MCS Staff Offers

Item Description

"Tough Talk" with MCS' 5-6's Sur Head Teacher, Laleña Garcia:

Right now, the world is in quite a state. Kids have lots of questions, and it can be hard to have the answers. Through discussion, Laleña offers guidance and support on having tough conversations with your children, while also offering you resources for your own work.

In addition to full courses, she also provides single sessions, both for individuals and for groups. You can bring your questions and the sticky situations you've dealt with, and get some insight into how children think about things, as well as strategies for talking with them. Here's what a parent recently wrote:

Dear Laleña,

I cannot express enough gratitude to you for holding that space for all of us yesterday. Not only was yesterday’s meeting very helpful for [our child], but for our entire family. While [my partner] and I are doing our best to speak to [our child] about what is going on right now, seeing it modeled helps us see how we can be more effective in our conversations with a 6 year old, especially as these conversations touch upon our own grief and rage.

Bid for your chance to have a virtual "Tough Talk" with Laleña Garcia. In addition, she has graciously donated her new book, "What We Believe: A Black Lives Matter Principles Activity Book". The winner will receive a signed, personalized copy of her book AND a Black Lives Matter at School T-shirt (size S) from MCS' Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action.

Item Details:

• Up to 8 participants (4-8 is ideal)
• 1 hour discussion

More about the book:

"This powerful activity book will engage hands, hearts, and minds as it introduces children to the guiding principles of the Black Lives Matter movement.When the Black Lives Matter movement began in 2013, the three founders--Alicia Garza, Patrisse Khan-Cullors, and Opal Tometi--anchored its work in a list of guiding principles, developed through conversation with other activists. These principles commit the movement to empathy, loving engagement, and just action among its participants; affirm the importance of Black women, families, elders, and LGBTQ folk; and celebrate the strength and diversity of Black people in their communities and around the globe.

Now young people can explore these powerful principles in What We Believe: A Black Lives Matter Principles Activity Book. Created by two teachers with more than thirty-five years of educational experience between them, the book presents the guiding principles in down-to-earth, child-friendly language, with each principle accompanied by writing prompts, space for children or adults to create their own reflections, and a coloring page. Supporting materials guide adults in sharing the principles with children and encourage kids to dream big and take action within their communities. An essential resource for anyone discussing racial equity with young people, What We Believe offers a beautiful and inspiring lens on the most important social justice movement of our time."