Issues of political and racial divisiveness have reached a boiling point in the United States, but how do we start addressing and bridging those divides? One way is to start in the classroom. Much of the conflict that arises among individuals, and in communities, comes from a lack of mutual understanding or appreciation for people who come from different communities, religions, or cultures.

The stories in this collection show how teachers and community leaders are tackling those tough conversations with students, young and old, who get to learn about their own biases, embrace what makes others different, and make new neighbors feel welcome—even when they don't speak the same language. In the rural town of Springdale, Arkansas, Suevon Lee (@suevlee) explores just how a school district integrated students coming from the Marshall Islands by encouraging them to share their culture. The district created a "Stomp Club," where Marshallese students share traditional dance styles from their culture, and provided Marshallese liaisons who are culturally cognizant to help families stay actively engaged in their children's education by removing possible cultural and linguistic barriers. Back on the East Coast, Amadou Diallo (@amadouworld) writes about teachers in Cambridge, Massachusetts, who are confronting their own implicit racial biases and learning to be more culturally proficient through peer-guided discussions. In the small town of Mount Vernon, Ohio, a place with a history rooted in racism, Brittany King shares the story of a hate crime that became the catalyst for Tamara Parson to start the Diversity Coalition, a decade-long project to showcase different cultures in her town and ignite uncomfortable but fruitful dialogues about tolerance and inclusivity. In Seattle, Washington, Ananya Garg (@originalananya) writes about how "culturally sustaining pedagogy" manifests as increased opportunities for students from marginalized groups to discuss identity and learn about history through lessons that steer away from the typical narrative. Our last story comes from Rochester, New York, where Justin Murphy (@CitizenMurphy) writes about how the Rochester City School District has addressed racial inequity by making it a long-term practice of incorporating "restorative practices," and empowering students to be "catalysts of change."