Students across Wake County have joined together to demand #CounselorsNotCops. For this campaign, the Youth Justice Project of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice joined with the Wake County Black Student Coalition (WCBSC), Education Justice Alliance, and ACLU of North Carolina to release a second #CounselorsNotCops video featuring WCBSC members demanding safe, Black-affirming schools free […]
#CounselorsNotCops Infographics Reveal Policing Disparities in Wake County Public Schools
Black and Latinx students should have a safe learning environment. But for many students of color, school police do not equal safety. In Wake County Public Schools, where there are over 70 hired police officers, 22% of students are Black but they make up 73% of students referred to juvenile or adult court by school […]
#CounselorsNotCops: The Need For Police-Free Schools in Wake County
The Wake County Black Student Coalition, the Education Justice Alliance, the ACLU of North Carolina, and the Youth Justice Project of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice demand #CounselorsNotCops. In the first of a video series, these organizations join together to explain the need for police-free schools in Wake County. Black students should feel safe […]
Students, Advocacy Organizations Urge Wake County Schools to Fund #CounselorsNotCops
For Immediate ReleaseSeptember 1, 2020 For media inquiries:Michelle Rashmrash@rlfcommunications.com336-553-1733 (office)336-823-5501 (mobile) Raleigh, N.C. — The Wake County Black Student Coalition, the Education Justice Alliance, the Youth Justice Project of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice and the ACLU of North Carolina are launching a targeted campaign called #CounselorsNotCops to remove school resource officers (SROs) from […]
Harrison Raises $2,000 For The Youth Justice Project
Harrison walked 8.27 miles in two hours to raise money for the Youth Justice Project at the Walk With Us For Social Justice Event.
Education Justice Alliance, Students from Enloe High School, and SCSJ Demand that the Wake County School Board End the School Resource Officer Program and Terminate Contracts with Local Law Enforcement Agencies
Durham, N.C.— Jasmin Loraine Benas, Srivani Edupuganti, Teya Franks, and Reagan Razon of Enloe High School, in partnership with Education Justice Alliance (EJA) and Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ), sent a demand letter to the Wake County Board of Education urging the immediate end of all school policing contracts with local law enforcement agencies and greater investments in alternatives to school policing. This termination demand is in response to both Raleigh Police Department’s violent use of force against peaceful protesters following the death of George Floyd and Wake County Public School System’s school policing practices that disproportionately harm Black and Brown students.
CARES Act Vulnerable Students Letter
The Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ), in partnership with three organizations focused on racial and educational justice, is urging North Carolina to use $95.6 million in education funds earmarked for the state in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to benefit the most vulnerable students. These vulnerable student populations include students of color, economically disadvantaged students, children with disabilities, homeless students, immigrant students and youth in foster care and the juvenile justice system.
Among the suggested uses for the funding are purchasing laptops or tablets for students who do not have them, creating quiet learning environments for students who are homeless or in foster care and providing training for students and teachers on how to better utilize technology for remote learning.
SCSJ Celebrates Continued Progress in Winston-Salem Following Dept. of Education Complaint
SCSJ and community partners celebrate a win for students and parents of Ashley Elementary after a panel of the Winston-Salem City Council voted unanimously to recommend the sale of city-owned property that will serve as the site of a new school to replace Ashley Elementary. The recommendation is slated to go before the full City Council for consideration on October 21.
Youth Justice Project Releases SRO Recommendations
Durham, NC — Members of the Youth Justice Project’s Youth Steering Committee (YSC) released a series of recommendations for Durham Public Schools and the Durham County Sheriff’s Office regarding school policing. The recommendations stem from a School Resource Officer Town Hall hosted by the YSC in early April, incorporating feedback and discussion from the attendees. The […]
Federal Court Order Now Requires Durham County to Comply with New Policies Regarding Youth Held in Custody
DURHAM, N.C. — A federal judge has endorsed a settlement that requires separate facilities for youth and adults in Durham’s detention facilities. The court order resolves a lawsuit brought by the family of 17-year-old Uniece Fennell after she took her own life in the Durham County Detention Facility (DCDF) in 2017. The order by U.S. District […]
Racial Equity Report Cards Continue to Show Disparities in Achievement and Discipline
This year’s report cards include teacher diversity statistics for the first time Durham, N.C. — The 2019 Annual Racial Equity Report Cards released by the Youth Justice Project of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice reveal significant racial disproportionality across the state and in most individual school districts. The report cards use public data on academic achievement, school […]
Lee County NAACP's Year of Racial Equity a Success
Fort Myers, F.L. — The School District of Lee County and the Lee County, Florida Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) signed an agreement today to settle a civil rights complaint the NAACP filed in 2017. “I am extremely pleased to have signed this agreement,” said Superintendent Dr. Greg […]
Mother of Niecey Fennell Speaks Out on Critical Safety Issues at Durham Detention Center
Durham, N.C. — Attorneys for the family of Uniece “Niecey” Fennell, who was found deceased, hanging in the Durham County Detention Facility (DCDF) in March 2017, have again called upon the Durham County Board of Commissioners to address critical safety issues at the facility in the county’s 2018-19 fiscal budget. Adding to remarks made at […]
The State of Discipline in NC Schools
Highlights from The 2018 State of Discipline Report The data analysis from the Youth Justice Project found that: Although out-of-school suspension is down, students are still too often removed from class for disciplinary reasons. Tens of thousands of young children were suspended last school year. Black students were more likely to be suspended than white […]
Dr. Kareem Crayton Hired as Interim Director for the Southern Coalition for Social Justice
DURHAM, N.C. – The Board of Directors for the Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) has hired Kareem Crayton, J.D., Ph.D. to serve as the interim executive director as the organization conducts a search for a full-time director. Anita Earls, the organization’s current executive director and founder, is stepping down from her position at the […]
Lee County NAACP Meets with School Superintendent
FORT MYERS, FL. – Representatives from the Lee County NAACP and the Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) met with Lee County School Superintendent Dr. Greg Adkins on December 6 to discuss racial equity concerns. The NAACP filed a complaint against the school system with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights […]
New Report: Putting Justice in NC’s Juvenile System
Durham, NC — A report released today from the Youth Justice Project finds that the juvenile justice system is falling short for over 12,000 impacted children. Despite major policy advances like Raise the Age in 2017, North Carolina has a long way to go to ensure that all young people, especially youth of color, are treated fairly […]
New Report: NC Juvenile Justice System Faces Major Challenges
Durham, N.C. — A report released today from the Youth Justice Project finds that the juvenile justice system is falling short for over 12,000 impacted children. Despite major policy advances like Raise the Age in 2017, North Carolina has a long way to go to ensure that all young people, especially youth of color, are treated […]