Author Archives: sabrinasullenberger

Mail-in voting, the SAVE Act, and voting rights

This is a great resource for understanding the basics of the proposed SAVE America Act, from the National Conference of State Legislatures It is clear and fairly presented. I have let my elected officials know my thoughts in opposition to this proposed act. I am in opposition to it not because I don’t care aboutContinue reading “Mail-in voting, the SAVE Act, and voting rights”

Thoughts on a culture of toxic power, and the second death of a “hero”

Late one night this past week several friends sent me links to the stories about Cesar Chavez, a primary figure of the United Farmworkers’ Movement. One of the classes I teach most every fall includes content on community organizing, and I always talk about the tactics and strategies he used in organizing farmworkers. Thankfully, heContinue reading “Thoughts on a culture of toxic power, and the second death of a “hero””

Teaching about labor and workers’ rights

A couple of days ago (8/25) was the 100th anniversary of the first Black labor union, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. This is an example of a union that fought a long time to win increased wages and other rights, and is also a good example of co-occurring struggles for labor rights and civilContinue reading “Teaching about labor and workers’ rights”

Juneteenth: Resources for remembering, teaching and learning

Over the years I have written several social media posts about Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, but never anything here, so I decided to put them all in one place in hopes that others find them useful for their own knowledge building or teaching. I was in my late 20s before learning about thisContinue reading “Juneteenth: Resources for remembering, teaching and learning”

Harriet Tubman, Revisionist History and Fact Checking

Below is a photo of Harriet Tubman. Abolitionist. Leader/conductor of the Underground Railroad. Student of stars in the nighttime sky. Seer of visions. Spy for Union forces. A woman with a disability (inflicted upon her by a slaveholder). She was a woman who didn’t stop. She was a believer and a faithful witness. In aContinue reading “Harriet Tubman, Revisionist History and Fact Checking”

What “A Different World” taught me 30 years ago

Wow, that title makes me sound old. (Spoiler alert: I guess I am old.) When I was in college, one of the few things I watched religiously each week was A Different World. I loved Whitley and Dwayne Wayne and Jalisa and Walter and Kim and Freddie and all the rest. I watched the show inContinue reading “What “A Different World” taught me 30 years ago”

Daughters

A little over a year ago I wrote about teaching in the Integrated Learning Community, part of the general education core where I teach. Last year, I wrote about the synchronicity of learning from my co-teacher and being able to put it in use in the community the following day. This year we are teachingContinue reading “Daughters”

Mutual aid: How we care for each other

The term “mutual aid” is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: a collaboration between community members, and a voluntary exchange of resources between them. We generally may think of mutual aid as existing most often in communities that have been economically (and in other ways) marginalized, but mutual aid also exists in faith communitiesContinue reading “Mutual aid: How we care for each other”

The one where my students asked what the heck is going on

I feel like if I title this like a Friends episode, it might seem less dystopian. Night before last, I was preparing for my HBSE class (Human Behavior in the Social Environment). We explore topics across the lifespan, and learn about bio-psycho-social-spiritual functioning at each stage of life, after a few weeks of introducing someContinue reading “The one where my students asked what the heck is going on”

Happy Birthday, Dr. King: I am sorry we haven’t bent the arc more yet.

Though we have an official day to recognize Dr. King’s birthday coming up next week, today (January 15) is his actual birthday. Going to college in Memphis and spending several years there after college, I visited the National Civil Rights Museum (at the Lorraine Motel where Dr. King was assassinated) many times. I have hadContinue reading “Happy Birthday, Dr. King: I am sorry we haven’t bent the arc more yet.”