Teachers for Social Justice Curriculum Fair 2026

The TSJ curriculum fair brings teachers together for keynote speakers, workshops, curriculum sharing, and resources. It is an energizing experience that connects teachers with radical political education and each other - reaffirming a commitment to social justice teaching. The Curriculum Fair attracts roughly 1000 attendees, most of whom are practicing K-12 teachers, educators, community members, organizers, parents, and youth.

This is a dangerous moment of growing right-wing authoritarianism, attacks on racial and gender justice, and US militarized violence from Chicago to Palestine to Latin America. In Chicago, ICE raids terrorize immigrant communities while Black communities face the ongoing violence of anti-Black racist disinvestment, displacement, and policing. While our students and families struggle with the impossible cost of groceries, rent, and healthcare, and the stress of daily life, billions of dollars flow to US militarism and genocide, and hedge fund investors and tech billionaires amass the greatest wealth in human history.

But a crisis is also an opportunity to unmask the reality of this system of economic exploitation, racism, and violence that has been veiled for some (the power of educators!) and that has clearly failed the 99%. It’s an opportunity to see ourselves in each other, to understand how our struggles are connected, to build solidarity and community in and out of the classroom.

We see the power of fighting for our futures in the global movement in solidarity with Palestine, in the ways we have shown up to defend our neighbors against ICE terror, in the historic 2020 Black liberation uprising, in educators who dare to teach truth and who stand up with their students and communities, and in our unions organizing against authoritarianism and militarism.

Teachers for Social Justice is an all-volunteer grassroots organization of educators in the Chicago area committed to racial, economic, gender, and social justice in and out of the classroom.

TSJ formed 25 years ago in the midst of neoliberal education reform in Chicago, has worked in coalition with local and national organizations for education justice and social justice, organizing against the militarization of schools, school closings, privatization, police in schools, racism, and more. We were honored to play an active role in the 2015 Dyett Hunger Strike and the city organizing against school closings and to support the CTU’s social movement unionism.

TSJ brings teachers together for political education, curriculum sharing, radical inspiration, and collective action - notably through curriculum fairs, teach-ins, inquiry-to-action groups, and active participation in the education justice movement opposing school privatization. Our keynote speakers at curriculum fairs over the years have been grassroots leaders (teachers, parents, youth) who have helped us better understand how to work for education and social justice in Chicago, nationally, and globally.

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Host or Publisher Teachers for Social Justice