Check out the following three resources to help you advocate for your programs this month!
- Counted Out – A Film by Vicki Abeles
Counted Out shows us the power of math in our society, our economy, and our democracy. In our current information economy, math is everywhere. The people we date, the news we see, the influence of our votes, the candidates who win elections, the education we have access to, the jobs we get—all of it is underwritten by an invisible layer of math that few of us understand or even notice. But whether we know it or not, our numeric literacy—whether we can speak the language of math—is a critical determinant of social and economic power. In our current turbulent political climate, it is critical to understand how the impact of math runs throughout our electoral process in ways most of us never notice—from gerrymandered voting districts and AI-created political ads to ballot measures and candidate choices. Counted Out shows us the power of math that undergirds our democracy. Who holds that power? Who doesn’t? And how can we all speak the language of math to fully participate in a world that belongs to everyone? To watch the Counted Out trailer, host a screening, or learn more, visit countedoutfilm.com. - Barack Obama and Steven Tepper’s Conversation at Hamilton College
On April 3, former President Barack Obama visited Hamilton College for a conversation with college president Steven Tepper. A highlight of the conversation featured Obama expressing concern over the current administration's actions toward universities, particularly threats to withdraw federal funding over student activism and diversity programs. He urged academic institutions to stand firm in their values and be prepared to sacrifice funding to defend academic freedom. He also called on citizens and organizations to actively resist policies that undermine democratic principles, emphasizing that the most important office in a democracy is that of the citizen who stands up against injustice. Throughout the discussion, Obama underscored the need for active engagement and vigilance in preserving democratic values and institutions. For a more detailed account, watch a seven-minute excerpt or read the full transcript of the conversation on Medium. - State of Girls and Women in STEM Toolkit
Last month, we shared a webinar from the National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP) about the state of girls and women in stem. Each year NGCP presents a high-level summary of the most compelling statistics and research on the state of girls and women in STEM, focused on K-12 Education, Higher Education, and the STEM Workforce. To help organizations share these important findings, NGCP has created a free toolkit with ready-to-use graphics and key stats for social media, presentations, and outreach. These free graphics can be used on social media and in presentations.
Advocacy Corner: Each article will feature a few ways you and your programs can advocate for your programs and the profession. With the ever-changing political landscape, it’s important our voices, the voices of the teachers we prepare and the students they impact, are elevated and heard. The ideas presented each month are only suggestions and do not represent an endorsement of one organization, app, or tool over another. Have a favorite way you advocate? Please send additional suggestions for this list to mleadabrand2@unl.edu.