of 2015









Highlights from the 2014-15 School Year


Black Lives Matter: Hands Up, Don't Shoot 
 
Congratulations to the Social Justice Academy's Class of 2015! We will miss you!  Thank you for allowing our program to be part of your lives!

Year End Celebration Video

Year End Celebrations 2015.m4v

Year in Review, 2014-15

Peace in the Streets

Peace in the Streets
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