“We value the lives, lived experiences, contributions, and talents of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) with whom we work and serve and are striving to establish an organizational ethos that prioritizes humanity.”
View our full Equity Statement.
Updates from the AMI/USA Human Rights and Social Justice Committee
August 12, 2021: AMI/USA JEDI Series
AMI/USA is excited to continue learning alongside our community through a series of webinars focusing on issues of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion through a Montessori lens.
June 9, 2021: We are seeking 8 additional Human Rights and Social Justice advisors to the committee across all racial, cultural and social backgrounds. Click here to submit your interest form.
February 4, 2021: A New Year, A New Human Rights & Social Justice Narrative for AMI/USA
October 19, 2020: AMI/USA Announces Human Rights & Social Justice Adviser
September 8, 2020: Social Justice Webinar Series AMI/USA is excited to learn alongside our community through a series of four free webinars focusing on issues of race, bias and injustice through a Montessori lens. Listen, learn, share and connect with experts and peers as we work to make Montessori spaces more inclusive and accessible.
July 22, 2020: AMI/USA Announces Human Rights and Social Justice Committee
Since the inception of its new website, AMI/USA has been continually curating a library of resources for parents and educators on equity and inclusion. We hope that these resources are beneficial to you and are happy to receive suggestions for additional resources to add to our ever-growing library. Please email us a montessori@amiusa.org if you have any suggested resources to share.
As AMI/USA moves forward to realize the vision articulated in our Equity Statement in 2021, we invite you to participate in our new Human Rights and Social Justice (HRSJ) forum. This will be an on-going opportunity for all stakeholders to lend their perspectives and voices to our equity work. This forum will be a space for you to constructively raise pertinent issues that can help guide AMI/USA in our justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI) goals and participate in the HRSJ Committee meetings. All submissions related to the practices and principles outlined in the Equity Statement will be reviewed by the AMI/USA HRSJ Advisor and the AMI/USA HRSJ Committee.
Click here to make a submission to the Forum.
Make your submission at least one week prior to the earliest scheduled HRSJ Committee meeting. Tentative upcoming meeting dates:
What Should I Expect After I Make a Submission via the Forum?
AMI/USA is excited to continue learning alongside our community through a series of webinars focusing on issues of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion through a Montessori lens. Listen, learn, share and connect with experts and peers as we work to make Montessori spaces more inclusive and accessible.
Speakers: Irene Calis, AU professor speaks as a CRT expert, Jalaya Dunn, Director of Learning for Justice speaks as an educational organizer, Delegate Dr. Pam Queen, MD state Del speaks as an elected official and educator, Julie Johnson, Meadows Montessori School, Head of School, speaks as a school leader, Dr. Cindy Acker, International Montessori Council (IMC) Board member and Director of Social Justice speaks as an educational leader, Alissa McKown and Sheri Bishop of Virginia Montessori Association (VMA) speak as educational leaders
Where: To listen to the show, click here to access the archives and select “#UMustLearn” on the dropdown menu!
Thank you to the sponsors: International Montessori Council (IMC), Mountain Montessori, Montessori Educational Programs International (MEPI), and Virginia Montessori Association (VMA)
Moderated by: Dr. Ayize Sabater & Munir Shivji
Speakers: Hannah Richardson, Rachel Kimboko, Daniel Bissonnette
Moderated by: Elizabeth Slade
Authors: Mariana Bissonnette – Babies Build Toddlers, Simone Davies & Junnifa Uzodike – The Montessori Baby, Erica Moretti – The Best Weapon for Peace: Maria Montessori, Education, and Children’s Rights, Elizabeth Slade – Montessori in Action: Building Resilient Montessori Schools
Moderated by: Dr. Mira Debs
Speakers: Jori Martinez-Woods, Mike Flohr
Speaker: Andrée Rolfe, Ed.D.
BethAnn Slater, Lynne Breitenstein-Aliberti
Online – Visit https://amiusa.org/event/ami-usa-equity-statement-forum/ for details and registration.
AMI/USA
The AMI/USA Board of Directors would like to announce the selection of Dallas Nelson, Jacqui Miller, and Barbara Williams to serve on the Board of Directors. We had a robust response to our call for nominations and these individuals were selected from a pool of excellent candidates.
Dallas, Jacqui and Barbara’s personal strengths, breadth of experience and diverse perspectives strengthen and widen our AMI/USA leadership. Dallas, Jacqui and Barbara are deeply connected to the communities they serve and bring their thoughtful, active and steadfast leadership to AMI/USA at a time great change and transition for our organization.
Please click here to read about Dallas, Jacqui and Barbara below and join us in welcoming them to the AMIUSA board of directors.
Click here to view our staff and Board profiles.
AMI/USA is pleased to be among the first major donors to the Black Montessori Educational Fund launched on July 3, 2020 by Mentors of Minorities in Education (M.O.M.I.E.) board member Dr. Ayize Sabater. The initiative aims to raise one-million dollars to “drastically increase Black exposure, expenditure and expertise around Montessori.” AMI/USA Board member KaLinda Bass-Barlow spoke at the launch ceremony where the organization made its “Ella Jo Baker – Transforming Systems Pledge.” Please click here to continue reading.
On June 2, 2020, former AMI/USA Board Chair, Gretchen Hall, issued a statement in relation to current events:
This is an extraordinarily difficult time for our nation. The deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbury, Breonna Taylor and so many who came before are tragic reminders of the systemic racism and injustice that continues to exist in our culture. We acknowledge the profound grief, pain, anger, and injustice felt across the Black community and in our AMI/USA community. The tragic deaths of our fellow citizens have laid bare racial inequity, challenged our humanity and left us emotionally raw. A call for systemic change is loud and clear, not just in the US, but also around the world.
AMI/USA denounces racism and stands beside all of those who work on behalf of social justice. We recommit to our mission and work to affect meaningful change — to unpack hierarchy, privilege, bias, and structures that benefit certain communities and disadvantage others through our programs and services. We stand unyielding in our commitment to critically interrogate systemic racism and unconscious bias in our organization and in our community. We recognize we have much work to do.