We are doctoral students pursuing a Ph.D of Education in Social Justice at the University of San Diego.  Our purpose for this portfolio is to explore our positionality and purpose as we journey through this program. We hope to connect with other educators and engage readers in critical dialogue.

As educators and students of Social Justice, we acknowledge that socially just classrooms recognize, respond to, redress and, sustain equity (Gorski, 2016) in an effort to harness young people’s capabilities and insights (Rudduck, 2020). To support these capabilities, educators must be critically reflective of personal political and ideological mindsets (Bartolome & Trueba, 2000). Teaching must have the political and ideological clarity and subsequent commitment to reach and teach diverse learners and resist the status quo (Cochran-Smith, 1997; Cooper, 2003).

We want to be completely transparent; we seek to have meaningful and honest conversations about class, race and racism.  So even if these themes are not part of your personal narrative, we invite you to this open space and conversational platform among three friends with a drive for social justice.