Dear neighbors,
Thank you to the 400+ people who joined us for tonight’s training with Durham Public School Strong and Durham For All about how we will continue to show up with care and protection for our neighbors and school communities.
Here is a big roundup of resources to support our collective efforts across Durham and across the state. This email includes:
1. A couple of reminders specific to Durham folks
2. Tips for School Care and Protection Teams, including ICE Verification slides (from tonight’s training)
3. Policy and district-level recommendations
4. Resources for talking with children in this current moment
5. Planning guide for families during immigration emergencies
6. Support “Standing Strong” yard signs for the Triangle!
7. Information about Food Distribution in Durham
8. Durham Schools with School Captains on Monday 12/1
1. For Durham folks:
• Everyone needs to fill out the Jotform for being on a School Care and Protection Team: Please fill out this Jotform asap if you are interested in being part of a School Team in Durham. If you are already on a team, please still fill out the form and stay in touch with your captain about the schedule and plans for this week!
• If you aren’t yet on a team, you can find a list of schools with active teams at the bottom of this email and join a team at arrival or dismissal tomorrow, or wait to be connected with a captain!
• Reminder to join us on Dec 14th: Don’t forget to save the date for a larger in-person gathering on December 14th from 2-5pm in order to reflect on all we have done and think ahead to the future. More information will be shared soon, including the location. This will be geared toward Durham but if you’re in a nearby county and want to join to learn how Durham is organizing you are welcome. Childcare and interpretation will be provided. Register!
2. Tips for School Care and Protection Teams:
• ICE Verification slides from tonight’s training
• Durham’s one-pager with tips for being part of a school team
• Helpful documents from DC on teams:
Dragons Safe Zone Guide
Safe Zones Toolkit_Sharable
• Specific info about walking school busses
http://guide.saferoutesinfo.org/walking_school_bus/
• Parent response to ICE/CBP presence (Chicago lessons)
3. Policy and district-level recommendations
• Here are the recommendations Durham Public School Strong and Durham For All shared with our School Board and Superintendent today. They also include reference to demands the Durham Association of Educators has been making which we also endorse.
4. Resources for talking with children in this current moment:
• Watch the video from AP-OD, to see interactions between parent and child, showing you how to respond, and comfort a child who faces the stress of anti-immigrant bullying, and potential family separation: https://vimeo.com/242812276?fl=pl&fe=sh (Spanish with English subtitles)
• A list of talking points for discussions with children about their rights-
https://ejanc.org/es/hablar-con-los-ninos-sobre-sus-derechos/(Spanish)
https://ejanc.org/talking-to-children-about-their-rights/ (English)
• A guide for educators from Learning for Justice “Handle with Care: Supporting young people during crisis events”
https://www.learningforjustice.org/handle-with-care
• 2025 UndocuCarolina & LatinxEd K14 Educator Ally Resources
2025 UndocuCarolina K14 Educator Ally Resources
• AFT’s “Immigrant and Refugee Children: A guide for educators and school support staff”
https://www.aft.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/2025/uac_educators_guide_2025-0501225.pdf
• UndocuCarolina & LatinxEd Resources for Elementary Educators
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eOfeqHXIZn61vNiGfBRD3rHPXQooBMwyW7lQtfaPzjc/edit?usp=sharing
5. Planning guide for families during immigration emergencies:
• See the family preparation guide made by El Pueblo to help you make a plan.
https://elpueblo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Guia-de-Emergencia-web.pdf (Spanish)
https://elpueblo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/SAFE-FAMILIES.pdf (English)
• See the various guides on creating safety plans, finding an attorney, power of attorney, creating emergency contacts, and more from Education Justice Alliance to protect your family
https://ejanc.org/es/como-protegerte-a-ti-y-a-tu-familia-y-conocer-tus-derechos/ (Spanish)
https://ejanc.org/how-to-protect-yourself-and-your-family-and-know-your-rights/ (English)
6. Support “Standing Strong” yard signs for the Triangle!
You may have seen one of the “Standing Strong” signs in front of a house or school or being held in the air as we greeted students in Durham. We are ordering 450 more signs to share in Durham and beyond, and need your support to cover the cost!
Featuring a beautiful design by local artist Mick Amato (IG: @pea_tendril) and inspired by the stories and words of local immigrant moms. The English language translation of "Aquí estamos de pie, donde pertenecemos" is shown around the edge of the sign, and references the famous song from Black southern cultural organizing taught at the Highlander Center: "Solid As A Rock."
Please make a contribution to help us reach our goal, which will help us print hundreds more yard signs to place across our region!
7. About Food Distribution in Durham
• About the Durham Community Care Collective that is mobilizing food distribution connected with our School Care & Protection Teams
• A lot more videos and photos from our food distribution can be found on Durham PSS Instagram @durhampublicschoolstrong
• Thanks to hundreds of volunteers, over 1,000 donors, and over 13 community partners, and many schools and organizations delivering to families, we have gotten food to nearly 2,000 families over the past 2 weeks. We have expended most funds but are continuing to fundraise to continue some level of food distribution over the coming week(s) - please continue to contribute and share this fundraising need as you are able.
We know that an organized community is a safe community. Thank you for every way you are showing up and helping strengthen how we organize together.
With love and solidarity,
Durham Public School Strong and Durham For All
8. Durham Schools with School Captains on Monday 12/1
** indicate priority schools for new members
Brogden Middle School
C.C. Spaulding Elementary School
Carrington Middle School
Central Park School for Children - Lower School
Central Park School for Children - Upper School
Club Boulevard Elementary School
**Creekside Elementary School
Durham School of the Arts
E.K. Powe Elementary School
Easley Elementary School
Eno Valley Elementary School
**Fayetteville St Elementary School
Forest View Elementary School
George Watts Elementary School
Githens Middle School
**Glenn Elementary School
Hillandale Elementary School
**Hillside High School
Holt Elementary School
Hope Valley Elementary School
**J.D. Clement Early College High School
**Jordan High School
Lakeview Secondary School
Lakewood Elementary School
Lakewood Middle School
Little River Elementary School
Lowes Grove Middle School
Lyons Farm Elementary School
Mangum Elementary School
**Merrick-Moore Elementary School
Morehead Elementary School
Murray-Massenburg Elementary School
Neal Middle School
**Northern High School
**Oak Grove Elementary School
Parkwood Elementary School
Pearsontown Elementary School
**Riverside High School
Sandy Ridge Elementary School
**Southern High School
Southwest Elementary School
Spring Valley Elementary School
The Whitted School
W.G. Pearson Elementary School
Y.E. Smith Elementary School
School shift times:
School drop-off lines tend to get long; please plan to arrive early and don’t park on campus
DPS Elementary Schools (unless listed below): 7:00 - 8:00 am
DPS Middle Schools (unless listed below): 7:45 - 8:45 am
DPS High Schools (unless listed below): 8:50 - 9:30 am
The Whitted School: 7:15 - 8:00 am
Durham School of the Arts: 7:45 - 8:45 am
School for Creative Studies: 7:45 - 8:45 am
Lakeview Learning Center: 7:45 - 8:45 am
JD Clement Early College: 8:30 - 9:15 am
Middle College High School at Durham Tech: 8:30 - 9:15 am
Central Park School for Children- Lower & Upper School: 7:45 - 8:30 am
Global Montessori Academy 7:30 - 9:00 am
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Durham Public School Strong, a chapter of Public School Strong, is a committed group of parents and neighbors dedicated to building networks of community care around our public schools and advocating for the public schools that students, families, and educators deserve. As of our launch in 2025 we focus on supporting immigrant safety and justice in our schools. We also organize in support of Public School Strong state-level advocacy for making sure all children in North Carolina have access to honest, accurate, safe, and fully funded public education. Contact us at publicschoolstrongdurham@gmail.com.
Durham For All members fight together for a Durham where everyone can thrive. A chapter of the Carolina Federation, D4A builds multiracial, cross-class people power through issue-based and electoral campaigns locally and state-wide. Since spring 2025, Durham For All has organized public school families and neighbors across race to fight for fully funded, welcoming public schools and the Durham we all deserve. Contact us at info@durhamforall.org