Kate Garcia, Washington Elementary School, Sacramento
Banners of Hope, First Week Back for Students April 2021
Banners of Hope is an ongoing project for our students in grades 1-6. The students were given 4 questions: How can I improve society? How can I make the world a better place? How can we have equality for all? How can we have justice for all? They were then given a banner to create their own message of hope. We hung the banners together to make a powerful, hopeful statement.
Students used whatever they wanted on their banners-from markers to paints to fabrics- whatever would stick on their banner. I am the lucky person who gets to teach art to the students at Washington Elementary in Sacramento. We are planning on creating a collaborative project, where each student will receive a piece of fabric to make into their own artwork that will reflect their idea of equality for all, freedom for all, and/or justice for all. We will use these to create an installation art project, connecting and hanging the banners along our school fence so that we can showcase the artwork for the students and the community. We will keep it on display for several days.
Justice Named: Banners of Hope by Margarita Berta-Ávila, Professor of Education, California Faculty Association, Chapter President, Sacramento State
Many years ago, while working on an elementary school mural with my professor, Chicano artist Malaquias Montaya, I stopped and asked, “Malaquias, how do you foster political/social consciousness with young children?” I remember it like yesterday, Malaquias didn’t respond right away. He kept working on the mural and then turned to me to simply say “Justice.” As I looked back at him a bit perplexed, he explained that centering Justice is our starting point. It is a starting point not determined by adults and what we believe should be the issues or constitute Justice. Rather, Justice truly must be grounded in what our youth profoundly feel is important to them at the core of their heart and soul. It is then, that the dialogue can begin.
The Banners of Hope created by Kate Garcia’s 1st – 6th grade art class reflects that very Justice Malaquias spoke to me about. For the Banners convey passionately what Kate’s students are thinking about, what is important to them, and what they have identified as their charge in this world. As Paulo Freire (1970) shares, they are living towards a Praxis that embodies the naming of their truth, reflecting on its impact, in order to create radical transformation. Their Justice of
Stay Strong, Hope, Be Kind, Black Lives Matter, Peace, Be Kind to Animals, Help Each Other, Be Good, Be a Hero, Love, Think Kindly, Equality for Everyone,
Raise your Voice for Justice ignited the much-needed dialogue amongst parents, caregivers, teachers, and each other about the significance of their creations especially in these times of COVID, Racial Injustice, and Systemic Inequities. Most importantly, the Justice of these young people symbolizes the strength we each hold, and the power it can manifest as a collective. The Banners of Hope physically represent just that – individual banners that finds its true strength together. As Kate shared with me, “For my students, it is clear, the change they want to make starts with themselves and with each other.”