Our Shot: May 7, 2025
Welcome to the fifth edition of Our Shot, a weekly newsletter of actions that anyone (especially kids) can take to resist the Trump administration.
Our newsletter is a little bit longer than usual today, as we have many things to highlight and to share with you! Thank you for sharing your ideas and photos and for being with us on this journey - we're so grateful for this community.
Smaller action: In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, write a note to a current or former teacher, administrator, guidance counselor, aide, specialist, or paraprofessional who has made a difference in your life - tell them what they mean or have meant to you, and how important their work is in making the world a better place.
And to our subscribers who are educators: thank you so much for the work that you do. We appreciate you.
Larger action: Our idea for larger action comes from Ryan Bruckenthal and Nina Svirsky Bruckenthal, Leo's uncle and aunt who are educators, activists, organizers, and inspirations to us.
If and when you see or hear of a teacher/educator rally, protest, strike, or march, you can join in and make a poster saying that you are a student that supports educators! If you can't jump in or don't have the time, you can always just honk your horn, say hi and that you support them, or even just say the word "solidarity" which basically means "I got your back, you got mine!
Most often, especially in states like New York and Massachusetts, these types of actions and events are likely to be organized by a teachers and/or educators union, but there could very well be other groups of activist teachers organizing similar actions.
Bonus action: May is Mental Health Awareness month, and we want to take action in response to the potentially devastating cuts being made to research and programs that help people with mental illness. Leo and I have started a team to participate in NAMIWalks, a day to raise funds and awareness for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. We would love for you to join our team walking in Boston on May 17!
NAMI statement on proposed federal funding cuts
Shout-outs: Leo's uncle Ryan and aunt Nina organizing and taking a stand for educators in NYC; our friend Luca writing to his Senator about proposed cuts to public media; Leo's grandmother Ruth worked with her neighbors to clean up a community garden space for Earth Day.
Highlighting Venezuela: We got to learn about some Venezuelan music and art this week and wanted to share a few favorites with you all!
Music: Tranquilo by Louis BPM
Art: Esfera Theospacio by Jesus Rafael Soto; The Family by Marisol Escobar
Do you have any ideas for actions people can take? Have you taken an action of resistance that you would like to share? Please email ctsvirsky@gmail.com to let us know - we would love to hear from you!
We are not throwing away our shot!
Leo & Charlotte