offer. As a young alumna, I wrote letters back to the school to challenge them to be more inclusive in the material that was being taught and in the community that was invited to participate in this unique, elite learning community. As a parent, I observed the growth of the curriculum (that version of Western Civ that included discussions about ancient Egypt, the Harlem Renaissance, and early hip-hop was amazing!) and recognize that the school understands that the work of being a location for every student to feel safe is an ongoing process. What I love most is that UHS has been willing to look inward and consider the leadership of its students in cultivating new possibilities. To the students, that means, speak your truth and continue to articulate
what you want from your school! To the school leaders and faculty, that means, listen and increase your capacity to respond to students’ evolving needs. Safety— in every sense of the word—is co-constructed.” Monique is the founder and board chair of the National Black Women’s Justice Institute. She has held leadership roles with such influential bodies as the NAACP, the Thelton E. Henderson Center for Social Justice at the Berkeley School of Law, and the California Subcommittee on Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities. Her TED Women talk in December 2018 is climbing toward 2 million views. She is currently working on two books that examine schools’ connection with Black families and youth-led organizing. n
PUSHOUT SOLD OUT!
O
n February 6, 2020, Dr. Monique W. Morris ’90, SB ’86, P ’19, hosted two screenings of her critically acclaimed documentary film PUSHOUT:The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools for the SFUHS community. During the school day, Monique came to campus to answer students’ questions after the film, which was screened at a special assembly. She was welcomed on stage by Ana Roudebush ’20 and Sami Lee
’21, co-leaders of UHS RIOT Club. RIOT Club is a student affinity group for self-identified women of color, focusing on the intersection of race and feminism, and sparking discussions in the wider UHS community about issues relevant to women of color. After the assembly screening, students met with their clusters and advisors for dialogue and reflection on the film. Monique hosted a concurrent reflection group, and invited RIOT Club, the Black
Excerpt of a letter from Dr. Njema Frazier ’88, SB ’84, about Dr. Monique W. Morris, read on the evening of the PUSHOUT screening for adult members of the UHS community and the public. “When we’re young and have our lives ahead of us, we believe in things like heroes . . . right and wrong . . . changing the world… we believe in unlimited potential. We use a blanket for a cape, we step between someone being bullied and their tormentor, we write our bigger-than-life dreams in a journal. But as we grow into adulthood, we become more pragmatic, more cautious, more jaded, less open, less passionate, less caring. We seek out compromise instead of right; we make excuses for our unwillingness to get involved when we see something wrong: ‘that’s none of my business,’ ‘that’s their problem,’ ‘I didn’t do anything wrong.’And yet a few of us—a precious few, a rare few, a Halley’s Comet few of us— keep that indomitable spirit of life inside of us full. We actually become the heroes, the defenders of right and wrong. We change the world. We fulfill—and maintain our belief in— unlimited potential. Monique is changing the world.”
Student Union, and all students interested in her work and her approach to social and gender justice work to join her. Later that day, PUSHOUT was screened at the neighborhood Vogue Theater for members of the public and adult members of our community. The screening was filled with UHS alumni parents and Bay Area educators. Again, Monique was on hand to answer questions for audience members after the film. All 220 tickets sold out, and 100% of the $3,300 proceeds benefited
Camp Akili, a project of Flourish Agenda Inc. Camp Akili is a five-day intensive summer retreat for African American youths, providing them with personal transformation and cultural awareness experiences that allow them to unlock their full potential to flourish. University and the Alumni Association wish to extend our gratitude to Dr. Morris for hosting two screenings of PUSHOUT for the UHS community in one day. n
Dr. Monique W. Morris ’90, SB ’86, P ’19, with RIOT Club co-leaders Sami Lee ’21 (left) and Ana Roudebush ’20, Vogue Theater marquee, Dr. Morris with students in her reflection group after the student assembly screening,
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