Thank You, Vanessa!
“I treasure the three years I’ve served local educators with Teaching for Change. Having the space to champion social justice education so unapologetically, especially amidst increased attacks on honest education, is something I hold dear.” — Vanessa Williams
Vanessa’s leadership came at a critical time, joining Teaching for Change in the peak of the pandemic and following the racial uprising of 2020. There were many changes and opportunities to the experience of the DCAESJ. Her commitment to building a solid foundation for social justice education in the D.C. area has left an indelible impact. Through her tireless work, Vanessa strengthened partner relationships, advanced advocacy efforts, and established initiatives like the Social Justice Curriculum Fair, now a signature event for educators in the D.C. area.
In addition to these many contributions, Vanessa’s efforts to elevate the voices of local teachers have been invaluable. She documented impactful teaching stories, participated in radio interviews, and engaged in panel discussions to foster inclusive and equitable education.
She supported other Teaching for Change initiatives, such as:
D.C. Area Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action and Year of Purpose programs
D.C. Area #TeachTruth Days of Action
D.C. FilmFest
Co-led the D.C. area’s Teach Central America Week events
Teaching the Black Freedom Struggle online classes as a breakout group facilitator
We are deeply grateful for all that Vanessa has done to build a robust network of educators and to help shape the growing initiatives that have become cornerstones of Teaching for Change’s work. Though she will be missed, we look forward to continued collaboration through her work as manager of education at the DC History Center.
Please join us in congratulating Vanessa on this exciting new chapter and in thanking her for her dedicated service to Teaching for Change.
