3. Facilitating Community Partnerships Invite Palestinian community leaders and speakers into classrooms. Host intercultural events and forums where students can ask questions, share stories, and challenge misconceptions in a constructive environment. 4. Engaging Policymakers Urge elected officials to meet with local Palestinian organizations, educators, and students. Encourage them to understand firsthand the impact of restrictive policies and the urgent need for justice and accountability.
This is not simply about taking a political stance; it is about affirming the basic humanity of an entire people. As educators and administrators, we have an obligation to model compassion, critical thinking, and a commitment to human rights. In Illinois—home to the largest Palestinian population in the United States—our moral imperative is clear: we must stand against the forces that silence Palestinian narratives and perpetuate injustice, both abroad and in our own school hallways.
BY JOUSEF SHKOUKANI, QUARTERLY CONTRIBUTOR
This article is just the beginning of a larger story. In the months ahead, we will dive deeper into true equity— in schools and beyond. This personal account of Palestinians in Chicago speaks to every group in one way or another: how families maintain cultural traditions across generations, how students navigate an educational system that doesn’t always recognize them, and how educators can transform classrooms into spaces of empathy and inclusion. Together, we will explore practical ways for schools and communities to affirm Palestinian and other often silenced identities, acknowledging both their suffering and resilience.
28 • CPAA QUARTERLY MAG | Q3 AND Q4 2025
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