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Love Your Magic Conference

Read about how one teacher used a Learning for Justice grant to help fund a daylong conference empowering girls of color in Boston.
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Editor's note: This story references the previous TT Grants program. For information on the current LFJ Educator Fund, click here.

In May 2018, a group of Black and Brown girls celebrated the second annual Love Your Magic Conference in Boston, designed to empower them to practice self-love, self-advocacy and sisterhood. With help from a Learning for Justice Educator Grant, the conference provided students with a variety of workshops and resources. 

Love Your Magic Conference | Teaching Tolerance Grantee Project
Love Your Magic Conference | Teaching Tolerance Grantee Project

The day opened with performances and reflections, as well as remarks from Ayanna Pressley, the first woman of color elected to the Boston City Council. Participants learned and discussed practical ways to honor their identities, including celebrating self-love, affirmation and sisterhood. 

Sisterhood | Love Your Magic Conference | Teaching Tolerance Grantee Project
Sisterhood | Love Your Magic Conference | Teaching Tolerance Grantee Project

 

The Love Your Magic Conference

Grantee: A second-grade teacher in Dorchester, Massachusetts

 

Application Date: October 2017

 

Grant Type: Educator Grant, school level

 

Support: The Educator Grant funded books, presenter costs, equipment, food and beverages at the conference.

Brainstorming | Love Your Magic Conference | Teaching Tolerance Grantee Project
Love Your Magic Conference | Teaching Tolerance Grantee Project

In the day’s final session on self-advocacy, participants talked about portrayals of Black and Brown girls and women in the media. They brainstormed ways to counteract negative narratives and ways they can advocate for themselves and one another. 

Love Your Magic Conference | Teaching Tolerance Grantee Project
Love Your Magic Conference | Teaching Tolerance Grantee Project

At the end of the day, the whole group came back together to focus on building community. Each participant walked away from the conference with a wealth of knowledge and a swag bag including two books: I Know I Can! and Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History.

Love Your Magic Conference | Teaching Tolerance Grantee Project
I Know I Can | Love Your Magic Conference | Teaching Tolerance Grantee Project
Raised Hands | Love Your Magic Conference | Teaching Tolerance Grantee Project

Ehrenhalt is the program manager for school partnerships at Learning for Justice.