Throughout the semester, I have learned about issues pertaining to urban education and how different methods of community organizing seek to solve these complexities. This case study has discussed some of the issues facing Baltimore schools, the founding and work of the BMORE social justice caucus and their participatory democracy efforts in the Baltimore City public school system and the within BTU to transform it to a social justice union. Urban areas, like Baltimore, are some of the most culturally rich districts and must be reframed as areas of opportunity. Baltimore has a long history of inequities and structural racism that the BMORE caucus seeks to address within the BTU and Baltimore City Public schools. They face immense challenges to work within these communities because of their neoliberal nature and focus on education as a business. However, BMORE’s intentional organizing, social justice and abolitionist pedagogy and decentralized leadership have led to successes. One of the biggest successes is electing a radical educator to lead the BTU, opening opportunities for reform. BMORE’s use of petitions, meetings and social media have contributed to their success and holding Baltimore City Public Schools and the school commissioners accountable for change. 

The push for radical change through the BMORE caucus can no longer wait. Black and Brown students can no longer continue to graduate without having the tools to set them up for success and they must know that their lives matter. Students must be held to high expectations while having the resources and support to meet them. Curriculum must be culturally relevant and students must see teachers and administrators that look like them. Educators must be supported by their unions and teach with an abolitionist and anti-racist pedagogy. Funding must be equitably allocated so that students have access to resources, opportunities and safe building structures. Police must be taken out of schools and students need to be supported through mental and emotional health personnel. Educators and administrators must see parents and community members as active partners who are going to help advocate and demand action for these demands. The time is now, especially as we see mobilizing all over the country for racial equity, defunding the police and facing our history. BMORE’s case can be used as an example of a successful Rank-and-File Educator caucus especially in a majority Black and Brown district. The caucus amplifies voices of color, puts community needs and demands first, and also advocates for change in economic and social areas outside of education. As Baltimore moves forward, the perfect storm for a radical change has just begun amidst the election of Diamonte Brown, the pandemic, and calls for equity around the country. 

Image: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/world/year-in-pictures.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muy5zpqslRc